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-Theanine
Posted by Found Another Option (Columbus, Ohio) on 02/08/2010
★★★★☆
I have had cold sores since I was 6. L-Lysine never worked for me. Once I discovered that this virus is in your nerve endings, I thought of anything that would be a destresser. One day by accident I tried L-Theanine. When the tingling came, I had just taken one. It broke out but only stayed two days and did not have any redness. The tingling and soreness was never felt. Thought I'd put this one out there for anyone who might want to try this.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Marie (Crowthorne, Uk) on 04/15/2010
I have gotten all excited about the great responses to using HP for cold sores, however not one comment states if it is 3% solution or 35%. Please could someone let me know. Many thanks.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Becca (Lb, Ca) on 05/31/2011
hi, I was wondering what the exact dosage and regiment you used? how may drop you started with, the grade and how much water you mixed with?
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Paysocal (Redondo Beach, Ca) on 07/28/2011
There is a website I was reading this morning
www.drinkh2o2.com that has all the information on hydrogen peroxide theropy. They give you the dosage schedule. I haven't tried it yet.
L-Lysine, Nail Polish Remover
Posted by Victoria (Saint Johns, Florida) on 01/29/2010
★★★★★
I get about 2-3 cold sores a year on my lips. After a attempting a few remedies, I have found the cure. Once I feel that tingling sensation I immediately take 2 capsules of L-lysine at 500mg. each. If I see a red spot coming out, I get a q-tip, dip it in nail polish remover & using the tip only, apply it with a slight pressure to that area for a few seconds until I feel a burning sensation deep within. That's how you know it's working. I repeat 2 more times that day and the next along with the L-lysine. The cold sore never even comes out. Sometimes, I've had a cold sore start at night while I'm sleeping & when I wake up, it's already painful & clearly visible. Even then, I take my L-lysine and apply the nail polish remover and it stops it in its track! It kills the virus and stops it from growing. I tell all my friends and family & it has worked on them too!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Pundon2010 (Charlotte, North Carolina) on 01/29/2010
★★★★★
On this past Monday I started to have that "tingling" feeling on my lip meaning the beginning of a cold sore breakout. By mid afternoon I was right, a huge blister in the corner of my mouth ouch!!...after reading the numerous reviews on ACV as a cold sore remedy, I decided to give it a try. On this past Tuesday went to the store an got the ACV and put some on a cotton ball. Without a moments notice the cold sore started to burn like someone had threw perm on my face!!!!...but after a few moments the burning sensation went away. About an hour later the cold sore had reduced in size. I did the same thing again before I went to bed. When I woke up the next morning the cold sore had reduced in size about 1/2 inch and had began to crack as if it was drying out already!!!!....YAY!! I thought, But to my dismay there was yet another cold sore peeking its ugly head out from beneath my lower lip. After having success with the other sore, I kept reapplying the ACV with a cotton ball 4-5 times a day for both sores for approximately 3 days. Today is Friday and I am glad to say that both sores are gone!!!!!...no more ooze and pus filled blisters..as of right now they are in the healing process, so they are scabbing over. Thanks Everyone and Earth Clinic for your wonderful tips on how to combat such an embarrassing condition!!!!..I will defintely be ready with the ACV when the next one comes!!!!!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Larry (Sacramento, Ca) on 09/03/2011
From my experience besides eating right and taking lysine, zinc, vitamin C and any other immune booster vitamin you choose; A natural product from www.quickhealingherb.com is the only product I've tried that works immediately. Everything else takes awhile to reduce and go away.
L-Lysine
Posted by Kaykow (Washington, Dc) on 01/19/2010
★☆☆☆☆
I've used L-Lysine and it does not work. I currently have 3 cold sores on 3 places on my bottom lip. I've been taking L-Lysine for 1 - 1 1/2 years and I still get cold sores. Unfortunately this time it was 3 at one time.
