Cold sores, which are also called oral herpes, are fluid-filled blisters that can occur on the gums, lips or even on the roof of a mouth. Although they can clear up on there own in about seven to ten days, some people may want a way to speed up the healing process.

Besides taking prescriptions from the doctor, there are a numerous types of natural remedies for cold sores. Here are some brief descriptions of the different types of home remedies that a person could try to speed up the healing of a cold sore. Lysine is considered by many in the medical profession to be an “essential” amino acid, meaning that it must be concumed through food or supplements because it can’t be produced by the body alone. Not only does it create protein, it has also been shown to inhibit the spread of the herpes simplex virus, which has been known to cause cold sores. Lysine can usually be absorbed through various food sources such as red meat, milk, eggs, cheese and wheat. So if you want to decrease the odds of spreading your cold sores to others, try to ingest foods that are rich in lysine.

If you’re into mushrooms, and have a respect for the Asian medicinal heritage, another natural remedy for cold sores that you might want to try is that of the Reishi. Reishi is a mushroom that has a long history of use in traditional Asian medicine to strengthen the immune system. In many cases, Reishi has been found to inhibit the spread of the herpes virus.

The average dose is approximately 600 mg a day. It is available both in supplement or powder form, making it a convenient choice. A word of caution though; this particular natural remedy for cold sores can delay blood clotting, so be sure to talk to your doctor if you take aspirin, or any other medication that may interfere with clotting.

Lemon balm is another natural remedy one can try. This herb, also known by its Latin name of Melissa officinalis, has been shown to have antiviral properties. A research study conducted in hospitals and dermatology clinics located in Germany, indicated that lemon balm cream promoted the healing of blisters in five days instead of the usual ten days. It has also been shown that lemon balm can actually reduce the frequency of recurrences if used on a regular basis.

If you are taking a natural remedy for cold sores, there are a few things you must remember. The first and foremost is that these remedies do affect your body, and you can have adverse reactions to them. Any and all natural remedies should be taken under the supervision of an alternative medicine practitioner or a doctor that is familiar with the possible interactions. If you decide to try one of these as a natural remedy for cold sores, be sure to let your doctor know what you are doing. They may wish to change your medicines accordingly.

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