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Cold sores. Fever blisters. Whichever name you call them by, these little sores are painful, unsightly and for some of us, embarrassingly chronic. The good news is that Nature offers us numerous ways to manage cold sores. Let's take a look at this annoying infection, and see what we can do about it.

What Causes Cold Sores?

Cold sores are viral infections caused by a virus in the herpes family, usually HSV1 (herpes simplex virus 1). They can develop anywhere on the body, but usually appear on or around the lips, extending to the chin and up to the nostrils. Cold sores can also develop on the inside of your lips.

Many first feel a tingling sensation in the area where a cold sore will form. Small blisters develop, which can be quite painful. The blisters will break open and ooze. Cold sores are at their most contagious at this time. Over the course of about 7-10 days, the cold sore will scab over and heal.

The herpes virus behind cold sores IS contagious, and can spread from close person to person contact like kissing, or even indirect contact like sharing a drink with someone who has a cold sore.

Cold Sore Triggers

Here's one of those times when triggers can vary greatly from one person to the next person. Take note of the times when you develop a cold sore. See if you can pinpoint what caused the outbreak. Knowledge is power. If you can find your triggers, then you can work to prevent them from setting off a cold sore outbreak. Some common triggers are:

• poor nutrition
• stress
• chapped lips
• too much sun exposure
• contracting a cold or flu

The herpes viruses are very connected to the nervous system. Taking steps to reduce stress, get proper sleep, and promote a healthy nervous response can help greatly in dealing with herpes outbreaks of all kinds.

Natural Treatment for Cold Sores

The first thing that you've got to know is that you're not alone. You are NOT "dirty." According to WebMD, 90% of Americans will have at least one cold sore in their lives. Most will develop antibodies to the virus, severely diminishing their chance of developing another cold sore in the future. Roughly 40% of American adults will experience repeated cold sores.

When it comes to fighting cold sores herbally, think of immune stimulation, healing and antiviral action. Some good examples are:

• Echinacea (immune stimulating)
• St. John's wort (antiviral)
• Lemon Balm (antiviral, known for helping specifically with herpes viruses)
• Plantain, the Plantago genus (healing)
• Calendula (healing)
• Coconut oil (okay, not an herb, but still very healing!)

You want to do all that you can to support your immune system while it works through the infection and healing process. A tincture of echinacea, lemon balm tea, and topical application of antiviral and vulnerary herbs can all work to promote healing the sore. Herbal balms and oils work well as topical remedies and protective layers.

Start your chosen treatments at the first sign that you're getting a cold sore, usually a tingly feeling at the location where the sore will develop. Sometimes this can even knock out the sore before it truly develops. If not, continue treating until the sore heals.

If there's swelling, you can ice it to force that down. Cutting down on sugar or eliminating it completely from your diet during this time will surely give your immune system a boost, as sugar has a diminishing effect on it.

Additional Notes on Handling Cold Sores

• Take care to always use clean fingers while using any treatment product. Don't "double dip" with fingers that have already touched the cold sore. Wash your hands immediately after applying any treatment to minimize spread of the virus to other parts of the body or other people (Note that though viral shedding can spread the virus from person to person even when an outbreak is not present, the risk of passing it on is highest when a cold sore is present).

• Try not to mess with or pick at the sore, as this can sometimes exacerbate healing, and can certainly spread the virus onto anything you touch afterward.

• Lysine seems promising for having an inhibiting effect on oral herpes, while arginine (both are amino acids) has been implicated as possibly promoting cold sore development. This doesn't make arginine a bad guy. It's an important amino acid, in fact, for heart & circulatory health. It may, however, be a good idea to analyze your diet to ensure that you're getting plenty of lysine rich foods like yogurt, venison & fish, and avoiding foods that don't have a high to low or at least balanced lysine to arginine ratio, like chocolate & a fair amount of the legume family. Don't get too fussy about this. If you're eating a varied, whole foods diet, then you're probably already doing fine. For a shockingly comprehensive list of popular foods and their lysine to arginine ratio, see the Herpes.com nutritional listing.

Image by marin at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Preventing Cold Sores

Of course one of the best ways to fight infection is to sidestep it altogether. This can be challenging with cold sores, since we can hardly tell if one is heading our way until it's too late; however, here are some steps that you can take proactively to help reduce the number of cold sore outbreaks.

• Remember when we talked about triggers? Find yours. Take steps to avoid them as much as possible.
• In between (and during) breakouts, use a protective lip balm. There are many triggers for cold sores. Allowing your lips to dry out is one of them.
• Adaptogenic herbs like astragalus, licorice, or reishi can help to improve your body's reaction to stressors (emotional, physical, and mental).

Editor's Note: The information in this article is not intended to diagnose or treat illness. Always do your research before using an herbal remedy to ensure that there are no allergy risks or cross indications with any prescription medications that you are taking. See your doctor before starting any new treatments or programs. Anything that you learn from Prairie Hawk Botanica, its blog, or Jennifer Capestany must be considered informational only. You own yourself.

Author: Jennifer Capestany

Jennifer is a clinical herbalist and health coach, specializing in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Her interest in plant medicine led Jennifer to spend years studying herbology, physiology, and nutrition. She works one-on-one with her clients via her herbalist and health coaching business, Prairie Hawk Botanica. Jennifer lives on a homestead in rural Texas with her husband, 2 children, and various animals. In her spare time she loves to be in her large herb and vegetable garden. Sharing herb knowledge and her love of natural healing with others is her calling.​​ You can connect with Jenn here on Steemit, on Facebook, and Twitter.