COLD SORES

COLD SORES, or fever blisters, are caused by the herpes simplex virus. We don’t know exactly what stimulates the appearance of these blisters but they are commonly exacerbated by stress, sun, alcohol, sugar, a concurrent viral infection, or simply being run-down. They usually begin with a tiny red spot at the corner of the mouth or nostril, which quickly turns into small blisters. Sometimes there’s just one; sometimes a whole cluster of blisters appears. After these blisters break, a scab forms that can take one or two weeks to heal.

It’s estimated that 80 to 90 percent of the population harbors the herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores, but it’s possible to have the virus and never experience an outbreak. On the other hand, some people are troubled by regular cold sores. The pain and discomfort can be considerable, but my patients often seem just as troubled by the embarrassment of their appearance.

There is no effective drug therapy that will cure cold sores, but the good news is that there are a number of very safe and effective natural remedies.

Two particular treatments have given my patients great relief and also act as a preventive: Lactobacillus addophilus and Lysine. In addition, zinc, used topically and as a supplement, can give immediate relief.

Lactobacillus acidophilus is the living culture that is used to make yogurt. You may have heard that yogurt can be beneficial for intestinal and digestive problems, and it’s this connection that led to the discovery that acidophitus can help cold sores. A doctor using acidophilus to treat patients with severe diarrhea discovered that two of his patients suffering from cold sores found dramatic improvement in their sores as well as their diarrhea. Further research found that acidophilus capsules can not only help relieve existing cold sores but also help prevent new ones. You can buy acidophilus capsules at health food stores, but be sure that the tablets you buy contain living bacteria; they’re usually kept refrigerated. Eating yogurt might be of some help, but there’s no evidence that it can have the dramatic effect of the capsules.

Another aid in the relief of cold sores is the amino acid L-lysine, which is particularly effective in preventing recurrence. There is a hypothesis that lysine inhibits herpes activity, while another amino acid, arginine, promotes it. And studies have demonstrated that lysine treatment can be very beneficial to cold sore sufferers. In one study, forty-five patients who took lysine supplements were followed for two years. Forty-two of these patients had a dramatic reduction of cold sores. For most, pain disappeared overnight, and the initial sore did not spread, but the infection returned one to four weeks after stopping lysine.

The most effective pattern for taking lysine to prevent cold sores is to take a maintenance dosage as a preventive and then increase this dosage if you experience an outbreak of the infection. Be sure if you take lysine supplements that you watch your cholesterol levels, as there’s some evidence that lysine may stimulate the liver to increase cholesterol production.

In addition to taking lysine as a supplement, it can be applied topically in the form of lysine cream, available in health food stores. I usually advise applying it topically twice a day, but check the directions on the label.

Since cold sores are stimulated by the imbalance of the amino acids arginine and lysine, it can also be beneficial to avoid arginine-containing foods. These foods include chocolate, peanuts and other nuts, seeds, and cereal grains.

Zinc used topically can help to heal cold sores. Zinc oxide-the stuff lifeguards used to put on their noses-won’t work because it doesn’t deliver the zinc. Instead, use a zinc lozenge-the kind used for sore throats-and let it dissolve on the lesions.

Both vitamin C with bioflavonoids and zinc supplements, particularly when taken in conjunction, can help cure cold sores. As with lysine, it’s best to take a maintenance dosage and increase it in the event of an outbreak.

NATURAL PRESCRIPTION FOR COLD SORES:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF

• Lysine cream: Apply topically to lesions twice a day or as recommended on label.
• Zinc lozenge: let it dissolve on the lesion.

FOR PREVENTION:

• Avoid arginine-rich foods, including chocolate, peanuts and other nuts, seeds, and cereal grains.

IN ADDITION TO YOUR DAILY SUPPLEMENTS, TAKE:

• lactobacillus acidophilus: three capsules a day, one with each meal.
• L-lysine: 3,000 mg. daily; 1,000 mg. with each meal at the first sign of a cold sore outbreak. After the symptoms lessen, reduce intake to 500 mg. a day. If you break out on this dosage, increase your dosage to 1000 mg. a day to prevent recurrence.
• Zinc: 50 mg. a day.
• Vitamin C with bioflavonoids: 500 mg. a day.