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.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Chauncey (Asbury Park, Nj) on 09/29/2011
I've never had a cold sore. Takes less then 2 weeks to heal but this time it took about 5. I felt a cold sore starting one day, I left it alone, it seemed to go away but once I shaved my face to have a night out and drank a snapple and the artificial sweetener irritated it and I felt it grow the whole night. The next morning I woke up an it was right in the center of my top lip. I was so pissed, but I remembered stress doesn't help so I took a couple deep breaths and tried to not let it get to me. I did research and I bought nail polish removal, hydrogen peroxide, vitamin c pills and neosporin overnight lip renewal cream. I took a vitamin c pill every morning.
Then every hour and a half I dipped a qtip in the peroxide then the acetone and dabbed it on the outbreak, until I was about to go to bed. Right before I went to bed I used a qtip to put the over night lip renewal cream and repeat. I also watched what I ate, I love greasy and spicy food. But this week I ate healthy and drank nothing but water. Other research I found was the L-lysine pills. I read stories of people not getting an outbreak for 15 years from taking vitamin c and l-lysine pills everyday. I just ordered them this week hopefully I'll never have a outbreak again. It's the most embarrassing thing to ever go through. I hope this post helps someone out there. Just know, you're not alone and don't stress it.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Anastazi (San Luis Obispo, Ca) on 12/14/2011
I have herpes symplex 1. I started having outbreaks a few months ago and have been struggling with reocurring mild outbreaks on my face and a few randoms I think I had one on my arm.. So far I use alba green clay mask when I feel the tingling start and it has stopped outbreaks and in the case of already formed bumps it has reduced then so significantly.. I just keep the clay dabbed on when there is tingling before I go out and all night or when im home. It cleared them in about 5 day and kept them from looking noticable.. This in conjunction with raw fresh garlic in every meal and vit c and lysine.. Hope the clay tip will be of some use I had heard white clay was the best to use but I tried the green since that's what I had and it was very helpful.
Cha De Bugre
Posted by Bethany (Houlton, Me, United States) on 09/27/2011
★★★★★
I was looking up info online about the herb Cha de bugre, also called The Brazillian Energizer. I was surprised to read that it has been used for the treatment of herpes virus. I have had cold sores on my nose and lips several times a year since childhood. I am 43 years old. People who don't get cold sores can't always understand how embarassing and miserable it can make you feel. I bought a bottle of 500 mg capsules (Cordia salicfolia Cham) (10:1 concentrate) and have been taking them 1-3 times daily. This has really worked for me! I still also take lysine once or twice every day. I am very impressed with this supplement, although I don't notice it giving me much of an energizing effect, that's ok. It's also used for weight loss among other things. I will keep taking this every day and make sure I never run out of it. Thank you God for healing herbs and for Earth Clinic!
Cha De Bugre
Posted by Anonymous (Bklyn, Ny) on 09/30/2011
Hi, I am in this same situation and after reading blogs, I have just begun to use neem (liquid), lecithin(capsule), stabilized oxyen and 4 dropd FGHP( 35% food grade hydrogen Peroxide) once daily. I will keep you posted. I do not get cold sores at all since I put Abreva daily on lips especially where there is always a feel that it would come up. I will keep you posted, but I am determined to kill this thing. I have done a full body clease and have changed my diet. The things I am using have claimed to heal some people. Will get tests next year if there is no signs of it.
Liquid Oxygen, DMSO
Posted by Shannon (San Antonio, Tx) on 08/20/2011
★★★★★
I couldn't believe it till I tried it. I started drinking 20 drops twice a day religiously plus DMSO cream to previously affected areas five times a day for five days out of each month. I haven't seen not even a scar since. It's amazing how much this site helped because I thought there was no cure for this!!!! Well, If it's not cured it certainly is really really diminished.
