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.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by David (Los Angeles, CA) on 01/15/2008
★★★★★
Well.. it's official.. this last week, what I thought was a zit on my chin, slowly turned into a large festering herpes wound. How fun for me. I don't need a biopsy to know, it's herpes. I've had a bit of a bout with swollen lymph nodes, fever, and overall yuck. I didn't see a doctor because it was the weekend and I wanted to see if it would go away for a day or two. I usually take chinese herbs at the first sign of a cold and never get fully sick, but this lasted more than 24 hours so I new it was something different. As always when something comes up medically I try to research online to feel empowered. I'm here to mention the wonders of Apple Cider Vinegar. My festering wound over a couple of days turned into a giant scab a top a large red mound that seemed to be competing with my nose for who could stick out the farthest. I had read that this was the period when it would heal because it's scabbed but who the hell wants to walk around with a scab on their face. Anyway, this morning after I decided I could no longer look at this awful scab on my chin I used tweezers to remove it hoping it had had enough time to heal beneath. Well, it didn't. Immediately it started oozing and breathing and winking as if to laugh at my naivet'e. I think I even heard it growl once but that may have been the dog next door. Well, long story too long, I decided to use apple cider vinegar on the wound. I just kept pouring it on my chin letting it air dry fully, then any ooze got dabbed off with tissue and then another pour and air dry. After about maybe 10 or so times going through this the gaping wound finally gave up it's relentless fight and went dry with out needing to scab. Victory was mine. The rest of the day it has significantly reduced and I feel like I can almost show my face to the world without being embarrassed. The real problem with the herpes virus is it's friggin' ugly.. If it gets to the point of being an open wound, apple cider vinegar will heal it faster. I've also drank a cap full 3 times today mixed with apple juice. That plus vitamins and L-Lysine for the past couple days may have been helping, but the scabby, woundy part is healed because of straight apple cider vinegar poured on it. I'm confident that I will know the signs earlier next time and use other remedies to catch it BEFORE it becomes the messy roommate living on my face that it became this time. Knowledge is power. Thanks for letting me share in the posters knowledge and to now add mine. Peace.
Ear Wax
Posted by Brigitte (Houston, Texas) on 01/11/2008
★★★★★
Thank you for the information regarding Herpes outbreaks. Luckily the colc sore that I have is not a terribly aggressive form. I seldom have a problem but when I do the colc sore forms on my cheek. Last night I began to feel the tingeling sensation which is a precurser to its appearance. I tried the DMSO and hydrogen peroxide which simply burned and did nothing to prevent the manifestation of the cold sore. This morning It hurt really bad and I am expecting a vivit from family and I did not want them to see my face with a festering postule so in desperation to stop the burning, itching, and tingeling, I tried the ear wax because I had none of the other more hygenic ingredients which are spoken of in other articles. To my utter disbelief, It worked to stop the pain almost imediately the swelling has stopped and I am saved the embarrassment of having the eye sore while my inlaws are visiting. Thank you again for this home remedy. I will use it again in the future.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lisa (Wichita , KS) on 01/05/2008
★★★★★
I found this site a week ago and Thank God I did. I have been suffering for 30 years with cold sores from time to time and NOTHING has helped with my cold sores. I have tried everything. So I thought I would try ACV. I put ACV on a cotton ball and held it on my cold sore for a few minutes 4 times a day at the first sign of the tingling. In 48 hours my cold sore was gone! It is amazing! Thank you earthclinic.com
Aspirin, St. John's Wart, Tea Tree Oil
Posted by K (New York, New York) on 12/27/2007
★★★★★
This Works on Contact. Remove the top skin from the cold sore/herpes simplex. Ground Aspirin with 2 drops or tea tree oil (organic) and 2 drops of St. John's Wart liquid form (organic). If your a baby and you can't take pain you can numb it with Ambersol. It will kill the virus on site. It will form a scab immediately, stops the oozing, itching and swelling.
Witch Hazel
Posted by Dada (Boston, Ma, US) on 05/28/2009
★★★★★
Well, of all these remedies only this one works for me. Thank you!
Head and Shoulders Shampoo
Posted by Varick (Brooklyn, NY) on 04/14/2009
Head and Shoulders shampoo has zinc in it, zinc has been known to help prevent and/or cure herpes.
Head and Shoulders Shampoo
Posted by Jennifer (Phoenix, AZ) on 04/14/2009
Hello, to respond and add to your message about herpes, if you use iodine at the first sign of tingling or itching, no cold sores will develop at all and if they do, no scabbing , no swelling , i dont know what is in iodine that doesn't allow the whole inflamation to develop. You can easily get rid of the sore before it develops in 1 - 2 days. Eat healthy, take vitamin C, if you feel it coming on, take echinacea, it never failed me, it stops the cold sores from developing. If you follow this protocol, you can minimize to stop outbreaks altogether.
Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Mario (Olympia, Washington) on 10/17/2007
★★★★★
I felt my cold sore coming on like I normally do about this time of year when my core temperature drops, but because I've been changing my dieting habits I decided to fast on blended fruits and dark leafy green vegetables until it went away. The cold sore came to a head much like a pimple so I popped it and it just dissappeared. At the time I thought that perhaps it was just a pimple but now it is a few weeks later and it has reappeared as a cold sore much smaller and more towards the inner part of my mouth which has never happened in the 15 years I've had it. In fact it had spread within the last three years and I thought I had made it permanently bigger. I believe it has come back because within the last week I have eaten a lot of junky foods again. So my suggestion would be just eat fruits and vegetables either whole, blended, or juiced until the cold sore goes away. It will give your body a chance to regroup and deal with it and other ailments that you may be experiencing.
Oil Pulling
Posted by Paige (Seattle, WA) on 09/02/2007
★★★★★
9/2/07: I have been oil pulling with sunflower oil once daily (mornings) for 3 weeks now,' and here are my observations from my journal:
For about 2 years I was unable to chew on the right side of my mouth because of tooth pain and extreme sensitivity to hot, sweet, cold, etc. I strongly suspect I am in need of another root canal. Starting with the second day of oil-pulling I found the entire right side of my my mouth was no longer sensitive. Beginning with the 3rd day, I was able to chew on the right side of my mouth, albeit gingerly. Now, 3 weeks later I chew on the right side of my mouth equally with the left side - no pain, no sensitivity. And I've noticed my teeth feel more secure and they no longer feel 'loose. And as many has commented on, they feel cleaner and look whiter.
The audible wheezing noises while breathing whenever I would lie down have stopped. I seem to be sleeping better too. Some nights all the way through. I have a way to go on this problem, though.
Milk makes my lungs fill with phlegm which was really hard for me to expectorate in the mornings. This too has stopped. Despite continuing to drink milk (homemade probiotic Kefir, actually) and the occasional milk in my coffee, teas and with cereal, my lungs no longer feel congested and I have no coughing fits anymore while trying to expel the congestion out of my lungs; no coughing either as there doesn't seem to be any congestion. I had been a heavy smoker for twenty-some years before quitting 18 years ago and this is probably the genesis of my lung problems.
Since early childhood I have had the herpes simplex virus in my body and suffered from frequent cold and canker sores. Now, by the time I feel one on my tongue it is gone in the morning. The other day the smallest, single-blister cold sore I ever had - which was all but invisible appeared in the corner of my mouth. It went through its stages and absolutely gone in 3 days, flat. Without treatment the blisters multiply and the healing process normally takes around 2 weeks.
NOTE: As I do not have the time nor disposition to do this oil-pulling therapy more than once a day - I 'pull' sometimes for over the 20 minutes - all the way up to an hour. None of my fillings have loosened or fallen out. A funny aside to all this is that I now find myself absent-mindedly 'pulling' all my drinks, coffee, tea, milk and if nothing else I am sure it is helping to remove food trapped in between my teeth.
Oil Pulling
Posted by Don (Tel Aviv) on 12/15/2015
Hi, since this is a very old post I would be very interested in hearing if you are still oil pulling and if you had any amalgam issues since? Thanks! Don
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Ivan (Tampa, Fl) on 05/23/2010
I have been sick with low grade fever and swolen neck glands for about a month. I also have been having tingling sensation inside my pennis.
I went to the doctor and they tested me for STDs and all negative.
Now, this week I started a military exersise working long hours, I don't drink soda but I needed something to drink during the long hours and I went for Coke One. And, surprise! My, first outbreak of genital herpes. So I had the Herpes with no outbreak until now. That explains a lot.
Well, my outbreak was quickly fading away and I hit the Coke One like 3 times yesterday. And today I wake up with a 2 new small blister in the same area!!!!
I hate you Coke One!!!
Honey
Posted by Peter (Paris, France) on 06/13/2007
★★★★★
I have been under treatment for years for Herpes Whitlow on my right hand, which occasionally manifests itself on my palette and genitals. I have always tested negative for herpes 2, and assumed my outbreaks are weird manifestations. Doctors here have never seen this combination of symptoms. They were debilitating until I started self immunizing my cat and pollen allergies with daily dose of different honeys, and cutting out practically all refined sugars in my diet. Whereas I would have an outbreak every twelve months on a maintenance dose of 500mg of Zelitrex daily (quadrupled during outbreaks) the last two outbreaks have been restricted to my finger and palette - a great improvement over previous ones. I feel the honey is helping my immune system suppress the virus, perhaps by keeping my immune system on alert all the time. I have upped my daily dosage of Zeleitrex to 15 mg, and would appreciate any comments from others who have found Honey a satisfactory palliative.
L-Lysine
Posted by Sheila (Kansas City, MO) on 05/11/2007
★★★★★
there's a vitamin called LYSINE -they sell it everywhere>>>GO BUY IT IT HELPS STOP fever blisters from coming and helps them go away..... i crush them up and put them on my lips IT WORKS
L-Lysine
Posted by Cs (Sg, Sgp) on 04/16/2013
★★★★★
I've tried just about everything. Lysine is the only thing that works.
