20 Natural Remedies for a Cold Sore
While cold sores are rarely life-threatening, no one cheers their arrival. These small, red, painful blisters are caused by a strain of the herpes virus, and they seem to show up at the worst times possible. Because cold sores are caused by a virus, there is no outright cure for them--the virus may lie dormant in your body for long periods of time before flaring up again. Thankfully though, there are things you can do to treat a cold sore once it does show up. These 20 natural home remedies can help reduce pain, redness, and other symptoms of a cold sore!
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a type of plant that has long been used to treat cold sores, thanks to its antiviral properties. According to those that use the remedy, lemon balm can help to reduce the redness and swelling associated with cold sores and might even lengthen the time between flare ups.
To use lemon balm, look for a lip balm that contains at least 1% of it in the ingredient list. If you have access to lemon balm plants, you could even create your own paste or compress directly from them.
