How to get rid of a cold sore

While there are several drugs available designed to help heal cold sores, they have been shown to be limited in their efficacy and therefore many people have decided how to get rid of a cold sore using alternative or natural remedies.

Common alternative treatments include tea tree oil or lemon balm, These act on the virus, helping the body rid itself of the symptoms faster. If you want to find about these kinds of treatments and learn more about how to get rid of a cold sore see the Cold Sore Treatment Guide.

How your body can get rid of cold sores faster

It is an unfortunate fact that once infected with herpes simplex virus we remain infected for our entire life. However there are measures we can take to help heal the sores faster, as well as reduce the frequency and severity of attacks. The immune system is responsible for suppressing infections and so it is the case with cold sores; when the immune system is no longer strong enough to counter herpes simplex virus it begins to replicate and cause a new sore. That is why we often experience attacks when we get a cold or flu, or due to stress or tiredness.

It therefore makes sense that by doing all we can to look after our immune system can help us fight the cold sore virus, and that basically means looking after our health. Changing our diet to be more balanced, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and low fat and sugar; taking moderate regular exercise such as walking for 30 minutes per day; and ensuring we get adequate sleep and avoid stressful situations all help with this. By changing our habits we can help our bodies get rid of cold sores faster and reduce the number of attacks we have. Don't you want to benefit from that?