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.
L-Lysine
Posted by Al (Orlando, Fla) on 08/24/2008
★★★★★
This site is the best thing I have found! I was in complete depression after a wrestling sparring partner infected me with Herpes Gladiatorum (HSV1) on my neck and face. It was a nightmare and this site was my salvation. I have tried L-Lysine and it worked perfectly, even if I feel a new OB I just start taking 3K Mg daily it has been under control. In addition I use Hydrogen Peroxide and smash a L-Lysine Pill and put in my face.
The only problem right now is that even the sores are closed, the red marks/spots on my face and neck are still there even after more than two months of being diagnosed with HSV1! Sometimes it gets irritated when I shave, is this normal?? Can someone please recommend me what to do?
Astringent Toner
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 08/23/2008 489 posts
Hi Juliana, For future reference for your herpes simplex (cold sore), when you first notice that tingling feeling that heralds a budding cold sore, start taking L-lysine 2 grams (200 mgms) 4 times a day and you will find it drying up by the next day. I have found L-lysine effective against all viruses that I have tried it for to date.
Astringent Toner
Posted by Juliana (Calgary, Canada) on 08/22/2008
★★★★★
I got Cold Sore while camping this summer. I have no clue how I got it, could be from sharing cups or from the grass. I felt the tingle on my upper lip while returning home. I went to see the doctor immediately. The doctor recommended acyclovoir cream, but I don't find it very effective. However, the nurse told me to wet a cotton ball with alcohol and rub around the lips for 5 minutes. I didn't have alcohol at home by then, so I used my toner instead, because there are alcohol in my toner. I felt comfortable using toner since I used then after washing my face everyday anyways. I wet the cotton part of bandage with Astringent Toner and stick the bandage on the bump. I repeated this about 3-4 times daily for two days, and my cold sore disappeared! The toner I used is called Garnier Pure - Astringent Toner - Tighten Pores. You can get it almost anywhere.
Hydrogen Peroxide and DMSO
Posted by NONE YA BIZZ (FT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA) on 08/18/2008
★★★★☆
HI I am from florida and i have tried dmso and h2o2 by mixing together and putting on a very large bandage and leave for a few hours at a time i havent had a break out yet but its only been almost a month and i have not yet been tested again and plus i dont even know if im doing it right but i do know dmso and h2o2 is less costly on the internet!!!!!!!!! i also douch with h2o2 try it of course dilute it alot and use 35% food grade 3% aint bout s--t i feel this is the first step to the cure but next month im getting h2o2 therapy in milton fl the consultation is 300 very expensive i dont yet know the cost of the actual procedure that consist of putting h2o2 in a iv wish me luck if it works i will make a web sight for people who suffer and it will be free only the devil would make money off of peoples pain and remember it will be called the free real cure to herpes!!!!
Neosporin
Posted by Jungle (NY, NY) on 08/09/2008
★★★★★
i don't know how advanced my sores are, they're not all that bad, but whenever i get the slight notion of a tingle on my lip i slather my lips in neosporin, the anti-bacterial stuff in it kills it i suppose!
L-Lysine, Nail Polish Remover
Posted by Victoria (Saint Johns, FL) on 08/06/2008
★★★★★
I get about 2 or 3 cold sores a year. Unfortunately, the last cold sore I got hit me in the middle of the night as I slept so when I woke up, it was already in the painful stage. Finally fed up with these unsightly things, I did some internet searches and found several positive remarks about applying nail polish remover AND so I immediately dabbed a q-tip in it and stuck the tip directly at the cold sore site. The sore had come out by this time but it was still small and had not broken the skin. I made sure to place a folded tissue on my lips to catch any nail polish liquid excess. After a few seconds, I felt it burning inside! I repeated this for a total of 3 times that day and twice the next day and my small cold sore only lasted 3 days! Otherwise, it would normally have lasted 7 days. It never became a scab. I also read up on L-Lysine capsules and decided to keep them at hand for my next cold sore. Well, this morning, I felt a tingling on my upper lip which started to turn pink and swell so I immediately took 2 500MG capsules of L-Lysine and dabbed on some nail polish remover (2 times). I can honestly say that it is completely gone! No sore, no redness, no swelling! I am also taking 2 more L-Lysine capsules before going to bed as a precaution. I am recommending this remedy to everyone I know.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by secondch@nce (Phuket, Thailand) on 08/05/2008
I was just wondering, How do you apply apple cider vinegar if it's Genital herpes? You know, the sores and all in the insides? does it also, like, heal or helps to keep it from too much itching and burning?
