The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Acetone
Posted by Gracie (London, UK) on 12/02/2012
★★★★★
Acetone really works! I wanted to share all the info I have with cold sore sufferers as I know how detrimental they can be to the quality of life.
I have been suffering for years and years now from cold sores. My immune system is weak to them and I suspect my partner carries the cold sore virus without any symptoms and infects me every time he eats lots of chocolate and nuts. Sometimes these cold sores are around my nose, on my cheeks, on my chin or above my mouth and I have had some terrible scars in the past from cold sores that became huge and lasted for weeks. These scars sometimes took over 6 months to disappear.
This used to be the bane of my life. It really ruined my existence, to the point where I did not go out for weeks as my face was marred with huge weeping sores or large crusty scabs sometimes several nasty cold blisters would spread in a line across my cheek and they were so painful. It was one of the worst periods of my life and lasted over 2 years during which I felt ashamed and disgusting. People would look at me with horror and no amount of make up could conceal these terrible sores.
Thank goodness for acetone. I cannot believe this works but it really does! The minute I feel a sore coming on or itchiness I swab the area with acetone several times, often the skin turns a little red. Then on top of that I put some cream containing acyclovir like zovirax. I keep repeating every couple of hours. Usually the next day the sore is gone or on its way out.
Just to give advice to others out there, there is a link between foods and cold sores especially sugars, processed red meats (avoid these like the plague) and foods containing lysine and arginine to my break outs. If I eat foods high in arginine like nuts, seeds, chocolate, soya, shellfish etc. then often a cold sore will come up, it is important to balance this out with either foods containing lysine or a lysine supplement.
Foods highest in lysine are chicken, tuna, cod, grouper, pollock, haddock etc. Foods highest in Lysine and lowest in arginine are plain yogurt, most cheeses, milk, kefir and many fishes.
Sticking to a good ratio of more lysine than arginine in your diet plus the acetone trick should mean no more cold sores!
I wish everyone well and no more cold sores, ever!
Acetone
Posted by Kilgore (Jackson, Ms) on 12/06/2012
Please try iodine for cold sores, 20 drops of the 5% solution in coffee or milk. Resolved my case in two months.
Camphor
Posted by Piper (Toronto) on 06/09/2014
★★★★★
I get cold sores and usually I use hydrogen peroxide or nail polish remover and they dry up and heal in about a week. This time I had them for at least 8 weeks and nothing was working. A friend had recommended Carmax, so I decided a different approach was needed. After a couple of days using Carmax, I looked at the ingredients (camphor 1.7 and phenol .44) and noted that they were close to Vicks Vaporub. Checked the label and the Vicks was similar, just higher concentrations. I decided to put Vicks on my sores. I finally got some relief and they started to heal. First, I liked the feeling of Vicks. That familiar tingle seemed to counteract the annoying tingle of the cold sore. In fact, any time I felt a cold sore tingle, I would put Vicks on to have what I felt to be a healing tingle. Within a week they were healing.
Other thing I found that helps is lemon balm. Take leaf and rub on sore and drink in tea. About 5-6 leaves, crush a bit to release active ingredients.
Lemon Balm
Posted by P (Shawnee Mission, Ks) on 10/24/2012
The herb Lemon Balm There is actually some research to support its effectiveness against the herpes virus. Take it when you first start to feel the pain. 2 or three capsules, Then back off and use 1 maybe 3 times a day. Zinc oxide ointment on the sores at night. I use coconut oil in cooking. May help.
Lemon Balm
Posted by Cris01us (Honolulu) on 07/07/2017
★★★★★
You are spot on. Lemon Balm is my main weapon now (liquid form with dropper). I also take coconut oil (1000-5000mg) depending on how I feel, and having enough Zinc is also key. I rotate in Echinacea with Goldenseal every so often and always take L-Lysine. Thanks for sharing!
