Cold Sore Natural Remedies

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Cold Sore Natural Remedies
While there are many over the counter and prescription cold sore treatments, many people prefer to use cold sore natural remedies when they occur. From essential oils to teas, there are many natural substances which are recognized cold sore treatments. So if you would like to try a more holistic technique to treating this kind of infection, why not try one of these natural treatments for cold sores.
Before we look at natural cold sore treatments, it's crucial to realize that cold sores are caused by the Herpes Simplex virus. While as much as ninety percent of us will experience the pain of one of these unattractive sores at some point in our life, luckily the huge majority of us will go on to develop anti-bodies which will thwart further attacks. If you're one of the unlucky people who suffer persistent cold sore flare-ups, it's crucial to take care of your overall health by minimizing stress, getting plenty of sleep, keeping well hydrated, and ensuring that you take a good vitamin supplement. As a lot of sufferers tend to get an attack when they're feeling stressed, run down or when they develop a cold, it's sensible to keep yourself as healthy as possible.
The most common natural treatments for cold sores include a variety of essential oils and extracts, with tea tree oil being number one. Often referred to as melaleuca oil, tea tree has anti viral, anti septic, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties, so you can see why it's become such a well used natural treatment for cold sores. It's said to not only minimize the inflammation around the sore itself, but also to minimize the duration by as much as 50 %. As cold sores can last anywhere from 7 to 10 days, this is a distinct advantage. However, always remember this oil can irritate sensitive skin, so make certain to do a patch test first.
The tannins found black and green tea have also proved very useful, and a very successful natural treatment for cold sores. It's also an easy remedy to use; simply apply used tea bags to the affected area, making sure that they've cooled down first.
Finally for our cold sore natural remedies is simple sea salt which has also proved an effective natural treatment for cold sores. Packed with anti-inflammatory minerals, it helps to minimize the irritation and dry out the blisters, thus speeding up the formation of the crust, and minimizing the duration of the sore itself.