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 Jenny (Central, Nj) on 08/24/2012
★★★★★
At 33 years old I, for the first time developed a cold sore which started in the corner of my mouth but after a few days increased to the size of a silver dollar on my face. Desparate to make it go away I scoured the internet and found this page. Against my husbands wishes I tried the nail polish remover on a test section of the sore by applying twice within an hour to a small section of the sore. To my surprise I woke up the next morning and it was dried up and left a very small scab in that location. I was shocked so of course I did this to the whole sore by washing it with peroxide and then applying nail polish remover after with a cotton swab. Even though it stings, it was well worth it because the next morning it was all dried up and left small scabs. I followed it up with another treatment of nail polish remover that evening just to make sure the sucker was dead. The next morning I put first aid ointment on a few times and in two days later all scabs are gone and I am back to normal.
My best advice is to apply the nail polish remover instantly and not wait the five agonizing days that I did before I found this wonderful site!!!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Suzanne (INDIANA) on 05/01/2023
Lecithin taken daily will keep you from ever having another herpes outbreak again. I tried everything and lecithin is the only thing that works.
Ear Wax
Posted by Kylie (Whitianga, New Zealand) on 07/11/2012
★★★★★
Up in the Cook Islands a couple of years back I met an Australian woman who worked for a big pharmaceutical company in Aussie. We were talking about traditional remedies vs drugs, and she told me about a time that she had a massive cold sore and an Aboriginal woman stopped her on the street and told her to put ear wax on it. She admitted she didn't want to try it but I filed it away in my brain. Was surprised to see so many others on earthclinic have tried it and had success with it. I have no doubt if the Aboriginies use it that it must work, so just wanted to add a "yea" to the debate! Haven't tried it myself as fortunately I don't get cold sores but if I did I'd totally try ear wax first.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Coldsorenomore (Phoenix, Arizona Usa) on 10/13/2011
★★★★★
This is a great site. I LOVE it!
About a year ago I decided to try Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) on a big and ugly cold sore. Having first learned about ACV as a child about 35 years ago and then getting a great education about it from Earth Clinic, the idea just clicked. I took a cotton ball and soaked up a good amount of ACV. I would lie down for about 15 minutes with the wet cotton ball on my lip directly over the cold sore. Sometimes I would apply slight pressure to make sure of good contact. I did this about 3 times per day. The cold sore was completely gone in 3 days. It usually takes 2 weeks, no matter if I apply other mainstream and alternative remedies.
I got another cold sore about 2 weeks ago. It was just coming on. Had to move quickly, because I work with the public. Thankfully, it was during the weekend. I searched my memory about what I had done last time and remembered ACV. I did the same as above, and it was gone in 1 day. No joke and no exaggeration.
The ACV gave me a light burning sensation my lips and not just on the cold sore. My lips peeled mildly for the next few days. I believe there is no harm, and I certainly prefer a little peeling to a big, ugly cold sore. One thing I am cautious about is to keep the ACV on the cotton ball from touching my front teeth to prevent enamel erosion.
I hope this works for you.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Anonymous (Bklyn, Ny) on 09/30/2011
I just discovered this site and living with herpes, I felt so alone and ashamed. Through this site, I was able to run to the health food store and have begun treatment, I believe can heal my condition. I have had a breakout in the private and was able to use FGHP to dry it up almost instanty. Thank you earth clinic.
Turmeric
Posted by Going_28 (East Norriton, Pa, Usa) on 04/05/2011
★★★★★
I have been able to successfully suppress genital herpes outbreaks indefinitely with two daily doses (morning and night) of 3-4 300mg turmeric capsules per dose. So 3 or 4 in the morning, then 3 or 4 again at night. Without taking turmeric (or anything else to fight it), I'd break out everyday with full symptoms.
Turmeric
Posted by Jflange (Chicago, Il) on 11/11/2012
★★★★★
I have had the same result with turmeric. 1/4 tsp organic turmeric powder mixed into a small amount of milk (any milk with fat will do) and a bit of honey. Symptom free since I began and otherwise it would have been a monthly outbreak for me.
Ear Wax
Posted by Donna (Boise, Id) on 01/06/2011
★★★★★
EAR WAX! It works, and you always have your ears with you. yep, it seam yucky, but cold sores are more yucky. I read about it here on Earth Clinic, tried it, It stopped the blister in its track! I have keot these blisters at bay for over a year!
DMSO
Posted by Arwoody (29 Palms, Ca, Usa) on 09/08/2010
★★★★★
I have gotten cold sores for years, I used to pick it with a alcohol soaked cotton swab (burns like the Dickens) but dries it up and goes away quickly. Recently I have started using DMSO when I started getting one, 3 times a day. By the next it was nearly gone and by day two there was nothing there but a blemish which disappeared soon after. Since then I have not had a single out break! I still use dmso one or twice a week and I even tested myself by doing things to make an outbreak occur but nothing happened.
Also avoid nuts especially walnuts for some reason they used to make me have an incident almost every time especially when I was dehydrated.
