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.
Acetone
Posted by Maryann (Detroit) on 05/18/2006
★★★★★
I read on another site that nail polish remover works on cold sores so I tried it. With in two days it was gone. I put on the cold sore twice a day. I didn't have any of the usual scabbing either. So it was really great. Another thing that works really well is the amino acid L-Lysine. Before I found out about the nail polish remover I used to take L-Lysine alone which helped the reduce outbreak time. Next time I get a cold sore I probably will use both.
L-Lysine
Posted by AJ (IL) on 04/13/2006
★★★★★
Lysine didn't cure the herpes but it clears it up in no time. I also put hemorrhoid creme on the sore if it doesn't get opened. The ulcer is gone by the end of the day. If it does get opened then I used Hydrogen peroxide. It burns but it clears it up faster.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Angela (Portland, Maine) on 01/13/2006
I never drink diet sodas, or even soda in general, last night I had diet coke. I'm usually a more natural person. I've never had a cold sore in my life, overnight I developed a blood blister on my lip. I am very worried about it. I hope this is not a start to a very bad thing. I wish I would have known that these sweeteners do this before. Spread the word!
Ear Wax
Posted by N (milwaukee,wi) on 12/31/2005
★★★★★
the wax in the ear to heal cold sores works. my mom told me about it, and for ages our family has done this to get rid of cold sores. it really does work. I agree with Marvin, from Calgary, Canada.
Ear Wax
Posted by Marvin (Calgary, Canada)
★★★★★
For Cold Sores on the lip...(I know it sounds nasty) ear wax rubbed on the sore repeatedly from the time you first get the tingling sensation does wonders. Since I tried this for the first time, I've not had a single one do anything but start to form a bump... they then vanish in a few days like magic.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Leigh (Nogales, AZ)
★★★★★
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!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Jr (Jeffersonville, In) on 05/09/2011
I used hydrogen peroxide after reading about it here. worked for me too!!
Hydrogen Peroxide and DMSO
Posted by NONE YA BIZZ (FT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA) on 08/18/2008
★★★★☆
HI I am from florida and i have tried dmso and h2o2 by mixing together and putting on a very large bandage and leave for a few hours at a time i havent had a break out yet but its only been almost a month and i have not yet been tested again and plus i dont even know if im doing it right but i do know dmso and h2o2 is less costly on the internet!!!!!!!!! i also douch with h2o2 try it of course dilute it alot and use 35% food grade 3% aint bout s--t i feel this is the first step to the cure but next month im getting h2o2 therapy in milton fl the consultation is 300 very expensive i dont yet know the cost of the actual procedure that consist of putting h2o2 in a iv wish me luck if it works i will make a web sight for people who suffer and it will be free only the devil would make money off of peoples pain and remember it will be called the free real cure to herpes!!!!
Hydrogen Peroxide and DMSO
Posted by Elton (Lucas do Rio Verde, MT) on 04/24/2022
Hello, my name is Elton from, Lucas do Rio Verde - MT, Brazil I also use hydrogen peroxide with DMSO, I didn't get a cure, mine is genital herpes, but I won't give up the treatment because I know I need to have more discipline to achieve the result.
Baking Soda
Posted by Susan (USA)
★★★★★
Another excellent use for baking soda is for mouth ulcers and cold sores. Simply mix a teaspoon of baking soda with 100mls of water and use as a gargle. For cold sores use the same solution. Dab directly onto the cold sore using a cotton bud. Do this at least twice a day.
Ear Wax
Posted by Annie (Washington) on 03/25/2024
★★★★★
My partner is prone to cold sores, and after I found earwax suggested on EC, he tried it and IT WORKS! Amen for folk medicine, and this website!
Apple Cider Vinegar, Salt
Posted by Nature Boi (Atl) on 08/31/2022
★★★★★
You can use apple cider vinegar and salts. Like put it in a cup, add salt, take a cotton swab and dip it. Put it on your cold sore will disappear in days.
Lugol's Iodine, Coconut Oil
Posted by Maria K. (Frankfurt, Germany) on 07/16/2021 6 posts
★★★★★
Lugol's Iodine, Coconut Oil for COVID and Oral Herpes
My sister, her husband and her four kids got Corona, even her newborn got infected severely.
On my recommendation (I am not a doctor, only an old reader of Earth clinic ) she and her husband took 5 drops of Lugols Iodine 5% three times a day. In addition to Lugols Iodine they took 1,2 tablespoons of Coconut oil two times a day. She gave Iodine and coconut oil to her kids too.Kids' dose is 3 drops of Lugols Iodine thrice and 1 or 2 TB of Coconut oil.
Besides these remedies, they took panadol and vitamin C from the local doctor's advice. Adults gargled with warm salt water and iodine water too.
With the grace of God Almighty they were all relieved and Cured just in two days. After two weeks they tested negative for Covid 19. I personally use this protocol for the oral herpes, I start it seeing the first sign of tingling on my lips, always works, want to share on Herpes cures page too.
Bleach
Posted by Katzie (Calgary) on 01/12/2022
OR......you could use good ole nail polish remover to get the same results! Seems alot safer to me, too. I use it all the time; it works.
