Simple Home Cold Sore Treatments

With so many people suffering from cold sore outbreaks, it is understandable that the collection of remedies for this condition is almost without end.

It has been estimated that there are nearly one hundred million outbreaks each year in the United States alone. Imagine what the number would be if you included the populations of other countries. With numbers this large, you can imagine that there are a lot of people looking for relief. One reason the outbreaks are so common is that the virus (herpes simplex) that causes them is easily passed from person to person if precautions are not taken.

Listed below is a couple items that suffers might find very helpful:

Black walnut and tea bags:

Black walnut is a plant that contains tannins such as galloyglucose and ellagitannins and juglone. These are the active ingredients in black walnut that are thought to help relieve the symptoms of oral herpes. Also, the walnut shells contain high levels of vitamin C. Black walnut serves as a natural antiseptic because it contains high levels of iodine.

In addition to this, black walnut is thought to be helpful in treating ringworm, athlete’s foot, psoriasis, blisters, eczema and other skin conditions. Black walnut has been used to treat eye infections and syphilis sores.

Now, what about teabags?

The tannins in a tea bag can help control the outbreaks; thus acting as one of the many solutions for this condition. You can apply it directly on to the affected area. Tannins have anti-viral properties that may have an effect on the herpes simplex virus.

Benadryl is also used by some people as remedy. They open a capsule of Benadryl and adhere it to it with some type of paste or balm.

Lysine is one of the purported solutions. If taken as soon as the initial symptoms of an outbreak begin, lysine is said to prevent it from developing. If you decide to try this one, you can find lysine at most grocery stores, pharmacies and health food stores.

Here are a couple solutions that pertain to your toothbrush. If you get continual outbreaks of them, change your toothbrush frequently. The herpes virus that causes sores can remain in your toothbrush after the outbreak clears and cause a recurrence of symptoms. Also bathrooms are wet and moist environments, ideal for the herpes virus, so keeping your toothbrush in another room could help.

Remember all of these are things other people have tried, but there is no guarantee they will work for you.

As the medical field continues to conduct studies and research, it is quite possible that one day not too far into the future there will be a cure to rid us of the herpes virus. However, until that day arrives, any amount of relief is welcomed by the millions upon millions of people living with the effects of the virus.