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.
Vicks
Posted by Sandy (Monterey Park, Ca) on 07/29/2009
★★★★★
My husband was sporting a cold sore on his lip for a couple weeks. He was using some OTC stuff. I told him that I heard Dr. Oz say something about Vicks being good for fungus. He ignored me. Then I felt a sting on my lip and knew a cold sore was coming on. I immediately took a swab of Vicks and put it on my lip. I could feel it tingle. I kept applying it when ever I felt it had rubbed off. In two days the sore was gone. He was still sporting his!
Vicks
Posted by Vetta (Northeast, Usa) on 09/26/2010
This stuff works wonders on cold sores. Just apply like lip gloss. The scent isn't as strong as you think. Doesn't work instantly but heals them faster. And prevents future ones.
Ear Wax
Posted by Shawn (Rochester, New York) on 04/22/2009
★★★★★
Cold Sores - Earwax: the thought and the taste is rather nasty, but it works better than anything else i've tried. When we were younger my mom use to apply our own earwax, strait from our ears to the effected area, to me sibblings and my sibblings whenever we got one. this really works.
Bleach
Posted by Gloria (Plano, TX) on 02/24/2009
★★★★★
My son got cold sore, i heard about apple cider vinager, hp (hydrogen peroxide) and all of that store stuff. My co-worker told me about clorox bleach. After trying carmex, and hp, we applied bleach, and every time it stopped burning we applied more. After 3 applications it went away in 30 minutes.
Tea Bag
Posted by Kelly (Nashville , TN) on 02/20/2009
★★★★★
I have had clients who had very good success using Earl Grey tea bags as a compress for the cold sore. Wet a tea bag in barely warm water, squeeze just a little until not dripping and then use as a compress for 20 minutes at a time several times a day. The bergamont oil and tannins in the tea should heal the sore.
L-Lysine
Posted by Rodney (Charlotte, NC) on 12/09/2008
★★★★★
I heard about l-lysine for cold sores using the internet about 10 years ago. I tried it then and it did not work. This time L-Lysine closed my sore almost immediately. This time I took larger dosages. My sore was already opening on my lip when I started using Abreva. But Abreva(???no generic ointment name) is not that great once a sore starts.
Since discovering this site, I decided to use a larger dosage of the L-lysine and within 1.5 (one and one half days) the sore has closed up and is well on its way to disappearing. Even though Herpes I is widespread, it is very uncomfortable for me to deal with people's reaction to seeing an open sore on your lips.
Measurements:
I am a big guy. So this time I used 3 1000mg tablets every six hours for 2 days. And each day following the first 2 days, I will lower it 1000 mg until I am taking nothing.
I usally get sores around the holidays which is a very stressful time for me for some reason. Thanks so much!
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
Ear Wax
Posted by C.R. (Springfield, MO) on 10/05/2008
★★★★★
OK this is gross ... But it works, I even had my boss try it.... Grandma said when you have a coldsore, use your own earwax. But don't lick your lips! I know. I know. But if you like me I use to get them all the time.. I havent had one in years.
Urine
Posted by Michelle (Toronto, ON) on 09/07/2008
★★★★★
I've suffered from cold sores my entire life. I hate when I feel that tingle coming on. I tried everything, and some things will help and shorten the duration, but I finally found what will stop if from even developing. My step-dad said he heard of people using their own urine. Just pass a q-tip through your own stream of urine, then dab it on the spot where a coldsore is developing. I was VERY reluctant to try this, but one day I felt one coming on and I was desperate. I tried it, and it worked!! Nothing came of it! I've tested this 2 or 3 times since, and can happily report its still working! I'm so happy to have found something that works.
Urine
Posted by Fiona (Ilford, Essex, England) on 10/22/2011
★★★★★
I found urine a very effective treatment for cold sores and also mouth ulcers too. Just dab the urine on the cold sore and for the mouth ulcers, swill the urine around your mouth then spit out. The relief is impressively quick.
Garlic
Posted by Anna (Charlotte, USA) on 06/29/2008
★★★★★
Garlic Remedy for Cold Sores: My mom traveled to Europe and while she was there, cold sores broke out around her mouth. An Austrian man saw her and told her to cut a clove of garlic in half and hold it to the area for 10 minutes three or four times a day. It works like a charm for her.
