I am one of those exceedingly lucky folks who doesn’t need any cold sores treatment, simply because I don’t get cold sores! If you’re one of the zillions of sufferers, I will make you hate me even more by telling you that I’ve never had a single one of the darned things … but before you throw rocks at me, consider this little tidbit that claims to cure cold sores. IF it works it’s a home cure to celebrate!
The most commonly recommended supplement to cure cold sores is lysine. It’s an essential amino acid and it’s also supposed to cure herpes outbreaks. Cold sores are, of course, a form of Herpes, but before anyone freaks, it’s not the genital Herpes strain, although they are kissing cousins, no pun intended.
Anyhow, somewhere I read and saved a supposed cold sore cure and I’m passing it along to some of you sufferers. The advice called for 2 minced garlic cloves that are covered by about one inch of olive oil. Allow this mixture to sit for a couple of weeks. Then when the evil and vicious cold sore appears, you’re ready with your counter attack: dip a Q-tip in this garlic mixture and really, seriously, rub it into the cold sore. Do this about three times per day. Supposedly, it might burn a bit – and I can imagine that it will because garlic in a sore doesn’t sound too comfy – but, supposedly this will not only get rid of the sore but will send it screaming into the night, never to return.
Will this cold sores treatment work? I don’t know and can’t test it out for obvious reasons. But it if does work it’s:
1) cheap, cheap, cheap
2) all natural
3) cannot have any possible side effects, beyond some stinging
If anyone out there tries this method to cure cold sores, please share with the rest of us.
Jim says
Interesting natural remedy as it reminds me of when they used to use spirits of camphor to burn cold sores. Viruses are not living organisms so the best way to defeat them is to prevent them from replicating themselves. Most people get ordinary herpes from their parents so call your mom and dad and say thanks.
So far the only proven remedy for the herpes virus is acyclovir. Very few side effects. The downside is that it does require a prescription and it does cost money. External cold sores can also be treated with 1 percent Cortaid that will reduce the inflammation and swelling from the immune system reaction. Internal or oral cold sores can be treated with dental paste that has cortisone in it. In all cases you will need to take or apply the medication or remedy as soon as you feel the buzz or feeling that you are under attack to maximize effectiveness.
Not a doctor just a biologist
Cynthia says
The only thing that has ever worked for my cold sores was the aforementioned acyclovir. It’s so worth it to get it from the doctor. I’ve tried so many things and nothing else has really worked. Though now I have a generic.. (I think) and I hope that works just as well.
Will says
I tried this about day four of a nasty cold sore. It was amazing! Burns like fire after 5 seconds. I minced a big clove of garlic and put it on the corner of my mouth with sores. Suddenly I felt it, but what is wild is a big amount of thick saliva-like pus comes out. It drained as I was running water on the sore. 10 min later I repeated it. More stuff oozed out. Another surprise is an hour later it looked like it would 3 or 4 days from now. Healed up much better and the knot in the check around it was much much smaller. This is the king of all the remedies. Extremely fast. I had done abreva and 5000 mg of lysine a day. As much drainage came out of it no wonder these things last so long. I am sure that it was full of toxic virus goo :) .