Aloe Vera
Posted by Cocoandrico (Kingston, NY, USA) on 08/18/2011
★★★★★
Aloe Vera is a great natural remedy to try during an outbreak. While I couldn't find much research on the effects of taking Aloe supplements, they do supress other types of viruses and might be useful for herpes. Aloe gels and creams can heal sores quickly (a few days) and prevent infection. Studies have shown that compounds in Aloe disable the functioning of both type 1 and 2 and strengthen the body's immune response. For more info on how to treat herpes naturally, visit:
http://www.aloeplant.info/aloe-viruses/
Aloe Vera
Posted by Sam (Seattle, Wa) on 10/13/2011
So far this seems to be the best method for open sores. Within minutes the peeled scab rebuilt itself. I've been waiting for the soft white and pink tissue to correct itself all day. It's now brown red. The developing spot seems unaffected though.
The other methods I used scabbed overnight but instead pushed the cold sore closer inside my mouth. It's like the virus figured out what I was doing and picked a new spot.
Colloidal Silver, Coconut Oil
Posted by Sandy (Sedona, Arizona) on 08/03/2011
To Lea from Waterford, Mi... Yes, you need to take Monolaurin (coconut oil supplement) with ionic silver to cure herpes or any other virus (HIV, mono, HepC). Monolaurin destroys the lipid envelope around the viral cell deactivating it, also allowing the ionic silver to enter the infected cell killing it and all the other infected cells forever. This will work, just don't give up. Take both everyday, shouldn't take longer than a month. You can tell/feel when the virus is gone from your body. Blessings/Healings to everyone!!
Colloidal Silver, Coconut Oil
Posted by H Smith (Phoenix, Az) on 08/14/2011
I'm intrigued by this "cure".... I've heard of colloidal silver and HIV and the effects of lauricidin on many health issues. I don't have or suspect I have HIV, but I do have cold sores (very infrequent) and would like a permanent solution. I will do more research but this is insanely great news if true. Where did your research come from? Has someone you've known been cured? Thanks!
Colloidal Silver, Coconut Oil
Posted by Sam (Seattle, Wa) on 10/09/2011
★★★★★
If you take monolaurin understand it will get worse before it gets better. It will erupt and scab over within 24 hrs. So it's not a remedy that will suppress the early stage for those who want to hide.
Once it erupts hydrogen peroxide will help exfoliate and bubble the skin. Acetone will help dry it up.
Make sure your colloidal product is made with deionized water not tap water so you are not ingesting large particles that isn't good for you, and is yellowish in color. I find that spraying the silver on the face kills the offending pathogen (virus/bateria) better, rather than ingesting.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ec6270 (Marathon, Fl, Us) on 07/18/2011
★★★★★
Another thumbs up for ACV - started to feel the tingle of fever blister and applied ACV on a cotton pad. Did this for 5 or 10 minutes a twice a day for two days. While there was a small, unnoticable eruption, there was nothing like the usual cycle of blistering and then 5-7 recovery/drying out.
Apple Slices, Aloe Vera Cream
Posted by Chuckles (Auckland, New Zealand) on 07/06/2011
★★★★★
Apples for cold sores. I just wanted to share this with folks. I have suffered from cold sores since a child and I am in my 50s now. I have had that tingle happen under my skin for so many years, I just know I only have a few minutes to get something to stop the onset of sores. I had an apple on my table and cut a small slice from it in a disc shape. I placed the piece on the tingle and held it there for about five minutes. I was careful not to use the same spot of the apple slice on the tingle. I moved it around until I had used every little inch of the apple slice. I then used a baby wipes that had aloe vera in it, and then patted it dry with paper tissue. I then applied a store bought cream (it cost me $14) that had aloe vera in it.
I repeated this procedure if I still felt the tingle was still there, but by the second slice of apple and then wiping with tissue and applying cream, the tingle had already begun to subside. To my amazement, it never went beyond the tingle. I did this before I went to bed, and when I woke there was no tingle, and no cold sore. I was so amazed and overjoyed, I wondered if it was just a coincidence.