L-Lysine
Posted by Don (Ny) on 02/02/2014
Eat lots of flounder.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Tahiti (Pittsburgh, Pa) on 01/18/2010
★☆☆☆☆
I had the exact same thing happen to me. I used it on a cold sore on my lip and a canker sore. When I used it on the canker sore, it made my lip swell really big. It did nothing for my cold sore either. What can be used to make a canker sore heal quickly and go away even more quickly?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sam (Seattle, Wa) on 10/13/2011
★☆☆☆☆
I hadn't had and outbreak for years until I started messing with my PH with ACV. I'm not saying it is the cause, but it certainly didn't help. For dinner the night before I had shrimp, crawdads, fried catflish and cajun fries with Sierra Mist. That might have sucked out all my bicarbonate reserves.
Normally ACV alkanizes but the day the outbreak started and two days after, neither ACV or baking soda with water could get my PH to go above 5. I tried dabbing ACV on a developing sore and it didn't do a thing.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lou (Tyler, Tx) on 09/27/2015
Catfish, cajun fries and crawdads? You eat like my husband and he has a cold sore tonight that erupted into a facial infection of sorts. Not a good diet. Eat a salad!!! Alkaline diet!!!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Don (Knoxville, Tn, Usa) on 01/05/2010
★★★★☆
Red marine algae has really reduced the pain and brought on much faster healing. Using it with lysine and garlic supplements plus lysine lip salve has been a blessing.
One more thing if you can find the trigger mechanism that brings them on you can avoid many outbreaks. One of mine is apple skins or any products with apple juice in it. Another is stress.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Eric (Central, Florida) on 06/08/2010
WOW, I can't believe you were taking that for any reason, let alone in a dose like that. You can thank Donald Rumsfeld for the aspartame push. If you have netflix, watch The Beautiful Truth, there's some good stuff in there about this subject and msg etc. and what it does to your brain. Good luck.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Laura (Cape Cod, Ma) on 12/06/2009
★★★★★
Found your site while searching for natural wart remedies and read up on all the things that Apple Cider Vinegar is supposed to help. My husband suffers from cold sores (herpes) thankfully, infrequently. But he was getting a really large one and tried the ACV on it and it really worked. Soak a cotton ball with ACV and place on the area as soon as you feel tingling. Do this as often as possible for the first 24 hrs and it skips the whole burning and breakout period. The sore went right to crusting over and healing in about 4 days. We had to write in because your site helped him so much! thank you...will respond to the wart ACV remedy too because that works too!
Manuka Honey
Posted by Jessica (Orlando, Florida, Usa) on 10/27/2009
★★★★★
Ive Been Using Manuka Honey for my cold sores. I normally get them from ACCIDENTALLY touching my mouth with unclean hands especially with money. When I was young I sue to get them ALL the time and could never figure out when until I got older and put 2 and 2 together and realized the Dirtiness in $$ and touching my mouth was causing continous outbreaks. I try to be as cautious as possible but I also have kids who accidentally hit me in the mouth here and there when playing or jumping around. Ive been applying manuka honey with a Q Tip everytime im touched anywhere in the area of my mouth. At night I apply the manuka honey around the outer lining of my mouth and also all over my lips and thus far have not had any outbreaks. The Manuka Honey helps destroy bacteria and is also WONDERFUL for so many different ailments. I had a cold sore a few months back and applied the manuka honey to it continuosally and the sore was gone and healed within a week. It never allowed the sore to get bubble up and hit that really disgusting stage. TRY IT IT CANT HURT!!
Ted's Remedy Feedback
Posted by Samantha77 (South Whitley, Indiana, Usa) on 09/18/2011
RE: Ted's Cold Sore Remedies
I'm a bit confused about the dosage of Ted's cold sore remedy as well. Can somebody clarify? Sorry if it's a repeat question.
I've just read about a similar remedy that involves taking zinc as well. It's optional though.
It also recommends taking Lysine tablets which has worked at healing my cold sores faster and to balance your pH if it is too acidic (which I found out that mine was).
So I've been drinking some purified alkaline water and eating more alkaline based foods rather than acidic foods. So far it's really been effective. I've had much less cold sores since starting this routine. It's really helpful if you have severe cold sore breakouts, or you get them often.
Oregano Oil
Posted by Gerald (Los Angeles, California) on 02/19/2014
Traditionally, when our family….I'm speaking of the one in which I was raised…..encountered a really bad sessions with the flu, when 1200 mg of Vitamin C and 24 hours of rest didn't make a dent in the onslaught, Mom would brew up with a tea of oregano and other spices, the taste of which would make one's hair stand on end, but would turn the corner on the ailment!
