Cold Sores
Cold sores, or fever blisters, are small lesions that appear around the lips, nostrils and sometimes on the roof of the mouth or on the gums. They are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1. Approximately 90% of all Americans are exposed to the virus by the age of 5. Once infected, the virus lies dormant until it is triggered by a cold or fever.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a cold sore include a small fluid-filled blister near the lips, gums or in the mouth. The spot is usually very painful. While they usually run their course in 7 to 10 days, they can be extremely uncomfortable. A burning sensation may precede the eruption of blisters.
Causes
Cold sores can be triggered by a fever or a cold. Sunshine or extreme cold can also cause the virus to activate.
Cautions
If you get an eruption more than four times a year, you may want to see a doctor about it. If you have a fever, swollen glands or flu symptoms with an outbreak, or if your sore is so painful it is difficult to eat or perform normal activities, make an appointment.
Herbal Treatments
Internal Applications
- Echinacea – use the tincture, taking half a teaspoon added to tea or juice three times per day.
- Mint – the entire mint family is useful for cold sores. A mixture of mint family members like mint, hyssop, lemon balm, oregano, sage, rosemary, thyme and self-heal made into tea. Make sure there is a large portion of lemon balm, and twice as much oregano and self-heal as the there is of mint, hyssop and the others. Let it steep 20 minutes. A little licorice root can be added as a sweetener. This herbal tea is very effective against the herpes viruses.
- Lemon Balm - up to 1 gram dried leaf equivalent before meals, 3 times a day.
- Licorice - 1 - 2 tsp root powder steeped in 1 cup boiling water for 10 minutes - strain and drink 2 cups a day. Take for maximum of 4 - 6 weeks.
- Garlic – just eat garlic to reap its benefits. Add a few chopped cloves to salad or in your pasta. Garlic is antiviral.
- Reishi – take a dose of 600 mg once or twice a day to prevent the spread of sores. This herb is often used in conjunction with astragalus, which may also help with the sores and improve the function of the immune system.
- Self-Heal – this little herb is effective against the herpes virus, even those strains that are resistant to medications. Use an extract for the best results.
External Applications
- Lemon balm – added to an ointment, lemon balm can be applied directly to the cold sore. You can also get the same results by washing with lemon balm tea. A tea can be made by adding 2 or 3 teaspoons of finely chopped dried leaves to ½ cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 20 to 30 minutes, then strain well. Let the tea cool. Apply with a clean cloth 3 or 4 times per day.
- St. John's wort – you can use a cream or you can just make a tea and use it as a wash for cold sores. It is easy to apply with a cotton swab.
- Rhubarb – a cream with rhubarb and sage has been shown to be effective against herpes.
- Calendula - infuse 5grams dried flower heads in 1 liter of boiling water for 5 minutes. Allow to cool, strain and apply to affected area 3 times a day.