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.
L-Lysine
Posted by Sheila (Kansas City, MO) on 05/11/2007
★★★★★
there's a vitamin called LYSINE -they sell it everywhere>>>GO BUY IT IT HELPS STOP fever blisters from coming and helps them go away..... i crush them up and put them on my lips IT WORKS
L-Lysine
Posted by Cs (Sg, Sgp) on 04/16/2013
★★★★★
I've tried just about everything. Lysine is the only thing that works.
DMSO
Posted by Beachgirl (Los Angeles, Ca) on 02/09/2010
★★★★★
DMSO also works for me. I use it any time I think I feel a tingle. But first I drank liquid oxygen for a few months and used the DMSO every day even though I was not having break outs. It has been years with no breakouts.
Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Christy (Pennsylvania, United States ) on 07/27/2022
It doesn't matter if raw chocolate and almonds are healthy to eat or not, they are still high in L-Arginine, which is why eating them leads to a breakout. I don't usually get a cold sore just from eating these foods, but if I have a breakout, it gets bigger and lasts longer if I have them. That includes nut butters as well. Eating foods higher in L-Lysine and taking a Lysine supplement is the only thing that works for me.
L-Lysine
Posted by Leslie (Barboursville, VA) on 03/03/2007
★★★★★
hey cool got it! speaking of foods and health, peanuts, coffee and chocolate all contain arginine, the amino acid which promotes the outbreak of herpes simplexes, esp. cold sores. Add lack of sleep and stress, and that risk increases. More than 97 percent of all humans have some form of these strains of viruses. To combat, take a supplement amino acid, L LYSINE, which tilts the see-saw of balance back. Usually a double dose at first then as directed for several days to prevent worsening of symptoms. The tingling outbreak will stop and it should start to heal within 24 hours (with good sleep, no coffee, etc). Also, the greens, arugula, italian rockette, will assist healing. A paste can be made to draw fluids off, too. Lip Balms sold at health food stores can be purchased that contain Lysine as well.
CAUTION: Do not take Lysine for long extended periods as it can have negative effect on the liver. Try to use foods instead and good care of the body. if necessary, milk thistle, dandelion root and burdock can assist the liver in rebuilding itself.
Oregano Oil
Posted by Briana (San Jose, CA) on 01/29/2007
★★★★★
well - i have successfully avoided an outbreak for 7 years (had one outbreak in 7 years)- i am vegan and eat organic and use no chemicals in my home- but i did have a start of an outbreak once and i rubbed wild oregano oil on it daily for 3 days and it disappeared-watch out though it burns like hell - though within 3 minutes it passes- you can dilute i with olive oil if you prefer- but i like to use it strong to stop it dead in its tracks!
Garlic
Posted by David (Reading, UK) on 12/06/2006
★★★★★
I felt the tingle and the beginning of the ache that arises when the preliminary bump starts to form on the lip, so applied half a cut garlic clove to it about three times a day. The ache stopped immediately on application, the swelling reduced and now there is only a very small crust formed, less than half the size it would normally be and I expect it to be gone by tomorrow. All this within two days, less than half the weekly cycle it normally takes. I have to say very impressed, a definite Yea. As a point of interest my Cold Sore first appeared after my lips got severely sunburned while on a boat. I was 30 years old and never had one before. So get that sunscreen on!
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Debra (Philadelphia, PA) on 09/09/2006
★★★★★
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"!
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.
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 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.
Fragipani
Posted by Gail (Surrey, Canada) on 03/16/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Hi Someone recommended Fragipani as a remedy for cold sores...I looked it up and they said the flower was poisonous, I have concerns about people trying anything in desperation, maybe a small amount of Fragipani is harmless, but I do think its wise to check first for safety sake.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 10/30/2008 490 posts
Hi LIA, for all viruses, including genital herpes, think L-lysine 2 grams (2000mgm) 4 times per day for adults.
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 Recommendations
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.