So, it comes as no great revelation to find you dosing yourself with an oregano extract. However, the diatomaceous earth is merely a “deposit, ” if you will, of the oil, much like it is used to ensconce oily nitro-glycerin, in dynamite.
It keeps the oil against ones face. This is a topical application to a sore, from what I see you describing. Might I suggest an ozonated olive oil? As a salve, it stays on the site to which it was applied.
If properly made of an organic, extra virgin olive oil, the portion against the skin melts into a fine, deeply penetrating oil, carrying the ozone, with which it combined, to wherever it travels.
Its highly oxidative nature wreaks havoc against topical pathogens. Use it straight; don't dilute it because of the smell. One becomes accustomed to it.
You'll find a dab placed upon most any sore, hastens its healing markedly. It does not “cure” the cause, if it's internal. But it will allow the unhindered healing of the lesions that form.
Try it! I think you'll be surprised at it efficacy and how long such a small amount lasts!
Epsom Salt
Posted by Jean (Franklin, Wi) on 08/18/2009
★★★★★
No idea where I ever got the idea to try this, but it has worked every time for me. When I get a cold sore, I put a crystal of epsom salt on it. It stings for a bit, but within a short period of time the pain is down, a few hours I know its already on the mend, and the next day its usually about 1/2 to 2/3 cleared up. It only needs to be done once.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Pamm (Birmingham, Al) on 07/24/2009
★★★★★
Cold Sores: This site has been amazing & I have loved it! I hate taking medication for anything, so I try all of these natural remedies first. And I have had some Down Falls. But more good then bad. Everyone is different so not everything will work for everyone. I noticed I had a virus of some sort and noticed my lips were tingling and sore and I had many blisters forming quickly. I did not have my usual cold sore medication and I hate fever blisters so I came on here and read about the Apple Cider Vinegar Cure. I am not going to put fingernail polish remover on my lips because of the toxins in it, so I tried the ACV and it burned but not too bad. I did this throughout the day and by nighttime I could see they were drying up & looked better. Here it is the next morning. Not completely gone, but less noticeable no tingling, no pain, they are almost completely dried up. They are not hurting like they were yesterday. Also try taking Valtrex, you have to get a prescription from your doctor but it works. It boost your immune system. But I was amazed that this Apple Cider Vinegar worked so quickly! I am going to keep doing it today, and I know they will not come out if I keep it soaked down with the natural Apple Cider Vinegar. Natural all the way!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Susan (Sarasota, Fl) on 09/25/2009
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar will stop the progress of herpes. I have an occasional occurrence on my leg. Simply soak a small cotton ball with ACV and cover with a bandaid or tape. Change throughout the day and keep on over night. Amazingly, within a day, you will see you are winning the war!!! I also succeeded in removing a large wart from my finger.
Ear Wax
Posted by Jenna (Pittsburgh, Pa, Usa) on 02/01/2010
This is a crazy idea, but it is on my lips as i write this and i do feel something!! I do EVERYTHING there is: lysine, diet changes topical ointment, tea bags, ice, and annything else i can find and they always last over a week! can't wait to see how this goes, will definitely update you!!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Amber (Washington, DC) on 06/23/2009
★★★★★
I had never gotten cold sores before and this was the first time. It was horrible i had 3 HUGE cold sores on and around my lips. i waited 2 weeks and they didn't go away. i used pills and creams but nothing worked. I read here to use hydrogen peroxide and i figured what could i lose i already look horrible and i had 1 day befoe i was leaving to europe for 2 weeks. basically it works wonders! i had yellow puss dried up for about 5 days and it hadn't fallen off yet. the HP dissolved the dried puss and made it easier for me to pick off. some of the sores were still open so i put the hydrogen peroxide on( it burned like nothing else) it didn't puss over again it just dried out. now i have red skin but thats it. i can at least go out in public now
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Eric (San Francisco, California) on 06/08/2009
★★★★★
