About Cold Sores

Cold Sores are caused by the Herpes Simplex virus. It is not known exactly what stimulates the appearance of cold sores but they are commonly exacerbated by stress, sun, alcohol, sugar, a concurrent viral infection, or simply being run-down. There is no known cure for the virus, but it is said that supplementation with lysine (also known as L-Lysine) can help prevent and reduce the severity of cold sore symptoms. 

Lysine for Cold Sore Treatment

Lysine is an amino acid that cannot be synthesised by the human body and must be ingested. It is a necessary building block for all protein in the body and plays a major role in the production of enzymes. 

Numerous studies have shown that supplementation with Lysine may reduce the onset and severity of cold sore symptoms. Sufficient levels of Lysine in the body are said to inhibit the replication of the virus.

It is recommended that cold sore sufferers ingest 1-1.5g of Lysine daily for prevention and increase supplementation to 2-2.5g when an outbreak occurs.

There is some evidence to suggest that Lysine may stimulate the liver to increase the production of Cholesterol. You should watch your cholesterol levels if you supplement with Lysine.

Disclaimer 

Healthy Comparisons does not give or purport to give any medical or healthcare advice and is not qualified to do so. You should not under any circumstances substitute qualified medical advice with information found in this fact sheet. The information contained in this fact sheet does not take into account the physical state, medical status or health requirements of any particular individual which are relevant to the proper diagnosis and treatment of any problem, condition or disorder. You should never use or act upon this information without first properly consulting, and seeking proper information and advice from, a qualified healthcare professional. Healthy Comparisons, its related companies and its licensors expressly disclaim all responsibility for and liability in respect of the accuracy of the information provided in the website, its improper application and the consequences of anyone's failure to obtain a proper medical examination and advice from a qualified healthcare professional in the relevant circumstances. 

© HealthyComparisons.com.au 2008 

Home Remedies for Cold Sores

There are a large number of home remedies for cold sores. In some cases these traditional treatments have been known to work as well as antiviral pills or numbing creams. One advantage of using a home remedy for cold sores is that treatment can begin immediately since there is no need to visit the doctor to get a prescription or go to the drugstore and choose between several creams. As soon as someone realizes they are developing a cold sore, they can begin the home remedy.

There are a large number of home treatments for cold sores. These remedies can include diet changes, taking vitamins and supplements, applying different types of juice or powder to the sore, or simply holding an ice cube against it. While some of theses remedies work better than others, there is a chance that some of the more obscure home remedies may not offer any relief at all. However, some of them are proven to help heal cold sores.

Pressing or rubbing ice on a sore is possibly the best-known home remedy for cold sores. There are several benefits to this remedy. If the ice is applied early in the development of the cold sore, it can slow down the metabolism of the area around the cold sore, greatly slowing its growth. It is good to hold the ice to the sore for a few minutes every ten minutes for a few hours. The ice will also make the sore smaller and keep the virus from moving or spreading.

Rubbing aloe, lemon balm extract, or tea bags to cold sores is also known to lessen their size and help reduce pain. Drinking less coffee is another home remedy for cold sores. It is believed that coffee can be a catalyst in the formation of cold sores. It is recommended that people who are susceptible to cold sores cut back on their coffee intake.

A number of home remedies are great for healing cold sores. These treatments are quick, easy, and cheap and can help relieve the pain of a cold sore as well as help make it heal quicker.

Cause of Cold Sores provides detailed information on Cold Sores, Cause of Cold Sores, Are Cold Sores Contagious?, Cold Sore Treatment and more. Cause of Cold Sores is affiliated with Infant Constipation.

What Cause Cold Sores?

Cold sores are caused by a virus, the herpes simplex virus or HSV. There are two kinds of herpes simplex virus, called type 1 and type 2. While both types can cause cold sores, type 1 is the variety usually responsible. Type 2 HSV is found in genital herpes and is much more rare than type 1 HSV.