Electro-Therapy
Posted by Linda (Maricopa, Az) on 01/20/2015
Interesting technique, but very painful. I have been cold sore free for over 30 years. Prior to using a treatment (I received from a nurse) I had sore large sores at least 4 times a year. This nurse told me to get some drinkable iodine, place 10 drops in a large glass of water, drink it up, do this for 30 days. She said the virus for this herpes lives in the pancrease and this iodine kills it. Well it worked for me. I recommend this to my friends - think they are a bit sceptical - so they may not ever use it. You may want to try this.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Timh (KY) on 03/06/2015 2041 posts
Licorice is a potent antiviral and worth the recommend, but, yes, the Glycyrrhizic Acid makes it unpopular as the bad side effects of elevated Aldosterone thus sodium retention and hypertension. To reduce these side effects one can go on a very low sodium and increased potassium diet for the few days of taking Licorice.
Also, most folks take advantage of the deglyccerinated form of licorice or DGL. Therapeutic doses of DGL could be taken together w/ minimal doses of regular strength Licorice (also w/ low sodium diet) for maximum benefit and minimal side effect.
L-Lysine
Posted by Timh (Louisville, Ky, Usa) on 08/01/2012 2041 posts
Becky, the herb St John's Wort is both antiviral and antidepressant. Outside of the typical vit/min used to boost immunity, of which some it seems he's taking, try the Thymus Gland support I posted a few days ago, here:
https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/lyme_disease.html#MR_71105
Cold Showers or Cold Baths or swimming is a powerful whole body/mind booster w/ immediate as well as long-term benefits; you can find it in the "remedies" section at the top of the E. C. page.
Hope this helps and good luck.
L-Lysine
Posted by Sherry (Vancouver, Bc) on 12/08/2012
RA and Mania are both tied to gluten intolerance. It has incredible systemic reactions. Do some research and get him off gluten and dairy. It'll make the world of difference.
Geranium Oil
Posted by Janet (Fernley, Nevada) on 07/11/2012
★★★★★
I was just told about using Geranium oil on cold sores and will never use anything else it worked fast!!! I had 2 cold sores and a 3rd one on its way. The 2 had popped already and were starting to scab, I put a drop of Geranium oil on my finger and dabbed it on the sores 2 or 3 times through out the day. It doesn't taste great if it gets in your mouth but oh well. I would put on carmex inbetween Geranium oil applications. The next day the 3rd sore never came, the smaller sore was gone and the bigger sore was much smaller!! My sister in law says she puts it on before the blisters pop and it clears right up, mine were open already and it still worked super fast! It is now day 3 I have not put anymore Geranium oil on it since day 1 and my cold sores are all almost GONE! I love it!!!
Acetone, Aloe Vera
Posted by Merrin (Perth, West Australia) on 05/30/2012
G'day! After suffering from unsightly coldsores due to stress a friend recommended Lysine, an amino acid. I take a 500mg tablet every day or two. If I feel the "tingle" I increase the dose and that seems to do the trick, stopping the nasty beast in its tracks.
Red Marine Algae
Posted by Sue M. (Worden, Il, Usa) on 05/18/2012
★★★★★
I was also starting to get frequent cold sores... Every couple of months and I felt terrible with them. So, I was doing some research and read on Dr. Mercola's website that if you take Red Marine Algae( with gigartina/dumontacea in the formula) that this will help prevent you from getting the cold sores. So far, so good. It's been a couple of months and no signs of an episode.
Acetone, Ice, Lysine
Posted by Maz (Philadelphia, Pa, Usa) on 04/26/2012
★★★★★
I woke up with COLD SORES on a Tuesday morning, and I was going to fly across the country to visit my boyfriend that Friday! No way was I going to see my boyfriend for the first time in a month and NOT be able to kiss him! I used ice AND lysine AND acetone. Here's how:
LYSINE: Took 3000 mg as soon as I got up, 2000 mg at lunch, and 2000 mg at bedtime. The second and third days, I took 2000 mg at each of the same times.
ICE: Iced ASAP for about 20 minutes. This stopped the tingling and pain for about half an hour after I was done. Iced again a few hours later for another 20 minutes.
ACETONE: After icing, I used a Q-tip to CAREFULLY soak each cold sore with acetone for about a minute. As soon as the tingling or pain came back, I soaked the sores with the acetone again. I did this for about an hour and a half, then rinsed my lips with lots of cold water. I soaked the sores with acetone again one time right before going to bed. The second day, I used the acetone one time in the morning and one time at night.