I've been getting cold sores occasionally for 12 years and have tried every over the counter topical treatment there is, but NOTHING worked like Apple Cider Vinegar did.(I actually find that most of those oily/waxy treatments make my sores worse.) I take a L-Lysine supplement pill every day of my life which I feel helps keep the breakouts down to a minimum, but occasionally sun exposure etc. will bring on a sore and I was desperate for a treatment that finally worked! I was skeptical of home remedies especially when I read that people were applying acetone to their faces, but 2 days ago I had a cold sore eruption the size of a dime on my lower lip and I thought I'd try about anything to speed along it's demise. I came across many sites listing Apple Cider Vinegar as a topical solution and I remembered my grandfather using it for burns and cuts. The fact that it's all natural was a major selling point, so I decided to give it a try. I had already had the sore for about 24 hours when I started applying 100% Apple cider vinegar directly to the sore with a Q-Tip. It was at the red sore with white blister stage, but hadn't yet erupted or oozed. Well let me tell you, within 5 minutes of applying vinegar it started to sting a little and then pulsate and I knew something was working. I read that viruses can not live in an acidic environment and this was no exception. Over the next few hours, I continually applied and reapplied a few drops and it was as if I had placed a time machine on my sore. What would usually take about 5-7 days occurred over the course of a few hours. My sore erupted oozed, dried out, cracked and crusted over that evening. I then cleansed and applied a little acne medication and left in on overnight to dry the sore further. By the next morning, the scab sloughed off in the shower and I was left with just a dry reddish area of skin, but no sore or bump whatsoever. I was able to cover it with a little concealer (something that NEVER works effectively on an actual cold sore) and with a little loose powder, it was practically invisible. The area is still dry and little painful due to the war that had occurred on the premises the night before, but should be all cleared up by tomorrow and best of all, the cracking/bleeding stage was skipped all together. Essentially, what would usually have lasted 7-10 days for me was complete in just 48 hours. I can only imagine how much better it would have been if I had caught the sore at the tingling stage and applied Apple Cider Vinegar right away. All I can say is that I am AMAZED at the results. Apple Cider Vinegar. Who Knew??? I'm a Believer!
L-Lysine
Posted by ShantiM (Mogadoe, Ohio) on 05/27/2009
★★★★★
When I take one cap of 500mg a day of L Lysine, I never have an out-break. When I don't take it, I have an out-break about once every three months. I have been on and off the L Lysine for years. Now I take it daily and have not had an out-break of oral herpes for eight months. Some days I take only half a dose...it still works. I would suggest this cure for anyone who has oral herpes and I can't imagine not taking L Lysine everyday ever again.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Susan (New York, New York) on 04/26/2009
It has finally dawned on me that after consuming many cans of Slimfast for weightloss, I now realize that this is most likely the cause for my HB. 4 days after consuming Slimfast, I had a breakout. After reading the ingredients on the can, the company lists "non nutritive" sweetners, which obviously is some form of artifical sweetner. I am wondering now if the manufacturer might realize the problem and never intentionally mension the actual sweetners by name????? So, I will never drink Slimfast again. I do not take any diet products of any kind or artificial sweetners. I think people who are allergy prone have a higher chance of this kind of reaction. I believe that with all of the obesity in this country, more and more people will have outbreaks due to weightloss products. Thanks for this site.
Pine Pitch
Posted by Hannah (Smithers, BC Canada) on 04/12/2009
cold sores: an old friend of mine (who lives off the land completely) noticed I was suffering toomuch from cold sores. He brought in aspecial little bag for mr and said go put this on it. Not distrusting him one bit, but just apprehensive enough to ask what I was putting on my lips..lol.
his reply was simple... pine pitch...
from a tree? pine pitch? I asked...yup he said
I did so...and in 1 day it was down to almost gone....
amazing in my book because I get massive sized cold sores.
and... the next best thing is definately l lysine, but what do you do if you can't get to a store, can't afford the high prices of medication, or live very remote... that istheremedies I am looking for.
EC: Pine pitch = pine sap/resin
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by IGOTITTO (Martin, TN) on 04/09/2009
I have been able to link one of my worse outbreaks ever to my new diet and these drink mixes. Of course, it has aspartme. I was wondering though, which of you all was able to link it to wine? Thanks for the help guys. A community that is able to help others is a loving thing. Thanks again.