HSV-1 is the most common cause of cold sores. Most people are exposed to HSV-1 between the ages of three to five. There are many ways that a person can become infected by HSV-1, including among them coming into close contact with a person who has a cold sore, ingesting contaminated fluids that have been sneezed or coughed into the air, or by coming into contact with objects that a person with a cold sore touched or used. Although most people are first infected with the HSV-1 virus early in life, they do not get their first cold sore until after puberty. Once someone is infected with HSV-1, the virus remains with them for the rest of their lives.

HSV-2 is much less common than HSV-1. It primarily causes genital herpes. HSV-2 usually only affect body parts that are below a person's waist, but in rare cases, it can cause a person to get cold sores.

Once a person is infected with HVS-1, a number of things can cause cold sores. A bad cold, a case of the flu, or any sort of disease that affects the immune system can lead to the appearance of cold sores. Extremely chapped or sunburned lips can increase the chance of a cold sore outbreak. Women who are pregnant or menstruating also have an increased risk of cold sores.

But cold sores are not just caused by physical factors. Emotional stress or prolonged upset is another factor that can bring about a cold sore outbreak. Another factor that has been seen to increase the risk of an outbreak is physical stress or fatigue. All of these stress factors weaken the immune system, making it more difficult for the body to fight the outbreak.

Many people experience cold sores only a few times in their life, while others have them much more regularly. There is no cure for cold sores. And with so many different causes that people have no control over, treatment and therapy by trained professionals are often the best ways to manage troublesome outbreaks.

Cold Sores provides detailed information on Cold Sores, Cause of Cold Sores, Are Cold Sores Contagious?, Cold Sore Treatment and more. Cold Sores is affliated with Infant Constipation.

by: Thomas Morva

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Is There a Cure For Cold Sores?

One question on the minds of many people who frequently suffer from cold sores is �is there a cure for cold sores?� Sadly, the answer is no. But while there is no cold sores cure, there are numerous preventive measures people can take to keep their cold sore outbreaks to a minimum.

Some of these preventions include not kissing people who currently have cold sores, protecting the lips from prolonged exposure to the sun, use lip balm with sun block on the lips at all times, and avoiding personal triggers that can lead to a cold sore outbreak. Following these procedures will not guarantee that a person will never have another cold sore, but it will decrease the likelihood that they will have another outbreak.

It is a good idea to avoid any close contact like kissing with anyone who currently has a cold sore. Although people can spread the cold-sore-causing HSV-1 virus even when they do not have a cold sore, it is much more likely to spread when a sore is present. It is advisable not to share any items with people who have cold sores as well. Items such as toothbrushes, towels, razors, and tableware can carry the HSV-1 virus.

It is also a good idea to protect the lips from the sun. People should wear a lip balm containing sunscreen at all times to prevent any burning or drying. Even with the sun block, people should still limit the amount of direct sunlight their lips get. It is advisable to wear a hat or stay in the shade to keep the lips from getting too much sun.

Some foods seem to trigger cold sore outbreaks in some people. Foods and drinks containing caffeine like chocolate, coffee, and soft drinks make some people more susceptible to cold sore outbreaks. People who are sensitive to these substances should limit their intake in order to decrease the likelihood of a cold sore outbreak.

There is no cold sores cure, but taking these precautions can greatly reduce the likelihood of a cold sore outbreak. Anyone who has a weakened immune system is at a risk for cold sores, but many of these preventive measures can still be effective.

Cold Sores provides detailed information on Cold Sores, Cause of Cold Sores, Are Cold Sores Contagious?, Cold Sore Treatment and more. Cold Sores is affliated with Infant Constipation.

by: Thomas Morva

To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

What Exactly is a Cold Sore?

Cold sores, also called fever blisters, are small wounds that appear on the lips or around the mouth. These sores seemingly appear at random and can be both painful and embarrassing. The reality is that the herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes cold sores.

Most people find the connection between herpes and cold sores to be very alarming, but it is not. There are two types of herpes simplex virus, HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 usually causes cold sores and is found in most people. HSV-2 usually causes genital herpes and is much more rare. Sometimes HSV-2 does cause mouth herpes and HSV-1 can cause genital herpes, but it is uncommon and not seen very often.

