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.
Alum
Posted by Dreamer (Salinas, Ca) on 01/26/2012
★★★★★
I have been using Alum for canker sores for years! I am 31 and started getting canker sores when I was around 7 or 8. My Dad taught me to use alum on them back then (he was a medic in the army & national guard) and I would never use anything else! It hurts to put on but it is so worth it! It numbs the pain for a small amount of time and it heals them super fast! A++
Alum
Posted by John (Lake Oswego, Oregon) on 01/19/2012
★★★★★
I've been using alum on canker sores as a cure for 30 years and wouldn't use anything else. My whole family uses it.
Alum
Posted by Mariana (Roseville, Minnesota) on 12/22/2011
★★★★★
I was surprised to find alum missing from your list of remedies. It would be interesting to see what other folks use this for. It's great for treating canker sores. They go away almost instantly. My mother used this for us when we were kids, and her mother used it too. I think it's a pretty ancient substance that was used widely in the Middle East and Africa. We use the powdered kind that is sold in grocery stores. (It's used in pickling, for crispness. )
Anyhow, what we do to treat a cankersore is merely moisten a Q-tip, and dip it in a very small amount of alum mixed with a teaspoon of warm water. After the alum is on for a few minutes, just rinse your mouth because the alum is very bitter. People also use alum as a mouthwash and to treat gum disease or aching teeth. It's used to treat eczema itching, and styes as well. I'm sure the solution would need to be much milder for use on the eyes, or as a mouthwash, or in treating eczema. Anyway, I hope others might want to mention their experiences with using this common household ingredient. Mariana
Alum
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn Usa ) on 12/23/2011
ALUM us Aluminum Sulfate, ole folks like me made the mistake of using it to make pickles and other canned goods, crisp. All we did is put Aluminum in our brains, which brings on dememtia. I don't have a clue about the use of alum on your skin. Do not use Alum for internal consumption. We all are savvy about transdermal therapy. What you put on your skin goes into your body. Why do you think the chelation clinics are full of auto mechanics who washed parts in leaded gasoline. Now they are trying to get the lead our of their body.
Good people there are lots of good intentioned folks posting on this site. Some just don't have a clue. Pay attention.
========ROBERT HENRY=============
Alum
Posted by Jessica (Waconia, Minnesota) on 01/26/2012
★★★★★
I use Alum for cold sores and canker sores too! It is utterly amazing how fast they disappear with just a couple applications. I refuse to spend money on anything else. Cheapest most effective treatment out there! I tell everyone about it when I can!
Alum
Posted by Didi (Dover, Usa) on 02/12/2012
Alum is a salty substance used in Pickeling or a brine. You can get it in the spice section of the grocery store.
Alum
Posted by Derek (Austin, Mn) on 04/26/2012
The Alum referred to here is Ammonium-type Alum. I've got an ancient container of Schilling Alum. On the container it reads, "Powdered Alum (Ammonium)".
Alum
Posted by Jennifer (Midland, Michigan) on 09/15/2011
★★★★★
Alum DOES work! My mother has an old jar of crystallized Alum that she has used on all our canker sores forever. I take a piece and set it on the canker sore for several minutes. It not only relieves the pain, but shrinks it and makes it disappear within a day or two. I still use it and use it on my kids now. It does not taste great, but it is worth the results it gives you. Hip, Hip Horray for Alum!!
Alum
Posted by Mikayla (Toronto, On, Canada) on 08/26/2011
★★★★★
Wow, alum works!
I never get canker sores, but a few days ago, I got itchy red hives on my torso as well as 6 canker sores under my tongue and my cheeks. I've had several surgeries but have never been in such pain in my life! So bizarre that such a little thing can cause so much discomfort.
Anyway, after reading the comments, I tried Alum and so far it's amazing. It has really numbed the canker sores. I can eat!!
My only caution is because it does numb so well, be aware not to bite your cheek accidently. I did that and another canker sore developed; but the overall relief is so worth it.
Alum
Posted by Bg (Lakewood, Oh) on 02/19/2011
★★★★★
I'm really prone to canker sores if I bite the inside of my lip, or if my diet becomes too acidic (too much coffee, caffeine, beer, fruits, chocolate, sweets, etc. )
I used to use a prescription paste which I haven't been able to get out here (Kenalog in Orabase? I think) which worked wonders and would quite literally get rid of my sores overnight. Since I've been unable to get that prescription filled, I needed a different remedy, so I went with alum. My only quip with alum is that it tastes NAAAAASTY. Seriously, if you swallow it, you will probably vomit. Bitter, awful, disgusting taste--BUT it works like a dream on canker sores and dries them out after a few applications. I usually daub a bit on the sore with a wet Q-tip, then let it sit there and dry for about five minutes before rinsing out my mouth and/or brushing my teeth (because the taste just sticks to your tongue). The more stubborn sores still take a few days to go away, but the alum seems to alleviate the pain and bring down the swelling and the size of the sore almost immediately. I highly recommend this remedy -- just remember not to swallow or spit it out before your five minutes are up.
Alum
Posted by Pcheeks (Washington, Dc, Usa) on 06/01/2010
★★★★★
I have always had problems with canker sores. I usually just wait it out or apply some numbing gel. This time I got one on my tongue. It was sooo painful and wouldn't go away. I found this website and tried alum. It really really burned the first time I used it. To the point of tears but after 3-4 applications (48 hours) it was gone! I definitely recommend this.
