Tea Tree Oil for Cold Sores

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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.

Isabelle (Vancouver) on 03/17/2015:
5 out of 5 stars

I have been using tea tree oil to treat cold sores for well over a decade - it has never failed me. As a child I was very susceptible to enormous cold sore breakouts and my parents tried all kinds of natural as well as not-so natural remedies to no prevail? In my early sdulthood I decided to try applying un-dilluted te tree oil & magic! Undilluted tea tree oil is very string and can even burn your skin, so it is important to be precise & apply it only to the direct affected spot, without letting it run or spread over a larger area. A doused q-tip works well. If you apply it (and re-apply it several times, ie. every hour) when you get the first tickling sensation of a cold sore coming on before it actually appears, it will never appear! If you are a bit lit and the cold sore has already shown its face, apply it, and the sore will quickly dry up and die without going through the whole itchy raw stage?

Gina (Leeds, West Yorkshire) on 05/08/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

Cleaning with diluted tea tree oil and regular dabbing of the affected area. Drys it right up.. The cold sore should be gone within about 4 days.

Marathonlady (Denver, Co.) on 04/04/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

I have had real good luck with keeping my herpes lesions from beginning full blown sores. When you begin to feel the tingling of an episode, or even if they are there but not leaking fluid, dab on tea tree oil with your fingers straight out of the bottle. This will reduce and totally eliminate the sore. Otherwise, the episode takes 2 to 3 weeks to get over. I have my sores on my butt cheeks, so don't know how the tea tree oil would act on tender genital tissues?

Crazyakplayer (Pc, Fl) on 01/29/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

i usually get blisters on my lips twice a year did some research found that tea tree oil works good I bought some itch away oil from a herb shop and applied it to my sore it was completely gone in two days no scab or anything ive used abreava and it doesnt work the itch away oil is awsome

Desiree (Portland, OR) on 01/08/2009:
5 out of 5 stars

For cold sores I apply the highest quality of pure melaleuca oil (also known as tea tree oil) on my sore as soon as I feel the tingling and often it does not erupt. This oil is penetrating and goes deep into the tissue, so bear that in mind when you decide where to put it. I would avoid too close to the eye, and I don't know if it can cross the blood brain barrier. Does anyone else? What might the effects be? I have tried everything on the market and this works every time. On an outbreak, it will take the eruption away in a day or two.

For systemic effect, I have found a concoction that takes it away for very long periods of time, usually no matter the stress level.

I make a blended green smoothie out of 1 fuji apple (peeled and cubed), 3 sticks of cubed celery, 1 1/2 C trimmed parsley (without the stalks), 1 inch of fresh ginger (cubed small, smashed with the blade of a vegetable knife and minced), 1 1/2 to 2 cups washed, destalked and cut to bite size green kale (I like the dinosaur kale best), 1 - 2 inch peeled banana, dash of cayenne pepper, 1/3 cup pure pressed unprocessed apple cider or apple juice, 1/3 cup water.

I add all this into the blender (I have a commercial blender that breaks down the cell wall of the kale which is thick and tough) and I blend it about 40 seconds until it is almost as thick as a milk shake. I drink the whole thing for breakfast.

At 50, it works better with enzymes, I think. The more raw vegetables that I eat, the more I can eat without the stomache ache I used to get when I eat vegetables. All ingredients are organic. The water is bottled spring water.

I drink this daily and have no outbreaks or tingling for about 3 months after I haven't had one. In the summer I trade the apple for a pear or a peach (yummy). This tastes great no matter which fruit you use. Should last you all morning, unless you need enzymes. Best Wishes.

Cassie (Augusta, GA) on 06/29/2008:
5 out of 5 stars

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.

Debra (Philadelphia, PA) on 09/09/2006:
5 out of 5 stars

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"!

Jenny (Toronto) on 03/01/2004:
5 out of 5 stars

I use organic tea tree oil on my lips when I get the beginnings of an outbreak and it is gone within 24-36 hours. (i apply 3-4x/day).

also, an acidic body will give you an outbreak quickly. Look into the acid alkaline balance. Cheese and coffee does it for me every time.

Leigh (Nogales, AZ) on 03/01/2004:
5 out of 5 stars

I have had frequent outbreaks with herpes oral and genital for many years. Along with taking L-Lysine (1000 mg) daily, I dilute Tea-Tree oil in warm water and wet cotton balls with it and apply several times a day. This relieves the pain and itch. You can also use the diluted solution for a douche which also will relieve. Make sure you dilute 1 part tea tree oil to 3 parts water. Do not use directly or it will burn. Try it. It works!

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Tea Tree Oil for Cold Sores