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.
Vitamin E
Posted by Sue (Rochester, NY) on 05/07/2008
★★★★★
Try a dab of Vitamin E Oil several times a day at the first sign of a cold sore - it has worked great for me. The sore starts to dry up right away and is usually gone within 2 days.
Acetone
Posted by Karen (Lindenhurst, NY) on 05/06/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
I just want to say Dont use nail polish remover~!!! I tried this remedy and gave myself a bad chemical burn on my face. :-( Now I wish it was just a cold sore. I'll stick to L-Lysine in the future!
Sweet Orange Oil
Posted by Bishop (Tempe, Arizona) on 04/30/2008
★★★★★
Put drop or two of Sweet Orange Oil (Citrus sinensis) on the "fat/cracked lip" just before bed. Cures the problem overnight! This is a painless, tried and true remedy that I've given to many people. Some gentlemen note that, while the oil does NOT burn the lip, any of the oil that drips down onto shaved parts of the face will cause a rather nasty burning sensation. The solution is to smear some lavender oil below the lip, BEFORE applying the orange oil, to keep this from happening. Olive oil or most veg oils will also work but lavender oil works best. Since this burning sensation is rather common, anyone who shaves below the lip always should use the lavender oil first, then apply the sweet orange oil to the lip. If orange oil is not available, zest a little of the peel of an orange and apply to the lip. Anyone who tries this remedy, please email me and tell me how it worked.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Noone (Nowhere, USA) on 04/22/2008

I just wanted to say that I am so AMAZED and the info that i received here. I just recently found out that i was exposed to herpes (whatever that means) and i have lil to no outbreaks. I have been paying very close attention to what triggers them. I just so happened to come across this website and was snooping around and found the section where they discuss the outbreaks from artifical sweetners. I was in the midst of drinking sugar free red-bull and had been drinking those for two days prior to reading this. Low and behold, the follwing day i was having slight pains "down there" and i could not believe it..i was living proof that the reaction is VERY REAL!! so to anyone new to this page and are reading this..trust that this section is true and validated!!!
I also wanted to say that i have been drinking my ACV and i haven't felt a differenct yet, but i am glad just knowing that i am taking the steps needed to obtain the best health possible! thanks you all!!
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Dexter (Philly, USA) on 04/13/2008

I have experienced cold sores since I was a child. They are the kind that starts at the corner and spread across the whole lip. So naturally it affected my life in a very negative way, but there is hope. I recently saw that sunlight causes 1 in 4 cases so I used sunscreen on my face and lips, and I was cold sore free for almost 2 years. I say almost because at the end of september, I got a really bad cold and decided to take sugar free cough drops instead of regular cough drops. And Whoa, the next morning a fever blister was starting to form. I got upset and thought that the sunscreen was a hoax and there was nothing I could do to help my self. But I also knew that I have never got any past september so it made me investigate. Thank GOD, I did. I put 2 and 2 together and realized that the cough drops that were sugar free had sucralose(Splena) in them. And I almost ate the whole bag trying to rid my sore throat. So now I look at everything, as someone said before evern gum had sucralose in it. I hope this helps.
Maria Treben's Recipe
Posted by Christine (Virginia Beach, USA) on 04/10/2008
★★★★★
When I tried using apple cider vinegar on cold sores, I found that it burned my skin if I left the compress on too long.
So I am using Maria Treben's recipe for homemade calendula ointment instead. Take a pint of lard or beef tallow and melt it in a stainless steel or glass pot. Raise it to a boil and add as much calendula floers as you can pack in it, plus comfrey leaves (a handful).Turn down the heat and let simmer for a half an hour. Strain out the herb material and pour into jars. Let cool to room temperature and then refridgerate.
The mixture is greasy and will stain your clothes if you are not careful. Wear an old tee shirt if you can. Apply the ointment to your lips, face, and beneath the jawline to reach affected lymph nodes. The lard acts as a carrier for the calendula, which crosses the skim membrane readily.
Acetone
Posted by Christine (Virginia Beach, USA) on 04/09/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
While I am sure that acetone will work against cold sores, you should never use acetone or put it on your skin and nails. There's a reason that acetone smells nasty - because it actually IS nasty. It can cause cancer and is poisonous. NEVER put on your skin what you cannot put in your mouth. Poisons can enter your body through your skin, and many cosmetics are, unfotunately, poisonous.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Berks (London, England) on 04/06/2008