Ice
Posted by Noel Nepomuceno (Palm Springs, CA) on 07/22/2008
★★★★★
Once you feel a tingling sensation and know that a cold sore is about to come out, ice it for ten minutes, put alcohol on the affected area, then put fresh aloe vera on it. Cold sore is a virus. Viruses do not like ice cold and therefore, ice puts them back to their dormancy. Alcohol is to kill the virus that's already on the skin. Aloe vera is to heal the wound. Repeat this procedure throughout the day, 3 to 4 x. The cold sore will not come out. If you did not catch it on time, you may still do this procedure and I can ssure you, the cold sore will not grow bigger. And in two to three days, the cold sore will be be gone.
Olive Leaf Extract
Posted by Chloe (Providence, RI) on 07/20/2008
★★★★★
Hi Everyone ~ I discovered Olive Leaf Extract (I use the one by 'Herb Pharm', purchased at Whole Foods Market - haven't tried other brands. Well, all my life, I would get at least two terrible cold sores per year. Even after two weeks of looking awful, I would be left with a scar for at least a month...I was so upset every time. They were the bane of my existence!
The very first time I tried Olive leaf extract, I was on the verge of another cold sore. I put about 2-3 droppers full in a small amount of water. Within moments I could feel the initial swelling going away. I ran to the mirror because I thought I was imagining things! I wasn't! The nasty little thing was disappearing before my eyes.
It's been 4 years now and I've had only one (pretty mild) cold sore and all because I hadn't taken the olive leaf at the first signs of fatigue, dry lips, and a feeling of being 'run-down' which always precedes the outbreak. My Mom also had these her whole life, and it works wonders for her too. The key is to use it preventatively, as well as extra doses at the onset of a breakout. I've many droppers full of it, and it has no side effects whatsoever - other than good ones! Also, using it topically, directly on the area where you usually breakout, in addition to internally is helpful also.
Interestingly enough, some biblical scholars believe that the "Tree of Life" represents the Olive Tree and that the Dove which carried a twig/branch to Noah, was carrying an Olive Twig. I truly hope this helps any of you dealing with problem. I Love, Love, Love this website! :-)
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Cassie (Augusta, GA) on 06/29/2008
★★★★★
ACV or Tea Tree Oil to cure cold sores.
I used ACV on a q-tip pressing firmly, and repeated several times throughout the day. This began to dry up the cold sore on my upper lip after only a few hours...however, it caused a bit of skin irritation around the area which kind of defeated the purpose (i have very sensitive skin). So the next day I switched to tea tree oil applied with a q-tip (making sure to use new q-tips for each application). Cold sore is almost completely dried and the irritation from the ACV is dissapearing.
Garlic
Posted by Anna (Charlotte, USA) on 06/29/2008
★★★★★
Garlic Remedy for Cold Sores: My mom traveled to Europe and while she was there, cold sores broke out around her mouth. An Austrian man saw her and told her to cut a clove of garlic in half and hold it to the area for 10 minutes three or four times a day. It works like a charm for her.
Baking Soda
Posted by Jay (Altoona, FL) on 06/25/2008
★★★★★
I found that the virus that causes cold sores does not like bicarbonate of soda. I was usually able to half the time to heal by applying the soda to the open lesion several times a day.
Ear Wax
Posted by Helena (New York, NY) on 06/24/2008
I've heard about using ear wax on cold sores, was surprised not to see it mentioned here. You put it on when you first get the sore. Take a Q-tip, get some ear wax out and spread it on your sore. Be careful not to put the q-tip back in your ear, you might cross-contaminate!
