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.
Garlic
Posted by Happyhappy (Del Mar, California) on 08/30/2014
★★★★★
Garlic
works!
I have had this virus since I was 5 or 6, maybe younger for all I know, but I just remember first finding out I had a cold sore. I honestly thought it was a type of cold, and I never knew there was a stigma behind them until I was about 22. Once I figured out people have the audacity to look down on people with this virus (even though they likely have it too), I became very stressed whenever I would have an outbreak. I never knew you could stop one until I researched it. Learning about garlic on this Earth Clinic website, I had to try it, especially since I usually buy too much and have it lying around for about 3 months at a time.
I hear people talking about a garlic supplement not working, but I am talking about FRESH garlic. I personally cannot chance an outbreak by using a garlic pill when I have the real deal fresh garlic. You can buy a couple of bulbs of garlic and it will last for quite some time (I've had my garlic for almost two months, and even though it may not be as pretty as new garlic, once you cut it, that fresh garlic juice is there). I just cut a small sliver (just take a knife and take a flat slice from biggest part of the garlic so it will cover a larger area, which can help kill the virus on AND around the offending area) from a clove and hold the little sliver against my lip. I do this if I feel a tingle, if I bite too much dry skin off my lip (bad habit), if I feel discomfort of any sort around my lips/mouth, or even question an upcoming outbreak, I go on and press that fresh sliver against my lip, and that is EXACTLY what you should do in those cases too.
The nice thing about garlic is that you can even use it IN the mouth, whereas many other things (i.e. alcohol, nail polish remover) cannot be used for blisters inside the mouth.
Even if you have a blister when you wake up, ice it for as long as you can to calm down the swelling and numb the lip, then immediately grab your garlic clove, cut a sliver off (save the remainder of the clove, this way, as you need more, you can keep cutting slivers off throughout the day, thus releasing more fresh juice every time you use it. ) The Garlic will send the active virus to hell where it belongs and you should notice your blister rapidly receding, as the garlic will not only obliterate the active virus, but don't lick your lips after applying the garlic, because the garlic should help dry that sucker out.
(When you get to the last possible piece of your garlic, it may be dry because there is not more garlic to cut off to release the juice. If this is the case, just gently squeeze the last piece to release the juice, and it will be good to go! )
Anytime you think, know, doubt, assume, wonder, or question rather or not a cold sore is coming, USE THE FRESH GARLIC. I recommend using it every couple of hours to ensure you won't get a breakout during times you need it, however, I've used it once on red swollen skin (the stage RIGHT BEFORE impending blister) and feel asleep, and next morning, nothing. If you fall asleep, just use more garlic next day.
WARNING: You will have to man/woman up for this, as the garlic MAY cause an extreme burning sensation as you press it on the offending area. Sometimes it barely burns, especially if my lips are not cracked or damaged, and sometimes my mouth, eyes, and nose water because it hurts so bad. But I deal with it, because it is less painful than walking around feeling like you have a black eye on your lip. Embarrassing.
Summary & Tips:
- Buy FRESH GARLIC and just keep it around. The juice inside the garlic will be there a very long time, so even old looking garlic can be cut to release juice with that power garlic "medicine."
- You only need to cut a sliver off of the garlic each time you need some garlic, as each flat sliver has the "miracle" garlic juice on it.
- If in doubt and if you have an outbreak, still use the garlic. It may even possibly kill the virus on the skin (the shedding) to help protect others or spreading to other parts of your body (please still use ALL the safety precautions that you would use if you had giant oozing blister on your mouth.)
- Carry a clove of garlic in your car, backpack, purse, etc. It may not be legal to carry a knife (especially if minors and/or anyone at an educational institute), so carry something that can help you release the juice from the garlic. Plastic knife, spoon, even a sanitized filer on nail clippers.
- Don't forget to brush your teeth! You don't know how many people admit they forgot to brush their teeth the day/night before an outbreak. The virus loves moist and unclean. Also, avoid toothpastes with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (sls), as it is believed to cause outbreaks.
- You may want to gargle with peroxide to kill the viruses that may be throwing a party in your mouth. I also take a piece of cotton, paper towel, or even toilet paper (anything disposable) and put some peroxide on it, and clean my lips and mouth area to also help remove any shedding I may not be aware of.
- In between outbreaks, always keep lips moist with something that helps prevent outbreaks. Something with lysine, an antiviral essential or even some balm that if for cold sores. Just use something to help keep these at bay.
