COLD SORE SUPPORT AND PREVENTION
Cold Sores on the lip can be a nuisance for those who get them.
You can do many things to prevent them from rearing their ugly head! Cold Sores, called Herpes labialis, is part of the Herpes family virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2). A cold sore is a cluster of tiny, fluid-filled lesions or fever blisters. They are spread through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. It can still be spread even if you have no visible virus symptoms.
The Herpes virus, once contracted, travels to nerve cells and remains in the body’s nerve cells; for some, it never causes any symptoms. The virus remains in our bodies and can remain dormant or be reactivated, which causes the virus to replicate and travel along the nerves to the skin’s surface. What typically causes the virus to reappear is stress. This can be stress from lack of sleep, lack of food, too much sugar, too much food not good for your body, external stress, physical stress, illness, hormonal changes, and many other stressors the body can go through. Any stress can reactivate the virus. Dealing with and knowing your stressors is vital. For example, I know two individuals who typically get a cold sore after or during a vacation or work trip because they are not eating as well and are not getting enough sleep. They now know how to apply the prevention tools I will provide before they go on vacation or a work trip, and now, instead of getting a cold sore every time, they “might” get one about 10-15% of the time instead. That is a great success.
Cold Sore or Herpes Breakout Remedies
I use three things for Cold sores or any herpes breakout.
- A Topical Salve of Lemon Balm, St. John’s Wort and Self-heal.
- A Tincture of Lemon Balm, St. John’s Wort and Self-heal.
- L-Lysine 1,000-2,000mg 3x/day
These 3 things typically lessen the duration of a cold sore outbreak to three to four days.
TOPICAL INGREDIENTS: Use Freshly dried or wilted Lemon Balm, St. John’s Wort, and Self-heal infused in Olive oil, or any quality oil—equal parts of each herb.
All three of these plants are great anti-virals and can be used independently, but using all three together has the best results. You can leave this as an oil and apply it or spray it topically. However, I make this a balm with shea butter and beeswax. I put in Chapstick tubes for cold sores and tins for other uses.
TINCTURE DIRECTIONS: This is made with Fresh Lemon Balm, St. John’s Wort, and Self-heal infused in Everclear.
- For an outbreak, use 3-5 dropperfuls 4-6x/day.
PREVENTION:
- Tincture of the Lemon Balm, St. John’s Wort and Self-heal: 1-2 dropperfuls 2-3x/day. Or double during times of stress.
- L-Lysine 500-1,000mg/day
- Vit D3: 2,000mg/day – and lots of sunlight
- B Complex Vitamin daily
- FOODS TO EAT:
- Foods high in lysine include meat, dairy, fish, and eggs
- Diet rich in calcium, B vitamins: Yogurt, Kefer, nutritional yeast, spirulina, and mis.
- FOODS TO AVOID:
- Sugars, sweets, especially chocolate. Herpes thrives on a sugar-rich acidic system.
- Foods high in Arginine should be lower: Nuts, bear, cereal grains, peas.
Controlling stress is very important in keeping the herpes virus from re-activating. If you’d like to meet with me for a custom blend for helping your body cope with stress, get 25% off a Stress support appointment if you book Aug 25-Sep. 8.