Vicks
Posted by Fruitful Eden (Or) on 11/21/2020 4 posts
There is also turpentine oil in Vicks vapor rub and I think it might be the turpentine oil that helps.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Inourhands (Sydney, Australia) on 10/11/2010
★★★★★
I keep organic ACV in the fridge and use it all the time but had never tried it on cold sores which I occasionally suffer from. After a really busy period without enough rest I was starting to feel very run down and sure enough the other morning I woke up with one cold sore above my lip, and a separate one just starting nearby. I thought i'd try the ACV - dabbed straight on with a cotton bud. Immediately I could tell it was helping, so I applied it a few more times during the day. The one that had already started dried up to a mild scab and the other one retreated completely without erupting. Glad to see others know about this too, it really works.
Witch Hazel
Posted by Tami (Stettler, Canada) on 11/27/2007
★★★★★
I don't know if this helps herpes, but when I feel a cold sore coming on, I dab on a cotton ball of witch hazel on it, and the cold sore hardly ever shows up...if the feeling doesn't go away (I can see it, but it hasn't broken yet, I just reapply. Works every time.
Oregano Oil
Posted by Peter Hart (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada) on 11/14/2007
★★★★★
Manuka Honey was the only answer to the ulcer problem I was having. All natural and clinically tested. Complete a search under 'The University of Waikato' in New Zeland. Oil of Oregano is very effective for healing cold soars in a hurry! I always recommend you research a product on a crediable internet site before trying any remedy. Best Regards,
L-Lysine
Posted by Sue (Waukesha, WI) on 09/23/2007
★★★★★
Ever since I was a child I would get really bad cold sores on my lips. about eighteen years ago a co-worker told me about L-lysine. I bought some and as soon as I would feel the tingling like one was starting I'd take 2-3 L-lysine and later in the day 2 more and the next day only 3. And the cold sore wouldn't form or come out. For about a year I'd take it only when I felt one coming and a day or two. For about 14 years I haven't had one cold sore! A miracle!
Neem Leaves or Oil
Posted by Otti (Tampa, Florida) on 08/06/2007
★★★★★
I discovered an awesome natural remedy for any yeast infections and fungus - neem tree see oil. It even works on plants, not just my boyfriend's toe nail fungus. However, the seed oil smells worse than garlic but it is so very strong and powerful. Mixing it with an essential oil can help with that smell. Other neem tree extracts can cure viral infections as well and can be taken orally. I have used the seed oil on my cold sore (mixed with carmex because of the smell) and it stopped the herpes outbreak immediately.
Ear Wax
Posted by Jessica (LIma, Ohio) on 07/31/2007
★★★★★
This will sound odd but those of us that get cold sores and such know the warning signs. I was told many years ago that when you get the itchy or tingle feeling to put ear wax on the spot. I tried it and have done it for 13 yrs or so now. It works very very well and I tell everyone about it. It doesnt taste good if you lick your lips but it does work.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Kate (Atlanta, GA) on 06/12/2007
★★★★★
Ok let me start by saying medical advise from doctors only suppress symptoms. This is the remedy I use daily... Take 2 super lysine pills daily I take them at the same time on empty stomach, You can fine this at an herbal shop. Drink liquid oxygen water thru out the day it increases ph balance in blood, we need water any way daily but don't mix the oxygenated water with herbs at the same time. You can find this at the herbal shop. Take olive leaf capsules, I take 3 a day, this plant is the plant that heals the nations according to the bible it also builds the immune system just like super lysine. Taking a liquid vitamin for example mirical 2000 is a good way 2 build the immune system and you are getting daily vitamins. Finally vegetables and fruits I don't consume enough vegetables and fruits eating so the alternate option is to juice them and drink a nice glass of green plants and fruits this also increase your ph in your blood and to top it off apply dmso on the bottom part of your spine and your genital area I would say twice a week. And this will stop any break outs you will practically forget u have herpes I have been outbreak free for 14yrs now.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Lee (Salem, NH) on 03/17/2007
★★★★★
I have always used hydrogen peroxide for skin infections, insect bites, cankers, cold sores & deleting blood stains. Results are quick & inexpensive. I dab it on my finger, straight from the bottle, to apply to a cold sore or canker. I have never had a cold sore for more than a day. When I was a teenager, I also applied some to any pimples that might crop up.