Alum
Posted by Dave (Austin, Tx) on 11/30/2009
★★★★★
Alum for fever blister/cold sore/canker sore
Thought I might help those of you who are suffering with cold sores etc. As a child I 'suffered' with this malady on occassion. When ever it happened, I would tell my mom and she would immediately reach into the kitchen spices for the alum. This is the new information which I have not seen on any site thus far. Before using the alum mom would put a small amount on a disposable piece of metal (usually the top removed from a can of vegetables) and heat the alum to the point where all the moisture is driven from the alum powder. At this point the alum will crystallize on the can lid (This is what I learned to call burnt alum). Allow to cool. Once the crystallized alum has cooled, take a spoon and crush the burnt alum and apply as described elsewhere. As mentioned alum is an astringent, and the value of this process is to improve the astingent properties of the alum. As with those who have used this remedy regularly, I also had complete relief within two days.
Alum
Posted by Splendor (Chandler, Az) on 09/02/2010
I have the alum on my canker sores now, so we'll see. But last night I placed an asprin pill on each of the 2 cankers that I have in my mouth; seriously just hold it on top of the sore, between your cheek and gum until it just begins to dissolve, then spit it out and rinse. This totally numbs it for like 12 hours, then apply the alum because it barely stings at all. Hope the alum does the trick! :o)
Alum
Posted by Alice (Shingle Springs, Ca, U.S.A.) on 11/07/2009
Smashing up a lysine (a particular amino acid) tab and making a paste with water and applying it to the sore is reported to relieve it. Totally non-toxic.
Alum
Posted by Ben (Rochester, NY) on 01/30/2009
★★★★★
Yes to Using Alum found at the grocery store in the spices section. I read the comments about canker sores on here. Thank God for nice people! Apply it with a wet Q-tip on Sore. It will sting but the after effects are worth it! Thanksabunch
Alum
Posted by Sid (Salmon Arm, BC, Canada) on 01/18/2009
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Alum is a form of aluminum. Oral injestion of aluminum can cause canker sores. Do you really want to do that? The reason it works may be the same reason that the mercuric ointment my mom used to put on my rashes ( I later found out that I was mercury toxic) got rid of my rash. Apparently, it makes it go deeper into your body, thereby getting rid of the eruption on the surface.
Alum
Posted by Cblhris (Bloomington, IN) on 08/09/2008
★★★★★
I am apparently one of those peoplt that are particularly susceptible to canker sores. I have tried many remedies, but the best by far is the alum. It stings a bit of first, but after one application the canker sore pain is gone. After two, the lesion is gone. Having used it dozens of times, I can say that if you don't mind the sting, alum is the only way to go!!
Alum
Posted by Bonnie (Magalia, California) on 07/22/2008
★★★★★
Hello, I was on your sight last night and was reading your cures and remembered my Mom's.Since I currently have a huge ulcer under my tong I got out the alum(a pickeling product used to make pickles) and wet a Qtip and dabed it on everytime I thought of it for about 12 hours and my sore is gone. Good ol Mom! Not sure where you can get alum because mine is from 1965 and it still works and still tastes terrible! Hope this helps someone.
Alum
Posted by Kellye (Long Beach, CA) on 06/07/2008
★★★★★
Wow, thank goodness for this website. I had been suffering for 3 days with two annoying cankers. I researched online and it seemed there was no cure or relief. I stumbled upon this website and I am happy to say with a combination of alum crystals rubbed gently on the sores followed by a light paste of aspirin, literally within 4 hrs the cankers no longer hurt and they are subsiding. Yeah! I highly recommend this combo.
Alum
Posted by Lyn (Springfield, Vermont) on 08/31/2011
★★★★★
Exactly that is what I did too.. A few friends over the years have suggested the Alum.. About a year ago I went as far as to buy a small container of it.. The powdered kind.. It tasted terrible and burned like crazy so that was that.. I have been having these darn cankers ever since I gave up smoking 4 1/2 years ago.. I get them off and on.. And when I do get them they last for months.. Tonight I forced myself to deal with the pain and eat my supper.. It was very painful.. But I got thru it..
I have been reading this site and decided that the alum couldn't hurt anymore then the acid from my spaghetti had.. So I got brave and wet my finger and held it on the sore under my tongue.. It burned wicked bad.. I thought ya right this is going to work.. Still hurting and throbbing I tried the aspirin.. Held it to the sore till it disolved and didn't rinse my mouth.. Still just letting it disolve and swollowing as needed till the aspirin is gone..
Its amazing after doing this the pain had gone.. I can't believe it.. Will report back tomorrow and see how it is then.. All I can say is its worth a try.. It seems to have worked for me so far.. Good luck..
Alum
Posted by Hailey (Chilliwack, Canada) on 05/14/2008
★★★★★
YES alum really works! My braces will often give me canker sores. My wires would always split the canker in two AS it grows, so whenever I open my mouth it pulls on the canker. I put alum in it and the next day it had completely decreased in size and no longer hurt. After two days it was completely gone!
Alum
Posted by Joy (Oklahoma City, OK) on 10/09/2006
★★★★★
I've suffered with canker sores for 40 years and have tried almost everything. i read about alum on your website and decided to try it on the 4 lesions i had that were as large as a pencil eraser. 3 hours after applying the alum, i experienced complete pain relief. the sores still took time to heal but i was able to eat anything i wanted and had virtually no pain during the healing period. a week later i felt another sore starting. i applied the alum and it was gone the next morning.