Thanks to everyone who sticks around to read this long post.
Good look and be happy!
Baking Soda
Posted by Suzanne (Fort Wayne, US) on 07/26/2014
★★★★★
Inez from Kent UK. Inez, I too suffered from cold sores till I started taking baking soda mixed with water in the morning on an empty stomach. I have 1/2 teaspoon baking soda with a cup of water four to five days a week. I have not had one outbreak since I started years ago. there is much written on the subject here on EC. It works, it's cheap and I feel great.
Baking Soda
Posted by Inez (Kent, Uk) on 07/25/2014
★★★★★
Bicarbonate of soda for cold sores:
Been having cold sores all my life but it effects me more now as I have fallen in love. Massive cold sore came up yesterday (Thursday )above my lip found this site and made the paste put it on the sore and it went down within an hour. I covered my whole face with it and my skin is so soft and glowing now thank you so much
inez
Camphor
Posted by Piper (Toronto) on 06/09/2014
★★★★★
I get cold sores and usually I use hydrogen peroxide or nail polish remover and they dry up and heal in about a week. This time I had them for at least 8 weeks and nothing was working. A friend had recommended Carmax, so I decided a different approach was needed. After a couple of days using Carmax, I looked at the ingredients (camphor 1.7 and phenol .44) and noted that they were close to Vicks Vaporub. Checked the label and the Vicks was similar, just higher concentrations. I decided to put Vicks on my sores. I finally got some relief and they started to heal. First, I liked the feeling of Vicks. That familiar tingle seemed to counteract the annoying tingle of the cold sore. In fact, any time I felt a cold sore tingle, I would put Vicks on to have what I felt to be a healing tingle. Within a week they were healing.
Other thing I found that helps is lemon balm. Take leaf and rub on sore and drink in tea. About 5-6 leaves, crush a bit to release active ingredients.
Garlic
Posted by Vanessa (London, UK) on 04/17/2014
This is the first time I've commented on here but I was compelled to write because of the success of using garlic, ice and coconut oil for my cold sore. I woke up in the night to feel a bump and tingle on my top lip, I immediately applied Zovirax but by the morning the sore was already blooming. I iced the sore for 10 minutes at a time, four times in the day and applied garlic for 15 seconds in between, putting a layer of VOC after each time. It's the smallest and the quickest recovery I've ever had from a CS.
Ear Wax
Posted by Nathan (New Zealand) on 03/13/2014
★★★★★
I had an out break yesterday of genital herpes. I have been suffering for two years now. As when an out break occurs I end up trawling the net for anything to make my situation better. I read this last night about the earwax and was kind of interested. I applied it to the blisters this morning and within 3 hours noticed a significant change in my situation. Almost no pain. Within 6 hours all the blisters where the earwax had been had vanished not giving any a chance to burst and therfore not having to go through the whole scab healing process which totally sucks and is probably the worst part. By this evening it is as if I had never had an outbreak. This has taken maybe 10 days off the whole cycle which is a god send. I am actually still totally stunned at how effective and quick this has worked. TOTALLY RECOMMENDED. Better than anything from the doctor and health food shops by a mile. Natrual and free. Thank you to this site and all who have posted here. This is a game changer. :-)
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!
Oregano Oil
Posted by Jersey Guy (Jersey) on 02/19/2014
I'd like to add, yes higher strengths of oregano or olive leaf helps greatly. I would post what I use but I don't think I can. I'd like to add I use it with a product called diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth is a product that attacks parasites please please please research it u may like it. I've tried a bunch pf different products and some seem to work for a while and then I get stressed or drunk and pow it was back. I stumbled on diatomaceous earth from a website that had higher doses of a lot of good products but was to pricey. So I found the same strength cheaper online and gave it a try. I mixed DE with water and Olive leaf and did that 5 times that day. I think I did to much at once , because the next day I felt a tingling around my spine and burning and intense itching sensation at the back of my legs. I showered and used Food grade peroxide all over my body. and withen hours the itching and burning stopped and the sores went away. I kept doing the Olive leaf and DE daily it happened again maybe a week later much smaller and less intense, I did the same process in the shower with the peroxide. Everything had stopped again. I believed it to be the products pushing the virus to the surface. fast forward 8 months of doing this daily I havent had the slightest itch burning sensation etc. I recently added probiotics as that extra immune boost to keep me healthy but yeah. I just wanted to share my experience 8 months no issues when I use to have it at least twice a month.
