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.
Camphor
Posted by Sharon (Buffalo, NY) on 03/11/2012
★★★★★
I'm not really sure why we would be advocating putting Acetone on each other's faces given this is an all natural remedies website. I have found though, and I've been dealing with cold sores since I was 4, that Camphor Spirit is the best for drying these out. Most pharmacies don't carry it anymore, but they will order if you ask. It's about $5. 00 for a bottle that will last you years. It's essentially the same stuff as campophenque and everything else we spend $10 buying without the extra chemicals. It just drys the cold sore. I haven't had one in years but for some reason, this week, developed one on the skin between my nose and lip. I've never had one here before and it's embarassing and frustrating. The camphor spirit makes it a little more bearable, since it goes away faster, but I'll be going out today for a bottle of L-Lysine.
Ice
Posted by Julie (Chanhassen, Mn) on 01/30/2012
★★★★★
I have suffered from cold sores on and off since I was a child. I have tried mulitple remedies, but by far the best remedy is ice! When you feel that tingly itchy sensation get a cube of ice and press it against that spot for several minutes (Maybe 8-10 minutes). You may want to do this a few times. I think it causes the cold sore to go into remission or something. This really works!
Aloe Vera
Posted by Lulu (Orange, Nj) on 01/24/2012
Hey everyone. I highly recommend aloe vera gel, at least in combination with turmeric. Here's what happened. I woke up this am with small bumps on the bottom corner of my lip, though I hadn't yet felt the tingling. I'd already made a mask of turmeric powder -- bought at an Indian grocery store; not taken from my spice rack -- for my puffy eyes and decided to search online to see if turmeric works for cold sores. After reading that it does, I applied the paste (turmeric and water) to the cold sores and left it on for about 10 minutes. Then I rinsed gently with water, patted it dry with a towel, and applied a bit of aloe gel using a q-tip. Within 10 minutes I noticed the sores were no longer shiny. They'd already dried up quite a bit. I was amazed! I applied aloe vera gel again about 30 minutes later and followed up two hours later with more turmeric paste. I'll keep this up all day and see, but it looks like they will be gone by tomorrow. Good luck!
Ice
Posted by M (Ny) on 11/11/2011
★★★★★
I've used Abreva, Lysine cream and its ok but what has been the game changer is ICE! A cold sore is a fever blister, so it builds of heat. You fight the temp by reducing it, ICE it immediately. Also take advil or any fever reducer you have to calm your body temp down and relax! I got them back to back and on my big 30 birthday. I tried acetone but seemed to burn my skin and make it worse. I grabbed a glass of water, took advil and Lysine vitamins (doubled dosage) and iced my sore. Fell asleep watching a movie but the sore stopped, looked like pimple. kept icing it, I was fine next day.
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.
Colloidal Silver, Coconut Oil
Posted by Mark (Las Vegas, Nv) on 03/31/2012
I have used Lauricidin brand of Monolaurin. I would NEVER reccomend it to anyone. I threw out $250 worth of tha stuff.
I never was able to take it without getting sick with a bad infection that would go into my lungs. Healthing Crisis B.S. The first rule is DO NO HARM. If something has to make you sick it's not worth using.
Coconut Oil however is good and I have had good experiences with it as well as Soverign Silver for any type of infection. I believe it will also help cold sores and herpes.
Alkalize, Coconut Oil, Trace Minerals
Posted by Letsbeatthis (Eatontown, Nj/ United States) on 04/15/2011
Coral Calcium comes from our Coral reefs. If you know anything about Coral Reefs in our Oceans, you will know and understand that we should not be destroying them to make Coral Calcium. There is an Alternative that is basically the same thing which comes from Salt Lakes rather than the Ocean, destroying our Coral Reef. The Alternative is Trace Mineral Drops. It is also Certified Vegan and Gluten Free. I am in no way, shape, or form stating that this is a cure. I am strictly stating that this is an alternative to Coral Calcium. I recently contracted HSV2 unfortunately, so like you I am looking for a natural/ holistic cure, so I am trying different things as well.
I am also trying the Virgin Coconut Oil solution as mentioned in the 07/04/2007 Peter from New Zealand post. 1. Warming the Virgin Coconut Oil slightly and dabbing it onto the Herpes themselves. 2. Warming Virgin Coconut Oil slightly and adding a teaspoon to a glass of water 3 times a day in regular intervals.
The third solution I am trying is Alkalizing my body... Over the years I have heard lots of great things about Alkalizing the body. How Cancer cannot survive in an Alkalized enviornment as well as tons of other ailments. Feel free to type your Ailment along with the word Alkalize into Google or whichever search engine you choose, and you will be suprised to read what pops up. Just beware of products for sale.... You can also view lists of foods that are Acidic, Alkaline or somewhere in the middle as well by simply typing Acid/ Alkaline Food List. There are many, I notice some vary a bit as far as how many foods each one lists. I purchased PH strips, which you can either wet with saliva or in the urine stream. I though I was a healthy eater, apparently not healthy enough. My PH level was at a 5.5 where 7 is balanced, above 7 is Alkaline and below 7 is Acidic. Don't be suprised if you have to cut out habits such as wine, coffee, and or cigarettes to achieve your goal. Taking Trace Mineral Drops is just one step toward Alkalizing my body, since I don't know of other ways to intake minerals which our bodies need. Let's pray, one of these solutions are a cure. I'll do anything I can to keep from taking medication.
Food is our Medicine and Medicine is our Food. ;) I love the power of the internet. Any Feedback is greatly appreciated.
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.
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!
Garlic
Posted by Anonymous (Nc) on 02/08/2013
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
Garlic works. However, garlic will eat up the infected area and leave a hole! I used garlic for a boil under my arm and it left me with a hole. The skin grew back but it was not pretty. Be careful with garlic. Very potent stuff!
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.
Blue Glass and Sunlight Therapy
Posted by John (Pahoa, Hawaii) on 07/09/2010
★★★★★
I first started getting cold sores whenI was 15 and they were miserable. Burning blister that eventually broke and then hurt for days and the skin cracked. When I was about 40, a naturalpath MD in Sedona AZ. Told me to get a piece of blue glass and as soon as I felt the burning sensation on my lips, let the sunlight filter through the blue glass onto the coldsore. Ever since I've done that, I have not had one coldsore form into a blister. It may take a day or two of putting the filtered sunlight on the cold sore ( I do it for about 3 minutes or until the pain or burning sensation subsides, and I'll do that 3 or 4 times the first day or whenever it begins to burn or hurt again). Usually, after about two days (sometimes three if it is a bad breakout), the cold sore will have simply vanished, without ever blistering and popping. I find it is important to get the blue light therapy started as soon as I feel the coldsore coming on, although even if I miss it or there is no sunlight, this therapy works even if it advances to a blister--it shrinks the blister without it ever breaking. I found my piece of blue glass in the ocean and used that piece for 18 years now. Just this year I bought a set of blue glass dishes from walmart and tried it with the small cup saucer plate and it worked. It actually was easier because I didn't have to center my small piece of glass over the coldsore. I do cover my eyes so I don't get sunlight in my eyes while doing the blueglass therapy. I hope this will help someone. I was just telling my wife that I was surprised that this therapy wasn't in the prescription for natural healing or more widespread in the alternative healing community. It has made my life alot less painful.
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!
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.
Calamine Lotion
Posted by Tamara (GA) on 09/19/2023
★★★★★
I use calamine lotion on mine too and it really works faster than anything I've tried ... And it soothes the burn ... I also use 91% alcohol on a qtip and dab it a few times a day then soothe with carmex and at night I put calamine on it .... Works very well
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!