Tomato Juice
Posted by Puddles (Regina, Canada) on 02/28/2010
★★★★★
Tomato juice is an excellent cure for cold sores. Dab generously directly on the sore and also drink about three glasses a day for at least a week. I have known some people to never get another cold sore with this remedy. I hope it works for you!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Sarah (Cape Cod, MA) on 06/02/2009
★★★★★
Hydrogen Peroxide cleared up my cold sore in 48 hours. I was and AM sick of paying for Abreva, etc...when it takes over a week to do anything at all. I never suffered from cold sores until the age of 22, and since then they have been directly related to the change in my hormones prior to getting my period. So, from 22 until now (almost 3 years), I've almost consistently had to deal with the annoyance/pain/discomfort of them. So, in a desperate search for a better answer, I came to your website (which has helped me a lot in the past), and 48 hours later I'm 90% cleared up! It's amazing, it went from appearing, to drying, to scabbing, to healing in no time at all. Thanks so much everyone for your input!
Bleach
Posted by Stephanie (Calgary, Ab,canada) on 10/25/2011
★★★★★
Bleach is dangerous, but if it is applied properly I think it is an extremely effective way to stop a cold store dead in its track.
Use a little with a q tip and press it onto your cold sore for 3 - 5 minutes. Do this at the very first sign of a cold sore coming on and it WILL NOT come out, or grow to be worse. Be very careful not to burn yourself or your lip area. Allow for a little bit of stinging, but know what is too much. Compress with an ice cube after to get rid of the sting. I did this twice the first day I noticed one coming on, and along with Abreva and L-Lysine it was practically gone by day 2 and never got worse.
Clove Oil
Posted by Anonymous (Orange County, CA) on 01/20/2009
★★★★★
Clove Oil for Cold Sores: Another remedy that isnt listed on here is clove oil. i have used it ever since i read it in the back of the master cleanse book. I get these blisters approx. once a year. The clove oil dries them up and clears them out. It works like a charm if you dont mind the taste. I also heard that a little bit of clove oil on the back of your tongue is also a remedy to help quitting smoking. I have never needed to use anything else but the clove oil, oh and tea tree oil works quite well too. good luck, i know these things suck. :)
L-Lysine
Posted by Bonita (Rochester, MN, USA) on 01/03/2009
★★★★★
Found this website looking for flea remedies and found so much more! I too am always looking for remedies other than what are mainstream, just because it seems to me there has got to be more than one way to skin a cat, so to speak!
Read about Vitamin D deficincy in The Star Tribune by a doctor at the U of MN who discovered how many people suffer from a lack of it. Of course, I am a blue eyed blond who frys like a lobster in the sun and can't remember when the last time was that I went outdoors without sunscreen and and hat so I began taking a D supplement right away. I take 2000 IU of vitamin D daily. I have to say that I feel pretty darn good considering I have arthritis in all the major joints of my body.
I also have been using lysine to take care of my Herpes simplex outbreaks for years and would not be without it. I find that if I take 4-6 500 mg tablets at the first sign of the itch/tingle on my lip, and then 2 tablets every couple of hours after that, I can most times, stop it in its tracks and completely skip and signs of the break out. If I am nowhere near my supply of lysine and I get those symptoms, taking it at first opportunity causes the leisons to heal very rapidly. In any case, it works for me.
Am going to try the apple cider vinegar thing as well, for arthritis and for the flea problem. Weird that it will be for 2 such unrelated problems but If it works, who cares. It is certainly safe enough. Thanks for being here as a sounding board and gathering of natural remedies.
Camphor
Posted by Lori Keat (Blacksburg, Virginia) on 11/10/2008
★★★★★
Herpes cold sores: For years I've been using 'spirit of Camphor'. I put it on a cotton swab and put it on the area. I also have taken Vit.B Complex and that helps too...As does Lysine...
Elderberry
Posted by Citrine (Austin, TX) on 10/17/2008
★★★★★
I take Elderberry Extract 4 times a day to cure cold sores due to the herpes virus. At the first tingling sensation, I take my first capsule with water and also dab on a little hydrogen peroxide. The cold sores usually never forms. Elderberry (medicinal name is Sambucus) is an amazing anti-viral berry. It even works against the flu virus! My family does not take the flu vaccine and has used Elderberry to knock out the flu should the flu virus strike. You can purchase elderberry extract at any health food store. There is a syrup version for kids too (but it contains quite a bit of sugar as do most children's meds). As with any viral infection, it is recommended to continue the dosage for at least 3 days to rid your body of the viral attack. Hope this helps!
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.
L-Lysine
Posted by Jodi (AV, Minn) on 04/01/2008
★★★★★
L-LYSINE Keep it simple - you feel the tingle - take (2000 to 3000mg) lysine asap! then (2000 to 3000mg) 3 times a day -for 2 days. Day 3 reduce to (1000 to 1500mg) 3 times a day. Day 4 (1000 to 1500mg) 3 times a day. Day 5 & day 6 (500mg) 3 times a day. Your Done! You will either have no outbreak or only a day or two with a very small blister with this treatment.
Also note: L-LYSINE is an amnio acid not a vitamin. Do not take Lysine for long extended periods or mega dose as it can have negative effect on the liver. For mega dosing you may want to have your liver checked out. I have done this for 20 years with great success. I do not take it any other time.
Tip: For traveling back and forth - cold to warm climates, or after viruses, or muscle exersions all of which can trigger coldsores as well as large doses of stress. Take 1000mg for a week to help keep them away.