L-Lysine
Posted by Don (Ny) on 02/02/2014
Eat lots of flounder.
Oregano Oil
Posted by Donkeypoofed (Calgary) on 01/29/2014
★★★★★
I was at work one night and could feel the tingling start. Unfortunately, I had 8 more hours until I could get home to my Oil of Oregano, so the sore came up. I immediately put on 2 drops of undiluted oil and within mere hours, the sore was healing!! The blister balloon had deflated and the pain was mostly gone. I knew Oil of Oregano was good, but even I am blown away by how good it is!
Oregano Oil
Posted by Jnell (Bc, Canada) on 01/16/2014
★★★★★
A drop or 2 of Oil of Oregano applied directly to my cold sore (lip), using a clean cotton swab, upon onset, stop growth dead in it's tracks! What would normally take 7-10 days to fester and heal now takes only 3 days!
Ice
Posted by Lavender (Minnesota) on 12/22/2013
★★★★★
This works at the first sign of a sore, quickly and every time.... ICE.... Take a cloth so your fingers don't freeze off, wrap it around a cube of ice. Place the ice directly on the sore. You can move it around the surrounding area, as well. Leave it there until you can't stand it anymore....then do it again....at often as you have time to during one day's time....
I promise you it will go away. The ice does not bother me, I'm used to it, you will too knowing the sore will be gone by evening. This works for me everytime, been doing this for YEARS!
Acetone
Posted by Thehandyman1947 (Poland, Ohio) on 12/17/2013
Cold sores, the virus is highly contagous, when the blister is present, also you have a viral shedding once a year, no sign, but contagious. try DMSO and lugol's solutition in a spray bottle, ( lugol's solutition is a mixture of potassium, and iodine) 50/50 mix, this will take care of just about any infection, iodine is very powerful antiseptic, also myrrh oil or oil of wild oregano. Also when you have a blister it's a clear sign that your immune system is down so try to build up your immune system (vit c).
Acetone
Posted by Mia (Formerly Of Lyons, Now Syracuse) on 12/17/2013
★★★★★
I have been using Retin-A for wrinkles. Problem is that everytime I use it, I break out in a cold sore. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
I am sick of it and was driven to try the nail polish thing again so I bought some today because taking L-Lysine wasn't touching this one. My lip was so swollen it wasn't funny. Then, another started to pop out in a different after I started to use the nail polish.
I had to use it more than a couple times. I have been putting it on with a cotton bud every hour or so by dabbing it until the cotton ball dries out . I haven't just let it sit there for five minutes because I don't really want to breathe the fumes in. So I dab it, breathe, dab it, etcetera until it dries out and then I do it again a bit later when the thing tries to moisten back up.
It is working because I am diligently attacking it.
The thing is already crusting over after one day and normally it would take five days to get this stage. I will definitely keep putting the acetone on until it is all dried up and gone.
I am also taking L-Lysine, which wasn't really working that well, along with Vitamin C. I am planning to continue to do both as a daily preventative.
Peppermint
Posted by Ray (Boston, Ma) on 12/17/2013
★★★★★
Can you add Peppermint to the cold sore remedy list? I know it works.
EC: Hi Ray, do you mean peppermint oil or lip balm with peppermint?
Bee Propolis
Posted by Bodulica (Barrie, Canada) on 12/12/2013
★★★★★
Herpes: Bee propolis applied topically significantly shortens the duration of the outbreak. Be careful: it permanently stains textile!
Alcohol
Posted by Lisa H. (Santa Barbara, Ca) on 11/18/2013
When I was in Nepal earlier this year I got a cold sore and I was staying a top a mountain, a three hour return trip to a pharmacy. I had failed to pack any zovirax, which has been successful in the past, so my friend and I went digging through our first aid kits and came up with alcohol swabs! Ah huh!!
After the first swipe, the burning started, but it was that good burning like you can feel the virus shrinking away from it as fast as it can kind of burning. It took about three days of day with the alcohol wipes every couple of hours to turn it completely around and kill it.
I have subsequently found acetone to work faster and be more effective, but if you are working with what you have available in a first aid kit - I can 400% recommend the alcohol swabs!
