COLD SORES

Cold sores, or fever blisters, are usually caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). 

The virus is extremely contagious when the blisters are open and oozing and is spread via close contact like kissing or sharing drinks or chapstick. Once you are infected with the virus, it will lay dormant in your body and another outbreak can occur with stress (from sickness, hormone changes, fatigue, injury, anything that causes stress on the body). Trying to limit these things is important! 

You may feel tingling or a burning in your lip before the blisters actually pop up, in which case I would start these treatments immediately. 

💥L-lysine: slows replication by limiting the amino acid arginine which the virus needs to replicate and spread. 

💥Melissa oil aka lemon balm: a powerful antiviral oil that inhibits the virus from entering into the cells and slows replication. 

💥Tea tree oil: another known oil to work directly on the herpes virus and promote healing. 

💥Topical zinc: decreases viral load and relieves symptoms. 

Cold sores will generally heal up on their own without treatment, but these natural remedies can speed up healing and lessen the severity. 

Per usual, this isn’t to be taken as medical advice, and always talk to your trusted physician if you have questions. 😘