The HSV-1 virus is usually transmitted through contact with a contaminated fluid such as kissing, or it can spread through sneezing, coughing, or touching a cold sore. The HSV-1 virus is often spread from parent to child when the child comes in contact with an item that a parent with a cold sore has touched or used. The first time a person is infected with the HSV-1 virus is called the primary herpetic stomatitis and usually does not result in a cold sore. The virus can lie dormant for many years. Most people come into contact with the HSV-1 virus by the time they are five years old but do not get their first cold sore until after puberty.

Cold sores usually go away on their own over the course of a week to ten days. They do not leave scars and often do not recur for many years. The cold sores often burst open after a few days and expel a clear fluid before drying up and disappearing.

For some people, cold sores are too painful or embarrassing to be left alone to simply disappear independently. For these people, there are OTC and prescription medicines to speed up the healing process. Cold sores are a painful nuisance that nearly everyone experiences. There is no prevention for cold sores, but there are many treatments available to make the experience as easy as possible.

Cause of Cold Sores provides detailed information on Cold Sores, Cause of Cold Sores, Are Cold Sores Contagious?, Cold Sore Treatment and more. Cause of Cold Sores is affiliated with Infant Constipation.

by: Thomas Morva

To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Are Cold Sores Contagious?

When someone gets a cold sore or knows someone who has one, it is not uncommon for them to wonder, "Are cold sores contagious?" And the answer to this question is yes, cold sores are contagious in more ways than one. The herpes simplex virus that usually causes cold sores is easily spread--even if the infected person does not have an active cold sore.

Cold sores are contagious, and the HSV-1 virus that causes cold sores is present in an estimated 80% of the population. Most people are infected by HSV-1 at an early age, usually by the time they are five years old. Once the virus infects an individual, it will remain in that person's body forever. Though HSV-1 is latent or dormant for much of the time, it is still present in the body. The virus is usually present near the person's mouth, but it can spread all over the body. It is important to understand that an infected person can spread HSV-1 to others even while not currently experiencing an outbreak.

One of the most common ways that HSV-1 is spread is through an object an infected person used, like a toothbrush or tube of lip balm. If particles of the HSV-1 virus are transferred to an object and it is used by someone else, that person runs a strong risk of infection.

People are most likely to become infected by HSV-1 by exposure to someone with a cold sore. A cold sore goes through several phases before it disappears. The tingle stage is the first. At this point, the cold sore has not yet formed, but the virus has been reactivated. The risk of spreading the virus increases at this time, but the risk is highest when the sore is in the weeping stage. This is when the sore bursts open and expels a clear liquid. Even during the crusting stage, when the sore is scabbed over, the risk of infection is greater than normal.

It is important to note that HSV-1 can not only spread between people, but also to different parts of the infected person�s body. Herpetic whitlow, the HSV-1 infection of the fingers is particularly painful. People must be sure to wash their hands thoroughly when they have a cold sore to prevent the spread of HSV-1.

By Thomas Morva

Cause of Cold Sores provides detailed information on Cold Sores, Cause of Cold Sores, Are Cold Sores Contagious?, Cold Sore Treatment and more. Cause of Cold Sores is affiliated with Infant Constipation.

A Look at Cold Sore Treatments

Cold sores usually disappear without any type of medication in about a week to ten days. Many people choose to wait out their cold sores, just ignoring them until they go away. Others decide that ten days is too long to have a large, painful, embarrassing facial blemish near their mouth and seek out medicine or other treatments to make the cold sore easier to deal with. There are many different types of cold sore treatment available, from antiviral pills to over the counter and prescription creams. Many people also use conventional pain relievers like aspirin and acetaminophen as cold sore treatment.

People suffering their first cold sore outbreak are often recommended to take antiviral medications. These pills are only obtainable by prescription, so the cold sore sufferer must consult a doctor first. Cold sore medication such as acyclovir or famciclovir can provide pain relief and reduce the healing time of a cold sore. Antiviral medication is most effective if people start taking it when the cold sore first appears.