Acetone
Posted by Lisa H. (Santa Barbara, Ca) on 11/18/2013
★★★★★
Thank you - Earth Clinic folks. The acetone works miracles! I awoke with that dreaded tingling feeling and tried using an 11 month old tube zovirax to no effect for the first half a day the cold sore just kept growing - and getting redder and itchier.
Then I jumped on earth clinic - and remembered the acetone trick. Thank goodness, the tingling stopped, it dried out and started to recede within 48 hours. It is taking a while to heal but is continuing to get smaller and smaller.
Chocolate is my #1 cold sore trigger. Each outbreak I have had in the past few years can be traced back to the effect of an overindulgence. Well THIS time I have learnt my lesson for sure.
Acetone
Posted by Josephine (Uk) on 10/20/2013
★★★★★
Just wanted to say that acetone for nose ulcers work very well. Just just a cotton bud dipped it into acetone and applied to the sore for one minute. I did this every moring and niht for two days.. The tinggling sensation went after the second application. Thank you Earth Clinic.
Bitter Almonds
Posted by G (Nederland) on 10/12/2013
★★★★★
Have anyone tried bitter almonds on cold sores. I have now been eating them for half a year and have no outbreak of cold sores.Also I mix some bitter almond oil with sweet almond oil and rub it on my lips every night. You can also use 100% bitter almond oil but it burns like hell
Aloe Vera
Posted by Jayne (London) on 09/15/2013
★★★★★
As soon as I feel or see a cold sore developing, I put some aloe vera toothpaste on, (the kind you can buy in any healthfood shop), and leave it on overnight. It's normally gone by morning. This also helps with other sores and blemishes. It helps to dry them up and, although tingly at first, feels very healing.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Timh (Ky, Usa) on 09/10/2013 2048 posts
Thanx for your post, Jess.
Cleaning out the cupboard, I cooked a can of chicken noodle soup said to be 25% less sodium, but I made the critical mistake (forgot) that the sodium is monosodium glutamate. I also took three different kinds of pharmaceutical medications w/ this meal, and developed a reaction that lasted about 24 hrs with side effects lasting one week latter. My liver, intestines, and heart were most affected and my BP spiked considerably. Am working and hoping to avoid any long-term damage (as I also have major environmental toxicity issues). Those hidden dangers.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Jessica (Brooklyn, Ny) on 09/09/2013
I just realized I drank a diet snapple by accident yesterday. I never eat or drink diet anything. I came down with a cold sore a few hours latter. I think there is much truth to this.
Avoid Citric Acid
Posted by Timauthee (Dallas, Tx) on 09/06/2013
Thanks! For cold sores I tried ALL of the home remedies, heavy drugs and L Lysine for prevention for years..... Nothing worked. Read here and on the genital herpes site that Orange, Grapefruit and Cranberry Juice causes outbreaks. Past years would have on average of 8 major occurrences per year. Stopped drinking these juices and had 1 minor occurrence in the past 2 years (side-note, the last two years have been anything but stressless so its not due to a low stress levels)."
Avoid Orange, Grapefruit, and Cranberry Juices
Posted by Timauthee (Dallas, Tx) on 09/04/2013
★★★★★
Cold Sores: Tried ALL of the home remedies, drugs and L Lysine for prevention..... Nothing worked. Read on the genital herpes site that Orange, Grapefruit and Cranberry Juice causes outbreaks. Past years would have on average of 8 major occurrences per year. Stopped drinking these juices and had 1 minor occurrence in the past 2 years (side-note, the last two years have been anything but stressless so its not due to a low stress levels).
L-Lysine
Posted by Earthclinicrocks (Melbourne, Australia) on 08/22/2013
Beware of using hemorrhoid creams. Many contain Hydrocortisone, a steroid that reduces inflammation. It does this by reducing the immune response in that area. This is exactly the opposite of what we want to achieve. Clinically tested products like an infrared device work by enhancing the immune response, not suppressing it. Using a hydrocortisone cream in any viral, fungal or bacterial infection is likely to have dire consequences.
The ingredient that may assist in healing is zinc, contained in some hemorrhoid creams. It is also available in many other forms (nappy rash creams, for example) which do not contain Hydrocortisone.
Acetone
Posted by Fmb (Vancouver) on 08/09/2013
★★★★★
YEA Acetone really does work - it's amazing. I wanted to explain a few details I experienced with the acetone treatment.