The sores were GONE by the end of the second day. My lips WERE red and puffy for another day or so in the places where I'd used the acetone -- so be aware that you might be replacing your cold sore with a chemical burn.
I have not tried using these three things separately, so I can't tell you which one is the best. But using all of them together worked for me!
Acetone
Posted by Yessssss (Ft Lauderdale, Fl) on 04/20/2012
★★★★★
So started getting a tingle on my chin and I immediately started applying cream it did nothing by the morning my whole chin was covered I read this post around noon it is now 4 and holy crap they're almost gone!!! Got a needle gently pricked each lump then got the nail polish remover soaked them for 5 min since every hr I have been applying a bit and it's almost gone awesome thanks guys
Acetone
Posted by Micah (Augusta, Ga) on 12/08/2012
★★★★★
I've used the acetone nail polish remover method twice in the last year. The first time I used it I had already had the cold sore on my lip for three days so it was pretty gnarly looking but I went ahead and did the acetone treatment anyway and it was almost 100 % healed within a few days when normally it would have taken two weeks. This time, I used the acetone as soon as I felt the cold sore and two days later its almost completely healed. It never got huge and super red and scabby. I am definitely a huge fan of this method.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Sms27 (Princeton, Nj, Usa) on 04/07/2012
★★★★★
I've tried many remedies, but what best works for me is a combination of lysine taken first thing in the morning and then twice more during the day, and in the first day of the sore, dabbing it periodically with tea tree oil, holding the cutip for a minute or so, then putting vaseline on it. Taking vitain C and zinc supplements speeds up the healing process. The best part about the teatree oil is that is dries the sore and it doesn't really break-up, making it easy to conceal, especially if you catch it within a few hours of forming. If you catch it before it starts swelling, when you just have tingling and itching, then it is very lkely it won't even form.
BHT
Posted by Art (Vancouver Bc, Canada) on 03/22/2012
★★★★★
I see a list for popular remedies but, under that list I do not see BHT (Butylated Hydroxy Toluene) for cold sores of which is a herpes virus. I for one am using it and am seeing the disapearance of one on my lip that used to break out every year. Some one here mentioned if you can't cure it you can at least control it. I say why control it when you can cure it. You can see the results of BHT under the remedies tab. Again I don't understand why it not under the list of popular remedies here as opposed to acetone which can be harmful. Acetone nay. BHT yea.
Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Tbo (Louisville, Kentucky) on 03/22/2012
★★★★★
I wanted to share an option for treatment of Herpes with all who are looking for and ALL NATURAL and VERY EFFECTIVE option. In recent years I have been learning more about natural foods verses commercial and processed foods. A year and a half ago I joined a local food Co-Op where they follow Weston A. Price Founation practices regarding food orgins. It has been a great benefit to me and my family's health. Learning how natural (truly natural) food sources are key in our overall health. So, when Herpes invaded my happy little life I was compelled to find a remedy that would be natural and beneficial as well.
I've tried acetone, apple cider vinegar (ACV), campho phenic and I take L-lysine daily and I am still getting the outbreaks and having the full cycle of an outbreak with blisters etc. Again, hoping this info and the link provided will help someone else out there looking for natural ways to live with this embarassing virus.
Acetone
Posted by Art (Vancouver Bc, Canada.) on 03/21/2012
Dear Bella_vcista2, If you have a cold sore you have a form of herpes. Taking BHT a food preservative that kills lipid coated viruses. Your cold sore will return as mine did but does no longer. You can get it at VRP (vitamin Research Products) very cheap. The informed have the power. Art.
Acetone
Posted by Lynel (Como, Colorado) on 03/25/2012
Everything you put on your skin is absorbed into you. I for one don't want any acetone inside me or on me. If you take one 500 mg. Tab of L-Lysine a day the cold sore will go away. It's a herpes virus from the whole Chicken Pox thing. That is what causes cold sores. L-Lysine is an amino acid. The ole bod need this.