About a week later, I felt that familiar tingle again, so I grabbed another apple (I had eaten the rest of the first one) and did the same little cold sore thing. And again, the tingle stopped. I am so amazed that it was as simple as that. For over 45 years I have suffered with these cold sores and this is the ONLY TIME that I have had them disappear without going beyond a the tingle stage. So now I have a little kit for my cold sore treatment which I carry with me in the car or in my bag. I have an apple (buy a bag of them while you are at it, ha ha), a box of tissues, some baby wipes with aloe vera in it and any cream with aloe vera in it. I have oily skin so I have moisturising cream with aloe vera in it. When you cut a slice of apple, it need not be a big chunky piece. I cut mine thin enough to hold with my fingers and it need not be a huge slice. If you cut a big hunk, you will waste the rest of the precious apple in that chunk. Slice only enough to use like a wedge to cover the tingle area. I put these in a plastic container with a lid on it, so that I carry them with me everywhere, in the car or in my bag, because you never know when a tingle will start.
I have a lot of stress in my life at times and this is when the tingle starts. You can even do this while you are on the bus - discreetly of course. I think there is some merit in apple cider juice and apples in general. I have spent years buying creams and gels to no avail. I have scars on my face from cold sores so I am trialing a procedure using Vit E caps and Multi vitamins with minerals capsules, and also Cod Liver Oil Caps.
I will keep you posted and let you know how I am getting on with treating the very visible cold sore scars that have ruined my face (in my opinion) and made me feel at times like a recluse. Please try it, it is so simple, it makes me want to run and tell everyone about it, but of course, only sufferers like you and me know what it is truly like. So cheer up and go and try it, and be amazed. By the way, stress always brings on my cold sores, and low Vit C intake. I do know that these trigger them and my doctor is forever telling me to chill out and eat more fruit, ha ha. So I hope you find some success with this treatment. Regards Chuckles
Apple Slices, Aloe Vera Cream
Posted by Chuckles (Auckland, New Zealand) on 07/07/2011
Hi, its chuckles again. I just wanted to add that you don't need to carry around sliced apples in your little container. Just carry an apple, and wrap it in that clingy clearwrap stuff. You just need to take a little vegetable knife (with a short blade about 3 inches long) into your container, to slice the apple slices when you need them. If you don't use the apple for a week, well you can eat it as a treat for not having a cold sore that week, haha. But seriously, always have apples around the house in a bowl or in the fridge. If you don't always have them, go to the supermarket or vegetable shop if you feel that tingle coming on, and buy just a single apple. That one apple has so much goodness in it, view it as if it were gold. The apple will keep for at least two weeks if it is fresh. I kept my apple for a week, and just sliced it when I needed it again. Wrap it in clingwrap after you have cut slices from it. Don't keep it any longer than 10 ten days, just eat it, haha. So into your little kit of cold sore tools, put a little vegetable knife, an apple wrapped in clingwrap, baby wipes that have aloe vera, tissues for wiping skin, and cream with aloe vera in it. Oh by the way, all of us cold sore sufferers know how infectious a cold sore can be, so take special care to keep your fingers and hands clean and dry when treating your tingling skin.
SO JUST TO RECAP ON HOW TO TREAT YOUR TINGLING SKIN THAT SIGNALS THE ONSET OF A COLD SORE: Slice a small wedge of apple from your apple, and place it on the tingly area of your skin. Hold it there for a few seconds. With your fingers, take a unused piece of your apple slice and place it on the tingling area. Hold it there for a minute. Again, find another unused part of your apple slice and place it on the tingling area and hold it there. Do this again until you have used all the unused parts of your apple slice - hold it on the tingling area. You only need this one apple slice to do this first bit. It is amazing! This should take only five minutes or so. Take a baby wipe and wipe the area clean. Then pat this area dry with a few tissues. Apply a small amount of the cream to the area. Use the baby wipes to wipe your hands and fingers after treating your tingling skin. Dry your hands with clean tissues and that is all you need to do. Re-wrap your apple in the clingwrap and wipe the vege knife with a babywipe and dry off with a tissue. Put these back into your little kit with the cream, tissues and baby wipes. You will be amazed at the results in a few hours time.