I've been getting cold sore outbreaks for about 15 years now - I'm 39 - I found that taking 1000mg Lysine daily has kept me free of outbreaks for 4 years - I ran out, didn't take lysine for only 2 days and BAM my upper lip had the start of BIG nasty large vesicles - Couldn't believe it - no prodrome tingling, no warning. It was slightly obsured by my moustache so I didn't really notice it right away. This one just by the initial size was gonna be a major disaster.
I read all the miracle stories about it, so I tried the acetone on a cotton swab placed directly onto the sore for 5min at a time every 30min for the first day. To stop evaporation I used clear packing tape to press the swab right onto the sore. Don't be afraid to PRESS the acetone into the sore - it will burn bad but it's like you can also feel the acetone destroying the HSV inside.
The next morning I woke up and I thought Lisa Rinna's plastic surgeon had snuck into my bed and plumped up my lip with silicone - It was HUGE, I actually laughed in the mirror because it looked so ridiculous. However, the sore had gone directly to scab healing stage.
The following morning the swelling had almost completely gone and after my shower the scab had worn off and the final pink healing scab remained. So literally 48 hours from the start of what was to be a colossal large sore on my lip it's already to the point of what normally takes about 10 days to get to.
1000mg Lysine daily is the long-term cure you want to get on - but if you miss a Lysine and one pops up Acetone is what you need 100% - Do not even bother with anything else and start it as soon as you see or feel one coming on.
Acetone is also totally safe for your skin - read up about it on wikipedia - It's even used as a food additive!
Ted's Remedy Feedback
Posted by Zark (Emerald City, The Land Of Oz, The Land Of Oz) on 08/07/2013
Hi there, I will copy Ted From Bangkok's latest info for combatting Herpes Virus (latest I can find is 2012).
07/31/2012: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Yes, that is a weak remedy. I might try a stronger one, with BHT 500 mg, twice a day, lysine 1000 every hour for 4 hours once a day, and vitamin C 500 mg five times a day, for a month. You can also take the lysine twice a day, for four hours twice a day, with threonine, 500 mg at same time taken with lysine. There is a more powerful remedy than that, but I believe starting with the weakest one and gradually increasing strength is the safest way to go. Lithium is also antiviral and is taken at 5 mg a day before sleep and so is Lugols, but that's another remedy.
Ted"
-- Source: https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/herpes_questions.html
Gluten-Free Diet, L-Lysine
Posted by Searching For Health (North Of The Border) on 08/06/2013
★★★★★
I have gotten cold sores for approximately 7 years. They started spreading all over my lips - but the ones that were new were not tingling like they originally did and came without warning. I was taking so much aciclovir and valciver. Then... I got exceedingly itchy blisters on my fingers, followed by unbelievable swelling in that finger. The pain is intense and the itchiness – OMG! (Apple cider vinegar helped alleviate these side effects - Thanks to you on Earth Clinic) I had a bout of this on my fingers for 4 months. I could not use my hands. I thought it was herpes whitlow. What cleared it up was when I was on a diet of only rice with fried vegetables – no flavorings or soy sauce added. The problem cleared up in about 5 days! Both my fingers and lips. Simultaneously, I had a brain fog clear up and anxiety that had been thwarting me for about 2 years. I then found out I am completely unable to eat Gluten. I guess the rash thing is a form of Dermatitis Herpetiformis (NOT HERPES! ) which is a consequence of not being able to tolerate gluten. (I still got the original and authentic Herpes cold sore that tingles - but it comes much less often as I take Lysine daily and it seems to come less often now that my body is not fighting the "poison" that I was eating previously). Before I had that authentic cold sore almost every 2 weeks. I am also unable to have most additives to food, and food that is GMO or treated with pesticides. For the last 3 months I have been strictly eating only at and home and it has stayed clear. I eat 100% organic, gluten free and no longer eat packaged food.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Joey (Ny) on 07/26/2013
I'm curious to know if ingesting or inhaling H2O2 really works to eradicate the HSV 1 virus. So far, I've read annecdotal comments about its effectiveness but haven't heard of any real studies that confirm this. What is the science behind it and have you been tested negative since undergoing your treatment?
Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Layla (Melbourne) on 07/16/2013
Have you had another test done recently and was it a blood test? What did your low-carb diet consist of exactly?
Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Layla (Australia) on 07/16/2013
Did you have genetal or oral herpes?