There are several types of creams used to treat cold sores. Creams containing docosanol are particularly useful. Docosanol is used to fight against the HSV-1 virus that causes cold sores and it can relive pain as well as help heal the cold sore sooner. Other types of cold sore treatment include creams designed to numb the area around the cold sore and moisturizer creams that help revitalize the skin around the cold sore. Lip balm can prevent the cold sore from cracking open.

Many conventional pain relief medicines like acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen are great cold sore treatments. These medicines treat the inflammation, providing pain relief. While there is no cure for cold sores, there are several types of cold sore treatment that make having a cold sore a shorter, more bearable experience.

By Thomas Morva

Cold Sores provides detailed information on Cold Sores, Cause of Cold Sores, Are Cold Sores Contagious?, Cold Sore Treatment and more. Cold Sores is affliated with Infant Constipation.

Foods that prevent cold sores

If you are searching for foods that prevent cold sores, you are wise indeed. Nutrition is the most effective and natural way to eliminate cold sore outbreaks.

In this article you will learn about delicious foods that prevent cold sores. You will also discover foods that cause cold sores. Best of all, in about 2 minutes, you will know how best to balance the two for your personal needs. Check it out.

Cold sores are the visible result of the herpes virus replication process. The virus enters a cell on the surface of your face and forces that cell to create copies of itself. Then the original virus destroys the cell to release hoards of new virus. The open cold sore is the result of millions of cells in close proximity that have been destroyed like this.

Lysine and arginine are two amino acids much talked about in their relation to cold sores. Amino acids are small fractions of protein that your body needs everyday to stay in tiptop shape. To create new cold sore virus, the cell needs certain materials. One necessary building block for herpes virus replication is arginine.

Lysine has been proven very effective in treating and preventing cold sores. Lysine prevents cold sores mainly by replacing some of the arginine in your cells. If you have a higher lysine than arginine content in the cells, you are less likely to get cold sores.

Foods that prevent cold sores are rated by how high the ratio of lysine to arginine content. Most foods contain both lysine and arginine. If there is the same amount of both, the ratio is 1 to 1. If there is twice as much lysine as arginine, then the ratio is 2 to 1. This is an excellent ratio for preventing cold sores.

So the strategy here is to increase the ratio of lysine over arginine in your diet. For example: cheddar cheese, in one ounce or 28 grams, contains 588 milligrams of lysine and 267 milligrams of arginine. This is a ratio of lysine to arginine of 2.2 to 1. Excellent.

Here is a list of foods that prevent cold sores. Most meat, particularly beef, fish, turkey and chicken. Cheese, yogurt, milk and other dairy products are also quite high in lysine and often offer a 2 to 1 ratio. Ricotta cheese is unusually high in lysine. Eggs, soy beans, soy products and brewers yeast will also provide you higher lysine intake.

SPECIAL NOTE. Flounder is very rich in lysine. Some people use flounder as a total cold sore treatment. When getting a cold sore, they will eat one pound, or 300 grams, of flounder. This provides 12 grams of lysine. Lysine from food is 200% to 400% more usable by the body than the lysine in supplements. You would have to take 50 lysine capsules, at least, to equal the flounder, which would be crazy. Your body knows the difference.

Here is a short list of foods that cause cold sores. These foods have high content of arginine to lysine. Most nuts, including peanuts, almonds, cashews and walnuts. Grains, such as wheat and oats. Seeds, such as sunflower and sesame, are arginine providers. Also avoid most beans, peas and lima beans. Most vegetables are higher in arginine than lysine, such as carrots, radishes, eggplant, and cabbage. Chocolate is high in arginine.

STOP. Before you give up right here, let me say two things in closing.

Do not hesitate to take lysine capsules just because this form of lysine is not as well absorbed. Many people control outbreaks with the capsules alone. And do not let a special cold sore diet rule your life. You will find relief from cold sores and still enjoy life by testing and finding the balance and combinations that best suit your lifestyle. By taking lysine supplements, you can eat more of the high arginine foods, like chocolate.