Treat your cold sore regime as if you had asthma. Most asthmatics have a regime that they follow to manage their asthma, and cold sore sufferers must do the same thing. I did this before I went to bed. When I woke up there was no cold sore, and the same thing happened a week later when I had that tingling feeling. The key is to start your regime as soon as you feel the tingling. As you can see, there is very little effort involved. Just vigilance and having all of your cold sore kit on hand for the next outbreak. I must also say that I do not know how this regime would work on full blown cold sores. Someone may want to try this method to see if it works on full blown cold sores, but if you use this method as soon as you feel that tingling sensation, you shouldnt be bothered by those nasty cold sores again. Kind regards, Chuckles
General Feedback
Posted by Amaria (Oakland, Ca) on 07/03/2011
With herpies, unfortunately, even if you do not feel the symptoms I understand that the virus can still "shed."
This is especially important for a pregnant woman who actively has the virus at the time of delivery... The baby passing through the birth canal, I. E. , natural birth, can result in blindness and other horrific health problems for the baby.
As much as I wanted and planned to have a natural birth I opted to have a "C" section in order to insure that the virus didn't adversely affect my babies health... no regrets...
General Feedback
Posted by Daisy (Sf, Ca) on 06/29/2011
This is for Morganism54 from Granite Bay, California who said: "Just want to make it clear to everyone you can't get rid of herpes.... It goes into dormancy or recede into the skin to the original place of infection... " My question is: if herpes outbreaks happen at the place of infection, why does he state that "genital herpes tends to habitate at the base of the spine"? Thanks to all who can enlighten me on this.
General Feedback
Posted by Grace (Pdx, US) on 04/04/2015
Herpes is a virus that you can draw out of the cells and dissolve. My doctor believes there are cures for all illnesses, even if it hasn't been discovered yet. I read herpes is cured by MMS. I would consider a zapper. I read that a cure was found for a serious illness and suddenly the rights purchased and mysteriously the cure is poof gone never to surface.
General Feedback
Posted by Morganism54 (Granite Bay, California) on 06/21/2011
Just want to make it clear to everyone you can't get rid of herpes. Some of the language used to explain treatments made it seem like you could "kill the virus" which you can't you can't only cause it to go into dormancy or recede into the skin to the original place of infection genital herpes tends to habitate at the base of the spin and you can often tell when an outbreak will occur by a tinge or tingle of pain in that region. Just FYI because a few people I have talked to seemed to be under the impression that certain herbal remedies can cure you of HSV which is not the case.
General Feedback
Posted by Chris (Tucson, Az) on 06/24/2011
Well, there are some who claim they have. That's worth nothing I know, but it is a claim. Have you heard of the zapper by Dr. Hulda? I've heard that works.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Bill (Boston, Ma, USA) on 05/10/2011
Hi- I love your website!
I have a question regarding the use of apple cider vinegar. Sadly, I also suffer from cold sores, which are brought on by (usually), stress and coffee. To combat them, I try to maintain an alkaline system (i.e. , no acidic foods or drinks), which are known triggers for cold sores.
My question is if you know of any correlation between consuming ACV and the occurance of cold sores. I have been practicing an acid-free diet for a while, with success, and fear the ACV will disrupt this.
Thanks again!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gavin (Manganui, Northland, New Zealand) on 05/10/2011
Hi re aple cider vinegar and cold sores.. If you feel one starting to bubble up, just dab some ACV on it. It then just collapses.. somehow the vinegar goes in and kills the virus.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic, Ice
Posted by Butterfly (Singapore) on 05/10/2011
★★★★★
I recently got a tingling sensation on my lips. I was sure it is an onset of cold sore. I searched earthclinic and found various remedies including ACV, Ice and garlic. I soaked a cotton ball in ACV and place it on the cold sore. Later, I sliced garlic and rub it slowly. I stinged a lot, but it was worth. I also applied ice and numb the affected area. The next morning, I found no trace of cold sore, but only a little swelling.
