I’ve been very lucky in that I have never had a cold sore, however I know many people who have, including my mother and my sister.
What exactly is a cold sore?
A cold sore is actually a recurrent viral infection of the skin or mucous membranes called herpes simplex. Once you have had it for the first time and the skin has healed, the virus lies dormant in the nerves and then activates again at a later stage. Some people report a mild tingling feeling before the cold sore appears.
Why does a cold sore comes back again?
Cold sores usually appear when you are tired and run-down or already have another illness such as a cold or minor infection. The cold sore virus appears to take advantage of a reduced immune system. Some people find that their cold sores are triggered by the sun, stress or hormones. They can incubate from anywhere between 2 – 12 days before erupting and can last for 1 – 2 weeks, depending on your general overall health.
What does a cold sore look like?
A cold sore is an area of red, inflamed skin covered by a small fluid filled blister. They can be painful too, feeling as if they are burning or stinging and some people report an on-going ache.
Cold sores are extremely contagious, particularly when oozing or leaking fluid. Use a separate towel and face cloth to anyone else (changed frequently) and don’t kiss anyone until the sore has healed over.
How can I treat a cold sore naturally?
You can effectively treat a cold sore naturally with an essential oil called Melissa Officinalis. Also known as lemon balm, this essential oil is absolutely miraculous for the treatment of cold sores. I’ve never known it not to work. It soothes inflamed skin, calms redness, helps dry out the cold sore and it is also a powerful anti-viral. You need a good quality essential oil for this treatment and I’d recommend NHR Organic Oils, Neal’s Yard or Tisserand, but there are many other good brands.
How do I use Melissa Oil on a cold sore?
Do not use Melissa oil on your cold sore if you are pregnant. If you are pregnant and think you have a cold sore, you should consult your doctor.
- First do a patch test by placing 1 drop of Melissa essential oil in the crook of your elbow. Let is dry and keep it unwashed for 24 hours. If you have no reaction on your skin to using the oil then proceed as follows.
- Clean the cold sore with a clean cotton wool pad and warm water and pat dry with a tissue. Dispose of the cotton wool pad and the tissue. Take a cotton wool bud and using it, apply 1 drop of Melissa essential oil to the cold sore. Just apply to the cold sore, not the surrounding area of skin, but make sure you apply to the edges of the cold sore.
- Apply every 2 – 3 hours for the first 24 hours, washing the cold sore as above before re- applying the Melissa essential oil.
- After 24 hours, apply 4 times a day until the sore has healed.
Melissa Officinalis essential oil is not cheap but you can buy it in small amount (2.5ml from Neal’s Yard). If you find Melissa too expensive, you can also achieve good results with Eucalyptus Radiata, Chamomile Roman (anthemis nobilis) or German Chamomile (matricaria recitata) essential oils as well.
You can start the treatment with any of the essential oils mentioned above just as soon as you feel that tell-tale tingle in your skin.
Vitamin D can also help boost your immunity during the winter months when there is no sunshine and in the UK it is recommended that you take it between October and March. Take at least 10 micrograms (400 international units) a day. Why not try a vitamin D supplement this year? I recommend vitamin D3 with added K2 from nutriadvanced.co.uk.
Sally Moores, aka The Happy Sage, is a skincare, natural health and well-being expert who has been testing and researching natural therapies, remedies, products and healing for over forty years. She has been a qualified 2nd degree Reiki practitioner for over 18 years and also survived an aggressive stage iv blood cancer, which only enhanced her passion for learning more about healing the mind, body and spirit.
Sally previously researched, developed and produced a range of organic skincare products, winning four industry awards. She now runs a website, thehappysage.co.uk, helping others set up and run their own natural skincare business, as well as reviewing natural skincare products.