Unfortunately didn't know about this until mine had horribly popped and scabbed over. I tried icing it, and putting apple cider vinegar on it but didn't seem to help much... Hopefully I'll not have a chance to try this remedy out soon! Hopefully no cold sores again soon.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Carol (Greenville, USA) on 06/23/2008
★★★★★
I too have had coldsores all my life and am 50 yrs old now. I had a sore in the inside of my nose for 3 days , first I dapped peroxide.3% on the outside and the inside where I felt it sore and there was no change into the 3rd day. On the 3rd day I inhaled 3 or 4 puffs of a mix of half water and half .3% peroxide cheap Wal -Mart kind, from a 2 oz spray bottle that you can buy at Wal Mart for .50 in the toothpaste aisle where they have travel size items, and 2 hours later all the nose pain was GONE and no longer had a sore in my nose , it vanished. I also used Apple cider Vinegar the off brand at Wal- Mart GV . It's such a great value too, only $2.99 and I take the pinch or 1/4th tsp of Baking Soda and 2 TBLS of APPLE CIDER VINEGAR in 4 oz of COLD WATER and it has lowered my heartrate from 117 to 72.This has also lowered my BLOOD PRESSURE from to 112/60 I feel full of energy and I do this before I eat first thing in the morning and last thing at night. I sometimes take it at NOON for a pick me up. I no longer have acid reflux/ GERD. I sleep and breathe better as I have sleep apnea.
EC: Read more about the Hydrogen Peroxide Inhalation method here.
Aloe Vera
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 06/21/2008 489 posts
Amanda, from Miami, Increase that l-lysine to 2 grams (2000 mgms) 4 x a day and see if it doesn't work. It always works for me at that dosage. You might also consider avoiding high arginine foods, like peanuts.
Aloe Vera
Posted by Amanda (Tampa, FL) on 06/19/2008
★★★★☆
I have gotten cold sores since I was little. And I am 22 now and i still get them. My docter use to give me this paste for them however it just made them look worse and never helped. Last summer I got cold sores probably about once every 2 weeks. As soon as one was gone another one would come in its place. I have bought everything you can buy at walgreens. None of it works, esp. Abreva the stuff just flat out does not work. I went on the internet one day and found that Aloe Vera, if you put it on the cold sore as soon as it starts it stunts the cold sore and it never gets any bigger. I also use L-Lysine tablets, about 4,000 or more mgs a day if I go to the beach while I don't have a cold sore, I will still take about two or so tablets. Also my docter gave me valtrex which does work well but only if you catch the cold sore right as it is starting to form, which is hard to do since I am not always at home when they start. Carring supplies in your purse is helpful though, I know it's a pain but when you get cold sores you gotta do what you gotta do. Last night I was at work and felt one forming on my lip. It never got any bigger and I thought it wasn't going to but than another one started to form on my lip also. I ran home and put aloe on it but I think i was too late. I am trying Apple Cider Vineger right now and so far it seems to be working so I think this will go in my list for remedies, lol. Thank you!
Acetone
Posted by Frosty (Atlanta, GA) on 06/15/2008
★★★★★
I fully agree. This actually works. Thanks everyone for their remedies.. im surprised they work but very thankful!
BHT
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 06/15/2008 489 posts
Genital Herpes, For herpes of any kind I would be taking 2000 (2grams) of l-lysine mealtime and bedtime. As a matter of fact I would rely on this for any virus. When I start taking it when the fever blister first starts, it is already drying up by the next day after starting it.
BHT
Posted by Lee (Fremont, OH) on 06/11/2008
★☆☆☆☆
Ok after reading the above blog on BHT, I thought I would give it a try. So I began taking 250mg per day and over the course of a week or two ramped it up to 1000 mg per day. i continued this for 2 months not always taking 1000mg but varying between the 250 and 1000, and during this time I had far more (3 to be exact) and more severe outbreaks than I'd had in the 5 years since first realizing I had genital herpes. So, I would say BHT is an emphatic NO. I even combined it with ST. Johns Wart (hipericin). I have been outbreak free since quitting the BHT and thought well maybe this stuff actually worked and I had rid myself of the virus, but just last night I began feeling the familiar pain, like somebody punched me in the vag and it has continued onto today. No blisters yet but I'm sure they are coming. Since quitting the BHT, I have been boosting my immune system with extra zink, resveratrol, flax seed oil, mega doses of vitamin b, vitamins a+d, vitamin c. The boosting of the immune system seems to be the only effective therapy.