Thank You Earth Clinic for saving me from so much of embarrassment.
L-Lysine and Vitamin C
Posted by Mike (San Jose, Ca) on 05/04/2011
★★★★★
Back in the mid 80's my girlfriend at that time saw me breaking out on my upper lip. She instantly told me about Lysine and vitamin C.
I've been taking Lysine and vitamin C since then, and have stopped outbreaks about 70% of the time. When I do have an outbreak, usually on my upper lip, Lysine and vitamin C shorten the active period and make the healing much faster. I don't use any skin treatment as the herpes is causing the breakout from within the skin.
I've experimented over the years with taking only one or the other and they don't work nearly as well apart.
When I feel an outbreak coming on, I take 2000mg Lysine and 1000mg of chewable vitamin C with each meal. Works reliably and quickly for 25 years now.
Alkalize, Coconut Oil, Trace Minerals
Posted by Electrum (Salt Lake City, Ut, Us) on 04/20/2011
hi I'm new to this site and I noticed you mentioned alkalizing the body to prevent cancer, etc. An acquaintance told me that simply ingesting a baking soda and water solution is a good way to do this. I lost touch with him and do not have the recipe anymore but there is a wealth of knowledge online about baking soda cures.
I'm trying to find a cure/preventative measure for cold sores too and I'd be interested to know if baking soda can do this since one way to combat cold sores is to lower your acidic levels.
Vodka, Tea Tree Oil, Acne Cream
Posted by Kathleen (Virginia, Us) on 03/28/2011
★★★★★
The first moment you feel the itching/tingling sensation clean the whole area around your mouth with vodka/grain alcohol, after that rub tea tree oil on the areas that feel tingly/itchy. Let this dry, and then you will take acne cream the one with (10) in the name containing benzoyl peroxide, apply this carefully to the spot(s) with a q-tip. Try to keep the dots very small as the cream will dry out all skin and cause peeling. This has been truly magical for me!! If you catch it before there is any visible sign of a sore, it stops them from ever appearing. Repeat throughout the day, keep area very clean with alcohol and tea tree, use new cotton balls/q-tips/pads for each application, be careful not to touch anything, so as not to contaminate or spread infection to new spots.
Have been doing this for many years now, with great success! If you catch it when blisters are visible this will greatly help with speeding healing and preventing new sores. Good luck to all! This is such a great site, have used many of the remedies with success, and try to pass info on to all. Thank you everone so much!
Blood Electrification and Colloidal Silver
Posted by Mark (Las Vegas, Nv) on 03/31/2012
I have silver pulser. I will not use it for making silver and I feel that's not safe. I prefer Soverign Silver. I do however zap pimples with the pulse and they go away in about 24 hours. I use it also to arrest cold sores when I get them.
L-Lysine, Nail Polish Remover
Posted by Mary P (Los Angeles, Usa) on 01/31/2011
★★★★★
Yes... I have suffered from cold sores for 15 years, and in the beginning I used drug store items and suffered 7-10 painful days. In the last few years, I've tried other remedies, and the daily Lysine - I take 1000mg a day along with a B12 helps reduce the type of outbreak, they are tiny if they come at all - I work in a high stress business and sometimes it can wear me down to the point of a cold sore breakout. I then double up the lysine, and press nail polish remover on it for several minutes (5-10) an hour until it is barely noticeable. It really works... oh and I wouldn't adivse popping the blisters unless they are really big, if you pop them, it will only irritate the area and slow down the healing process.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Belvedresi7 (Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Usa) on 05/04/2011
★★★★★
Hydrogen peroxide works! Do this now: Sterilize a safety pin and poke a hole right in the middle of the sore, put hydrogen peroxide on lip multiple times (you will be able to feel it tingle in the sore), then the sore will dry out and you can squeeze the pus stuff out. When you see what comes out, you will know why it hurts so bad. You have to get that stuff out. Do this every day until you get it all out. It took me three days. It feels wonderful after having a swollen lip for a week. Relief!