It is all about balance. Yes, you can eat all foods you enjoy, as long as you combine them wisely with supplements and sufficient foods that prevent cold sores.

Denny Bodoh is a 35-year newspaper veteran and dedicated natural health research writer. Get a lot more information about Foods That Prevent Cold Sores and some amazing Cold Sore Treatment ideas at Denny's popular site: http://www.3daycoldsorecure.com

Cold Sore Symptoms - The Domino Effect

Knowing your personal cold sore symptoms and being sensitive to them is an essential part of reducing the severity - or completely eliminating - cold sore symptoms from your life. Let me explain.

Cold sore symptoms are caused by the replication process of the herpes simplex virus. 89% of people worldwide have this virus in their body, so it is quite universal. 67% of those folks will experience cold sore symptoms at least once - most often 2 or more times - in the next 12 months.

There are NO cold sore symptoms when the herpes virus is latent (sleeping) within your nerve cells. If they wake up due to some physical stress like flu, colds, or mental stress - then the cold sore symptoms start. And it's like a "domino effect" - from one symptom to the next.

The first of the cold sore symptoms many call the itching stage. The cold sore target area will starts to feel uncomfortable. Itching, dryness, tingling, or burning sensations are common. When you start feeling these cold sore symptoms - beware! You are only a day or two away from more severe cold sore symptoms.

The itching stage, without a doubt, is the most important of all cold sore symptoms. Treating this phase of your cold sore symptoms immediately and correctly is the secret to being cold sore free for life.

To prevent further cold sore symptoms, or at least reduce their impact, try applying ice. Herpes virus hates cold. Applying ice during this phase sends the virus back to the latent stage for many people.

I prefer ice because it's readily available almost anywhere you are, it works very well and is basically free. Any cold object, like a can of soda, will help. The important thing is - the quicker you do this, the less likely you will have to suffer further cold sore symptoms. If nothing else, your cold sore symptoms will be a lot less severe.

Pain relievers and fever reducers like aspirin are often used with much success during most of the symptoms. Some over-the-counter treatments contain numbing agents will help also.

If you miss treating this symptom, then the other cold sore symptoms start dropping like dominos - fast and furious.

The next of the cold sore symptoms is the inflammation phase. Hard red bumps appear and some pain is apparent. Swelling of the cold sore area develops. You may notice swelling of the lymph glands under the jaw, tiredness, headaches, possibly a slight fever - basically flu or cold like symptoms.

The red bumps burst and merge causing an open, weeping sore. This is a quite painful time. Your nose may run, headaches are common. The fluid is teaming with new viruses and this is by far the most contagious period.

Use caution. A secondary bacterial infection here could greatly extend and complicate your cold sore symptoms.

Within a couple days a yellowish crust forms over the sore. Still very painful to the touch. Also, the crust often cracks, as when you smile, and that's a major cause of pain in this phase of cold sore symptoms.

You still may have headaches and feel feverish. Swollen lymph glands start to reduce. The skin is healing under the crust so there will be itching and general discomfort yet during this phase of your cold sore symptoms.

Within a few days, maybe a week, the scab falls off. New skin covers the wound. Healing is still taking place under the new skin, producing a red spot for most people. This redness can last from 1-3 weeks. Itching and irritation is still a problem.

Your lymph glands should be greatly reduced by now, but still noticeable. The feverish feeling and headaches should be about gone.

One final note on cold sore symptoms.

During the red spot period, the cold sore symptoms could start all over again quite easily - not unlike getting a head cold back right away.

The key to reducing or eliminating cold sore events in your life is early detection and active treatment of your cold sore symptoms.

Copyright 2005 drbodoh

Denny Bodoh is a 33-year newspaper veteran and an alternative health and nutrition research author. If you want to know more about cold sore symptoms, and what you can do about them, visit his wildly popular website.

http://www.be-cold-sore-free.com

8 Critical Cold Sore Stages

Let's look at the 8 distinct cold sore stages, and what you can do now to lessen the severity, discomfort and length of your cold sore event.