DMSO
Posted by Beachgirl (Los Angeles, Ca) on 02/09/2010
★★★★★
DMSO also works for me. I use it any time I think I feel a tingle. But first I drank liquid oxygen for a few months and used the DMSO every day even though I was not having break outs. It has been years with no breakouts.
Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Christy (Pennsylvania, United States ) on 07/27/2022
It doesn't matter if raw chocolate and almonds are healthy to eat or not, they are still high in L-Arginine, which is why eating them leads to a breakout. I don't usually get a cold sore just from eating these foods, but if I have a breakout, it gets bigger and lasts longer if I have them. That includes nut butters as well. Eating foods higher in L-Lysine and taking a Lysine supplement is the only thing that works for me.
L-Lysine
Posted by Leslie (Barboursville, VA) on 03/03/2007
★★★★★
hey cool got it! speaking of foods and health, peanuts, coffee and chocolate all contain arginine, the amino acid which promotes the outbreak of herpes simplexes, esp. cold sores. Add lack of sleep and stress, and that risk increases. More than 97 percent of all humans have some form of these strains of viruses. To combat, take a supplement amino acid, L LYSINE, which tilts the see-saw of balance back. Usually a double dose at first then as directed for several days to prevent worsening of symptoms. The tingling outbreak will stop and it should start to heal within 24 hours (with good sleep, no coffee, etc). Also, the greens, arugula, italian rockette, will assist healing. A paste can be made to draw fluids off, too. Lip Balms sold at health food stores can be purchased that contain Lysine as well.
CAUTION: Do not take Lysine for long extended periods as it can have negative effect on the liver. Try to use foods instead and good care of the body. if necessary, milk thistle, dandelion root and burdock can assist the liver in rebuilding itself.
Oregano Oil
Posted by Briana (San Jose, CA) on 01/29/2007
★★★★★
well - i have successfully avoided an outbreak for 7 years (had one outbreak in 7 years)- i am vegan and eat organic and use no chemicals in my home- but i did have a start of an outbreak once and i rubbed wild oregano oil on it daily for 3 days and it disappeared-watch out though it burns like hell - though within 3 minutes it passes- you can dilute i with olive oil if you prefer- but i like to use it strong to stop it dead in its tracks!
Garlic
Posted by David (Reading, UK) on 12/06/2006
★★★★★
I felt the tingle and the beginning of the ache that arises when the preliminary bump starts to form on the lip, so applied half a cut garlic clove to it about three times a day. The ache stopped immediately on application, the swelling reduced and now there is only a very small crust formed, less than half the size it would normally be and I expect it to be gone by tomorrow. All this within two days, less than half the weekly cycle it normally takes. I have to say very impressed, a definite Yea. As a point of interest my Cold Sore first appeared after my lips got severely sunburned while on a boat. I was 30 years old and never had one before. So get that sunscreen on!
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Debra (Philadelphia, PA) on 09/09/2006
★★★★★
Cold sores/fever blisters I've been suffering with this problem over & over for quite some time and wasn't having any luck with the OTC stuff or Valtrax for that matter. I tried the H2O2 on its own & mixed with a crushed up L-Lysine tab (took FOREVER to crush into powder) the last time this happened but this time it seemed to come back stronger than ever. In a true moment of desperation I put 3 drops of Tea Tree Oil (TTO) into a dixie cup full of H2O2 grabbed some q-tips and (one by one never re-using) applied it to the cold sore over and over and over and over. I pressed the q-tip up against it hard and massaged it in. I swabbed my lips with it and the inside of my mouth. This process took about an hour but by the time I stopped the cold sore had gone from itching, oozing & weeping to white "bubbles" to dry crust/scab. I think I may start using TTO, baking soda & H2O2 as my new toothpaste and baking soda w TTO as my new "soap"!
Acetone
Posted by Maryann (Detroit) on 05/18/2006
★★★★★
I read on another site that nail polish remover works on cold sores so I tried it. With in two days it was gone. I put on the cold sore twice a day. I didn't have any of the usual scabbing either. So it was really great. Another thing that works really well is the amino acid L-Lysine. Before I found out about the nail polish remover I used to take L-Lysine alone which helped the reduce outbreak time. Next time I get a cold sore I probably will use both.
L-Lysine
Posted by AJ (IL) on 04/13/2006
★★★★★
Lysine didn't cure the herpes but it clears it up in no time. I also put hemorrhoid creme on the sore if it doesn't get opened. The ulcer is gone by the end of the day. If it does get opened then I used Hydrogen peroxide. It burns but it clears it up faster.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Angela (Portland, Maine) on 01/13/2006
I never drink diet sodas, or even soda in general, last night I had diet coke. I'm usually a more natural person. I've never had a cold sore in my life, overnight I developed a blood blister on my lip. I am very worried about it. I hope this is not a start to a very bad thing. I wish I would have known that these sweeteners do this before. Spread the word!