Lavender Oil
Posted by Jean (Wheeling, IL) on 03/19/2020
★★★★★
Lavender essential oil applied liberally three times a day will heal cold sores in no time.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Diane (Idaho) on 01/04/2019
★★★★★
Avoiding Chocolate and Nuts Prevents Cold Sores
I used to get dreaded cold sores every few months and would feel so ugly for the long 5-7 days until they'd go away. It seemed related to stress, and I'm sure that contributed. But then I realized it was also due to my eating a lot of chocolate and nuts! Come to find out foods high in arginine will bring them on. Now I watch not to eat too much of these foods, and I've not had a cold sore in 2 years! If I start to feel that weird little tickle, buzz around my lip, I immediately take some lysine and lay off those foods...if you do get one, lysine pills and then topically apply a few drops of tea tree do mixed w/ a few drops of coconut oil
BHT
Posted by Cris01us (Hawaii) on 06/18/2016
★★★★★
I have been taking BHT for a year now and haven't had an actual outbreak since. In 2015 I had three in the course of 6 months, which is the most I've ever had in that amount of time. Now here's the disclaimer, I've had what I thought were the tell-tale signs of one coming on (you know that little bit of irritation). Now this could be paranoia and nerves or an actual outbreak, I never am 100% sure. Anyway, I always up my regular 250mg dose of BHT to 500 or even 1000mg (never more), apply some Lemon Balm to the suspect area and ta-da, and up all my other vitamins (L-Lysine too) and it never comes to fruition. Maybe one of these times I will be brave and just stick with the 250mg of BHT and see what happens (too bad my outbreaks last at least 2 full weeks! )!?
BHT
Posted by Zark (Emerald City) on 08/20/2016
BHT is a good choice - it kills lipid enveloped viruses, and that includes the herpes virus which causes cold sores.
Acetone
Posted by Andie (Oregon) on 01/18/2017
Tried it. didn't work!!! Very disappointed... Made it spread. So mad!
Acetone
Posted by Kate (Seattle) on 11/15/2018
Do you continue using acetone after the blisters have turned to scabs? I just got my first outbreak ever and my lips are covered top and bottom and inside with sores. I used acetone and it helped bring to the scabbing stage, but do I continue or let it heal itself from now on?
Acetone
Posted by hi (hello) on 11/04/2023
No, acetone is an extremely powerful chemical, it will strip the paint right off your car, so you want to be careful and not hold it for too long in one place.
The acetone is used to kill the virus, if you cover any living thing in acetone it will die, same with the virus, once the virus is dead it scab over and start the healing process, the more you mess with the scab, the more you risk leaving a scar, so no more acetone after the virus is dead, you can tell it is dead because it is no longer growing larger and it no longer has that tingly feeling when you push down on it.
Manuka Honey
Posted by Carrie (Galena) on 10/07/2015
★★★★★
I was recently affected by something (likely a Bloody Mary Drink) I think I ate/drank along with another friend. Some other friends suggested maybe it was msg. I will never have another Bloody Mary drink there again. Maybe, but who knows for sure. I started with a swollen mouth. Gums sore and places where I have chewed my cheeks, etc.
My friend woke up with swollen lips that did not go away for a week. Since I am prone to cold sores, I found myself with one that next day as well as the swollen mouth. During the next couple of days my lips were swollen as well and canker sores developed all over them as well as the cold sore. I came here and found someone said something about manuka honey. I had recently purchased some good stuff with a 10+ UMF rating. I started by putting a 1/2 teaspoon of it in my mouth and pushing it around for about a minute. I did this about 3 or 4 times for 2 days. It burned like h... for about a minute and pain and swelling subsided. I stopped doing it when I no longer felt any pain from doing it. I created a paste using it with some coconut oil and applied it to my lips and cold sore about 5/6 times a day.
Within 2 days my mouth was completely healed with the cold sore gone in less than a week. Truly amazing as they usually last for 2 weeks for me. It's expensive, but it was well worth it for me as I'd never had canker sores and they hurt really badly. I had about 10 or more all over my inner lips which I think was a reaction from them being swollen. My friend never developed any other problems but the swollen lips.
Fresh Avocado
Posted by Clare (Penzance, Uk) on 07/01/2015
★★★★★
For cold sores, smear a small amount of avocado pear on it. If you catch it early enough it will stop it immediately. Even if you do it later I.e. the next day, it will stop the cold sore from developing. Just keep smearing it on; it will dry and you might look like an extra from a horror movie but it has to be better than some of the things that people say they are using. Marvellous cure!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Maayshia D (Alabama) on 07/20/2016
Hi, umm I have a cold sore right now and so I am using Apple Cider Vinegar on my lip and it has turned white now, does this mean that its working?
Lysine, Vitamin C and Coconut Oil
Posted by martiele (FL) on 06/09/2022
I heard magnesium oil spray does the trick But I have not had one to try it. When I have I have used aloe, aloe by cutting a square off and placing on lip sit 15 minutes and it will Usually stick for the rest of the day until it's gone. It will take me three days with aloe. Also lysine. I was drinking a lot of black tea and I heard black tea blocks lysine in our bodies and so I would get them more often or more easily prone to getting them.