Cold sore stages 2-8 are the active stages and are very contagious during this time. Usually 3 to 4 weeks is the average life-span of a cold sore. Much depends on your health and choice of treatments for each of your cold sore stages.

COLD SORE STAGES: #1 - LATENT - Here the cold sore herpes simplex virus is hiding in the nerve ganglia near the back of the jaw on the same side as your cold sore usually appears. The cold sore virus may "sleep" for weeks or years without incident. Your body's defense "soldiers" keep them in check. When there is stress in another part of your body, your defenses may drop at this location. Then the cold sore virus can escape and travel to the surface to reproduce - beginning the active cold sore stages.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 2 - PRODROME - The cold sore virus reproductive cycle begins here. The cold sore virus travels down your nerve fibers to the surface. This movement causes your cold sore target area to itch or tingle. You may notice a burning or dryness sensation. This stage could last a few hours to a few days before entering the more intense cold sore stages.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 3 - INFLAMMATION Your cold sore virus has now arrived at the surface and begins it's reproductive cycle by entering the cells at the end of the nerve. This causes a lot of swelling and redness at the cold sore site as your cells react to being invaded by the herpes cold sore virus .

COLD SORE STAGES: # 4 - PRE-SORE - Cold sores at this stage are defined by the appearance of cold sore vesicles. A full blown cold sore is not one big blister but a grouping of small blisters called vesicles. You will notice these vesicles as tiny, hard pimples or red bumps that are painfully sensitive to the touch.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 5 - OPEN SORE - Your most painful and contagious of the cold sore stages. All the vesicles break open and merge to create one big open, weeping sore. Depending on the severity, you may develop a fever and swollen lymph glands under the jaw.

The weeping fluid is teaming with newly born cold sore viruses. Touching this fluid, you could easily spread the cold sore virus to another part of your own body or to someone else - either by direct touch or shared objects such as hand towels, telephones, and faucets.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 6 - CRUSTING - A cold sore will develop a yellowish crust or scab as it begins to finally start the healing process. Your cold sore is still painful at this stage. More painful, however, is the constant cracking of your cold sore scab when you move or stretch your lips, as in smiling.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 7- HEALING - Cold sores, once scabbed over, begin healing from the inside out. As new skin forms under the crust, you will experience continued itching, irritation and some pain. Your cold sore virus is now retreating back to the nerve ganglia area where it will sleep until the next opportunity.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 8 - POST SCAB - Cold sores at this stage no longer have a visible cold sore scab and your skin has totally healed. Under your new skin, healing is still taking place as the destroyed cells are regenerated. This produces a red spot that may linger for another 2 to 14 days - depending on your personal healing speed. You are still contagious until this red spot disappears. This waiting is the most frustrating of the cold sore stages.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW -

Cold sore over-the-counter medications, experts agree, are primarily comfort treatments for the cold sore stages. Some contain numbing agents that greatly reduce your pain. Some cold sore medications contain an anti-bacterial to prevent secondary infections. None of these cold sore medications have been shown to actually shorten the life-span of any of your cold sore stages.

Medical science has been working feverishly on a cure for the herpes virus but have not, as yet, had any real success in developing an effective cold sore remedy. Prescription anti-virals, both the oral versions and the topical salves, have been a dismal failure for the most part. Vaccines are being tested but are 3-4 years out yet. New breakthroughs could be just around the corner however.

But you don't need to wait!

More and more doctors now agree. There are times when natural science just seems to be the best choice. Often our ONLY choice. This is certainly true - right now - for herpes cold sores.

Data studies have shown natural science remedies can reduce the cold sore events by as much as 79%.

Yes! And, in fact, actually prevent your cold sores from taking place altogether.

The great news - these remedies are available to you today.

If you are a cold sore victim, you would be well advised to look into these powerful natural remedies without delay for shortening or preventing your cold sores.

