The best way to treat cold sores is to prevent them. Natural Protocol for Cold Sores Apply ice every ten minutes to the area for an hour or so at the first sign of an outbreak. Cold sores are typically caused by the extremely contagious herpes simplex 1 virus, which is dormant in most people, but is activated in some by stress, physical irritation, and the sun. Ice can stop the movement of the virus from the nerve to the skin. Begin taking an extra 1,500 mg to 3,000 mg of l-lysine daily.
Lysine inhibits the virus' ability to replicate itself.
Apply an extract of lemon balm Melissa officinalis if a cold sore has already erupted. It's best to pop the vesicles by rubbing them with something abrasive so they can dry out and heal faster. Studies done in Germany found that cold sores healed completely in five days on this herb, compared to 10 days using other agents. The Melissa group also had fewer scabs. If you are prone to cold sores, take a preventive daily dose of 750 to 1,500 mg of lysine a day.