Acetone
Posted by Dongyue (Culver, Ca) on 04/02/2012
I like to give many thanks for you for this good read!! I undeniably cherished every tiny bit of it. I've bookmarked your website to consider the new things you publish.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Crazyakplayer (Pc, Fl) on 01/29/2012
★★★★★
i usually get blisters on my lips twice a year did some research found that tea tree oil works good I bought some itch away oil from a herb shop and applied it to my sore it was completely gone in two days no scab or anything ive used abreava and it doesnt work the itch away oil is awsome
Blue Green Algae
Posted by Anna (San Mateo, Ca) on 01/27/2012
★★★★★
My best remedy for cold sore (and I suffer from that since my early age 1) I found around 6 to 7 years ago by coincidence: blue green algae. I used to take every day just 1g and observed during this time no cold sore outbreaks, and useally I had it every month at least once and very bad around my mouth and lips. Now I just take it when I feel this burning on my lips and take 1g to 2g and mostly it prevents me from outbreak. And when I already got cold sore and took blue green algae then - it helped to heal so much faster and the pain was nearly gone. Zovirax never helped me.
Homeopathic Remedies
Posted by Nicole (Rockford, Il) on 01/13/2012
★★★★★
I picked up "herplex" (a herpes homeopathic formula tablets) from Walmart a while back. I got it from the clearence section. I'm now looking all over for it. It works wonders for cold sores. Seriously when I take it, no blister forms and all symptoms gone in 2 days max! So if anyone sees this in any store please comment and let me know which one. It is all natural and has some weird ingredients like crab apples and even poison ivy. Weird ingredients aside I want more!
Acetone
Posted by Lilly (Lancaster, California) on 01/27/2012
★★★★★
So I woke up with a bump on my lip the other day... I freaked cuz I knew it was coming I went to the store and got everything to try to keep it from bursting into a full on cold sore... Too late!! Ugg. I work as a host at red robin and I have had 2 days doing everything I can to get rid of it before I go back to work. I came across a few sites and found this... Nail polish remover it sounded scary but it has dried it compleatly. I mixed it with rubbing alcohol and used a qutip to put chapstick all around the sore cuz I am afraid that the nail polish remover would kill the heathly skin on my lips then I dapped the mixture on the sore for 5 mins every 20 mins with out touching it or irritating it in between, I work at 5 today and it looks like I'm not going to have to worry about ppl staring at my mouth, if only I knew about this sooner.... It really does work ppl
Acetone
Posted by Careshare (Los Angeles, Ca, United States) on 03/08/2012
Putting any type of of chemicals like bleach or acetone on a cold sore is a bad idea. It may get rid of it temporarily but it could cause unwanted side effects. The root cause of the cold sore is a virus, so you want to use treatments that attack the virus directly.
I've had good success using Lysine to treat cold sores. Here are a few good articles on cold sore treatments you can check out:
www.health911.com/cold_sores - In depth overview of a cold sore and various treatments
http://www.holisticallyhaute.com/2012/03/do-you-get-cold-sores-heres-how-to.html - Good article on natural remedies
www.yourcoldsoreremedies.com - Shows various natural treatment options you can choose from.
I know cold sores can be a major pain, but its better to do some research and use a safe treatment.
Acetone
Posted by Ads (Atlanta, Ga) on 12/18/2011
★★★★★
I had a cold sore pop up on Friday and I had a Christmas party that night so I started freaking out! I read about acetone so I started putting it on that day and it never got swollen at all. The next day the blisters had dried almost completely. And on Sunday it had completely dissolved. Acetone is amazing!
Acetone
Posted by Laurilyn (Priest River, Idaho) on 02/17/2012
★★★★★
It WORKS like magic! I have fought this virus since my college days. I have tried oral L-lysine, topical L-lysine, ice, 3%H2O2, 70% Isopropyl alcohol, and every other idea. Acetone nail polish remover on a Q-tip right on the cancker sore dried it up right away. Thanks so much, I have an interview on Tuesday. I was so worried I would NOT get it cleared up in the next 4 days. NOW. No worries!
Acetone
Posted by Kathleen Gridley (Uk) on 02/25/2015
★★★★★
I have terrible cold sores and hemoform serum works wonders. When applied everyday, the sores never get those ugly huge scabs. And the best part is they don't hurt. I would highly recommend this to anyone who suffers with cold sores
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Herpes (Phoenix, Arizona) on 11/11/2011
I have been diagnosed with the Herpes Simplex Virus (type 1 & 2). Ever since then I have been devastated and trying to find a 'CURE' (not treatment) for it. After doing some research here is what I got so far. I'm taking VIT C, zinc, VIT A (nonfat soluble), and lysine every day to build up my immune system. A strong immune system is a must have, especially if someone is infected with this bs virus. I take the lysine every other day because I noticed some adverse effects coming from it. I did some research on colloidal silver and know it can kill the virus so I bought that. The only problem with that is the virus hides in your neurons so it's hard to reach it. I'm thinking if there is any way to bring out the virus then I made be able to kill it with the silver.