Hi all. I have been searching the net for days hoping i could find info beyond al the official sites etc. I have never had an outbreak of genital herpes before and was surprised to say the least when diagnosed. This has happened in the last few weeks and i have accepted the disease. After having the outbreak, i searched my brain for any changes in diet or anything that had possible changed. Sad as it sounds, i have not had sex for 3 years and did not know the virus could lay dormant for so long. When i saw this site, it hit me like a bolt of thunder! DIET PEPSI. I bought a few crates from a local whole sale store as i was on a diet and found that it prevent me eating late at night. After drinking 5 cans of this a night, it looks like it triggered something to cause an outbreak. Needless to say, i have switched back to sugar and will never go near sweetners again. My genital sore is now clearing up and i will report back in a few months to see if stopping sweetner prevents further outbreaks. Take care all. Berks
Vitamin E and Gold Bond Medicated Powder
Posted by Lucy (NY) on 02/26/2007
★★★★★
Remedy for HSV 1: Vitamin E either tabs or oil- (higher degree of IU's, the better) with Gold Bond Powder! Place both together on sores. It heals w/o any scabbing! Best to you all!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kendall (Minneapolis MN)
★★★★★
the only cure for cold sores and herpes is apple cider vinegar. i tried everything else and nothing worked. now when a cold sore comes on i immediately douse a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and hold it on the cold sore constantly --nite and day--until it stops burning. once it stops burning it scabs and begins to heal. with this therapy a cold sore lasts 1-3 days MAX.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by LaVon (Coeburn, VA) on 08/09/2006
★★★★★
Out of everything that I have used, this was the only thing that took care of the pain and with only one day use. Already the Fever Blister is drying up. Last week I got to much sun and it caused me to get a Fever Blister on my bottom lip... Had me crippled for about 3 days. Had to drink with a straw and had to eat finger food so nothing would touch my lip.. I was in pain... For some reason the internet was my only solution.. Looked up Old Timers Remedy....... Thank God I did... Read all about it, So, found a bottle and poured some in a glass, took a cotton swab and soaked the Fever Blister really good and WOW Pain City for about 30 sec. after the pain left the fever blister did not hurt anymore. I did this on and off all day, now it is late in the evening and the thing is healing. Gods Honest Truth Rem..... No Pain No Gain.
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
Melissa, Aka Lemon Balm
Posted by Anonymous (Alb NM)
★★★★★
When Lysine quits working, which for me was at about 20 years, only Lemon Balm works.
Fragipani
Posted by Gail (Surrey, Canada) on 03/16/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Hi Someone recommended Fragipani as a remedy for cold sores...I looked it up and they said the flower was poisonous, I have concerns about people trying anything in desperation, maybe a small amount of Fragipani is harmless, but I do think its wise to check first for safety sake.
Fragipani
Posted by Sam (Charlotte NC)
★★★★★
I use a plant from kenya called fragipani. It cures herpes 1 and 2 by just applying its juice on the sore. It will burn when applying first but you'll be fine in 10-15min. try it, it's easy to get it.
Butter
Posted by Tanya (New Zealand) on 07/02/2006
★★★★★
To cure a cold sore scrap off a bit of real butter with a teaspoon and hold over the stove until it turns brown. Let it cool down until it is warm and then put onto cold sore.
Liquid Bandaid
Posted by S (Deadwood, SD) on 09/11/2006
★★★★★
NuSkin applied to a cold sore will clear it up overnight with no scab