Acetone
Posted by Michelle (Buffalo, United States) on 06/01/2008
★★★★★
On Monday I woke up and felt a tingling feeling in and around my nose. I immediately jumped up and cleaned my face. After washing I put novitra and abreva around the area that was tingling. This method use to work for me however it seems like with any remedy that works my system eventually become immune to the concoction or remedy and I have to find something else. Well that is exactly what happened to me this time around. I ended up with a full blown cold sore, starting in one nostril and traveling around to the other one with a cluster all on the bridge of my nose ending on the very brim of my right nostril. Very big and very embarrassing! Needless to say there went my entire week. I took off two days of work and it ruined my weekend. Just when I thought the worst was over, I was going to bed on Saturday and prepared to go through my nightly routine of washing my face etc, and low and behold there was a small tingling feeling on my upper lip. I'm screaming to myself this can't be happening. I can't afford to take off anymore work and expect to have a job when I come back but I can't endure another week of having an embarrassing cold sore at work. I put some Abreva and novitra on it and when I went back approximately 5 minutes later, it appeared to be forming a cluster. I immediately jump on line to see if I can find any type of alternative treatment and I came across this website. After reading all the comment I realized it was extremely late and I had to work with what I had. So I immediately went to work. I ran to the sink and dabbed a Q-tip in Acetone nail polish remover. I left it on the cluster for about 2-3 minutes. I then grabbed an ice cube from the freezer and compressed it against the sore blister until it had completely melted. I then dipped another Q-tip into the nail polish remover and left it on for 2-3 minutes. I put some more Abreva and Novitra on it and went to bed. When I woke up the thing was completely gone. Just to be sure I repeated all of these steps again and plane to do it again before I go to bed. But so far so good. I just wanted thank everyone for posting their remedies. If they hadn't, I'd probably be out of a job right now.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Katie (Tulsa, Oklahoma) on 05/31/2008
Dear Johnnie from Teaneck, Don't freakout about your hubby running around yet. You said you have been getting cold sores on your mouth for several years, well those cold sores are exactly the same as genital herpes. your hubby could have got them from you, (kissing or otherwise) either on his mouth or the nether regions and then passed them right on to you. What you described does sound like genital herpes, and in most people it can actually take years to show up and in men they may never know they have it. So you both could have just passed it back and forth starting at the top and then to the bottom. Now I'm not say'n your hubby is innocent, I cant possible know that but don't hang him yet. I hope this has helped, good luck sugar.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Tracy (Suffield, CT) on 05/19/2008
Thanks for the information about artificial sweetneers link to herpes outbreaks. I recently had been chewing sugarless gum and sugarless mints and had a few outbreaks during a 3 week period. I now know that it is probably linked. I can't afford the Valtrex to take all the time and started taking Garlic twice a day and haven't had any breakouts. I was reading over this site and there is a lot of talk about Lysine, I am going to research that as well. About the Stevia (Sweetleaf) it is wonderful and natural. Forget the artificial sweetners, they are not good for you!Thank you everyone for your help!
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 05/18/2008 489 posts
Hello Harry, Read the ingredients on those breath mints, especially if they say sugar free, because many of these also contain aspartame. There is one sugar substitute that has been found safe (so far). It's called stevia and comes from the leaf of a plant. Has a slight licorice taste, but I like it. It can be found in any health food store - I have also been told it can be found in some of the grocery stores now. The price will seem to be very high until you find out how little you use, compared to sugar. I believe that l tsp of stevia is equal to one cup of sugar. Try it and I think you'll like it. Also for any virus you may get in the future, including herpes, you will find that 2 grams (2000mgms) of L-Lysine 4 times a day works better & is much cheaper than the prescription antiviral drug!
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Harry (Vancouver, Canada) on 05/18/2008
Herpes outbreaks: stay away from aspartame, please read labels before u eat food. aspartame is in following. NO SUGAR-LESS GUM - stick to breath mints instead. NO DIET SODA- stay away from all diet products, drink water or regualar soda NO SWEET & LOW or any sugar substitute, they all trigger herpes. stick to regular sugar. i've had no outbreaks in the last 4 yrs, stay away from doctor prescribed herpes medication, they don't work. aspartame triggers outbreaks, please do your research. www.aspartamekills.com