Copyright 2005 drbodoh

Denny Bodoh is a newspaper publisher and 33 year veteran research writer on alternative health and nutrition. If you would like to know more about herpes and cold sores, and what you can do about them, visit his popular site at: http://www.be-cold-sore-free.com

Home Remedies for Cold Sores - Cold Sores Alleviation

Of an oral circumstance, a cold sore, or, otherwise known as a fever blister, is classified within herpes, as herpes simplex virus types one and two.  Cold sores are a result of an infection, due to febrile disease, upper respiratory or viral-type infections.  The age-old terms of cold sores and fever blisters are derived from such effects as their respective sources of infections, which are frequently referred to as a cold or flu. 

Other contributors to such cold sores and fever blisters, which are not in conjunction with either an infection or disease origin, are general psychological stress and anxiety. Small, though annoying and painful in a physical sense, such sores or blisters about the area of the mouth, can be alleviated through home remedies for cold sores. 

In their vicinity of outbreak, cold sores, which present themselves orally, are accessible for treatments in the mode of home remedies for cold sores.  In appearance, cold sores or fever blisters present themselves as being of a consistency of fluid contained within their small red blisters or bubbles.  Cold Sores make their presence in areas such as the lips, nose and outside edges of the mouth.  Due to the sensitive nature of such orally related tissues, pain is significant; therefore expediting the afflicted individual's needs of home remedies for cold sores. 

Origins of cold sores and fever blisters are borne through the herpes simplex virus, in type one and two.  Such virus is highly contagious.  Upon the body's immune system weakening, due to a cold, fatigue, fever, flu or stress, this virus makes its attack from within the body.  As such virus dwells within a body, kept normally in check by immunities, it activates itself with a vengeance whenever the immune system is compromised.  A deficiency in levels of calcium can also be partially associated to the propagation of cold sores, prompting an awareness in individuals to act supportively, as well as precautionary, in practicing measures towards home remedies for cold sores. 

Where immunity has been challenged by herpes simplex, individuals should come to the defense with home remedies for cold sores, by giving their immune systems some artillery through a natural formulation.  Consolidate the same amounts of burdock, Echinacea, lomatium, oats and tinctures of calendula to be orally ingested in the quantity of a half of a teaspoon four to five times daily. 

Individuals can also engage home remedies for cold sores in the forms of assurance against the development of such maladies by taking action in the following preventative practices, that include not using the same cups, dishware, glasses, plates, towels or utensils utilized by another individual afflicted with cold sores or fever blisters.  Further precautionary measures, in support of home remedies for cold sores, are among such conditions as to avoid oral contact with an individual who is presenting cold sores or fever blisters, as in face-to-face contact or kissing. 

Upon the afflicted being out in the sun while presenting cold sores or fever blisters, the individual, among home remedies for cold sores should apply some form of a sunscreen-type protective agent on their lips to prevent intensified effects of such condition.  Another preventative practice, in precautionary measures amid home remedies for cold sores for the fostering of an immediate reoccurrence of cold sores or fever blisters is to toss and replace the afflicted individual's toothbrush following an outbreak of herpes simplex. 

Durations of the existence of an outbreak of cold sores and fever blisters can range upwards of from ten to fourteen days.  Upon the initial presenting of a cold sore or fever blister, a home remedies for cold sores in such instance is in the application of ice, for periods of five to ten minutes during each hour of the initial outbreak.  Such aggressive practice will cease both pain and increased progression.  Another approach to a home remedies for cold sores during the early phase, is to apply a compress of a tea bag, at intervals lasting from five to ten minutes every hour.  This approach to such method of treatment as a home remedies for cold sores is in the tannic acid within the tea leaves antiviral benefits towards the prevention of increased development. 

Dr John Anne is a herbal specialist with years of experience and extensive research on Herbs and Alternative health. Read about Home Remedies for Cold Sores at Home Remedies. Also visit http://www.natural-homeremedies.org/ to find out User recommended Home Remedies

Which vitamins should I take for cold sores?

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Which vitamins should I take to prevent cold sores?

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Video about how to get rid of cold sores