I heard of a herb that can maybe bring out the virus from hiding called Yakeow, it's a Thai natural herb or something like that. Another thing I came across was known as BHT, which disrupts the herpes virus's lipid membrane coating function. Another thing was coconut oil which kills the lipid membrane of the virus.
Another thing I came across was DSMO, so I know DSMO provides an oxidative effect on the applied area, so I was thinking since the herpes virus cannot survive in oxygenated areas, we apply that with the Yakeow (to help bring it out) to its hiding place. This is lower back area (lower spine). Plus DSMO allows penetration through your skin very easily so I was thinking to use that of getting to the virus. Maybe put some colloidal silver on that area too before applying the DSMO. Doctor even use it for their penetrating abilities. They say it hides around your lower spine, in the nerves. I would do that and eat only basic foods because this virus thrives in an acidic environment. Therefore, by lowering your body's pH you will disrupt the virus. Maybe get a pH drink or something, I hear they have those. I would get foods that have very little or no carbs because the herpes virus needs those to function. Obviously, stay away from foods that have carbs, chocolate and definitely sugar. I would use a 2% iodine skin patch on my skin to help fight this virus also. I would also order Astragalus which fights breakouts outs quickly. Astragalus, colloidal silver, and Dynamiclear are the best ways to fight a herpes breakout.
After doing all this, I think I may be able to CURE herpes once and for all! I was also maybe thinking, have a surgeon cut my back open at the area that it hides and apply colloidal silver, BHT, Coconut oil, and/or others maybe lysine to that area where its hiding. This thing is controlling my life. I know they say it's not that bad and whatever but for me it is! I have read many support articles and posts about it. I can't comfortably date or even talk to women anymore! The psychological distress is too much for me! I feel that I will never get over it. I had this for about 2 months now.
Please give me some comments people, I need help!! I am going to try this and will not give up until I cure this thing. If this is indeed a way to cure herpes, I am calling dibs and copywriting this so nobody try to steal it!
Here is my email, andre200923 (at) ymail (dot) com
Let me know what you guys think please!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Lilly (Milwaukee, Wi) on 10/24/2011
Hello all... Just wanted to share my personal story with using fghp (food grade hydrogen peroxide 35%). First of all let me just say that I started the program and have fallen off a couple of times. I made it up to the 25 drops in distilled water 3times /day, and I continued that for about 10 days. I contracted hsv type 1 from a boyfriend through oral sex. I must say that my immune system at that point was very weak, I have also always battled with candida, and caught every cold my kids brought home. I have only had one outbreak and have been diagnosed for about 7months and I'm not sure if it is because of the fghp or not (which I started about about 2mo ago) but I must say it's done wonders for me. At first I wasn't sure what was wrong with me for 8 days of the program because I was eliminating large amounts of mucus. Around the 8th or 9th day I had so much energy I didn't know what to do with myself and I'm normally a person who can't get enough sleep. Around the 10th-11th day I developed a medium size blister (or could have been a herpe) I say blister because there was only one on my genital area and with my initial outbreak there were many. In general I noticed that my skin became clearer, as well as my thoughts. I firmly believe that all dis-ease starts with yeast then moves to fungi/mold... etc... As I stated earlier I go for testing next week where I will ask for a test that can measure viral count so at least if it's still in my system I have somewhere to measure from (because my 1st initial test was non-specific re:viral count).
Wish me luck! I will keep everyone posted if I still have the virus even if I don't I will be more religious about taking fghp. When I fell off the program I noticed a dramatic difference in my energy level and overall emotional state. I may also do a 10day green fast. I highly recommend reading works by a Dr. Robert O. Young who's theories are based on there being only one real disease which is over acidification of the body. Take care everyone and stay positive!
