Who doesn’t want to get rid of cold sores or fever blisters? And we sure don’t want them to stay a minute longer when we find out they are highly communicable. Your partner could catch it from you, your baby could catch it from you. Cold sores demand extra care and attention and need the right medication to ensure they don’t spread and are not communicated across to others. If you’re interested in finding a way to treat this in a natural way without harmful chemicals or nasty side effects, then keep reading to learn the best essential oils for cold sores.
So, what exactly are cold sores and why are they caused?
Cold sores are blister-like lesions that you might have noticed on your face and mouth. They might appear around the lips, the chin, the cheeks or inside the mouth on the palate (the roof) or on the gums. The sores can be downright painful and may cause a burning sensation and itching on the affected area. Typically, you can recover from a cold sore within a span of two long weeks. Almost everyone loathes them thanks to their painful and aesthetically unappealing properties. Fortunately, there are natural essential oils for cold sores that can help clear these unsightly blemishes.
How are cold sores caused? Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. The herpes simplex virus usually remains in its dormant state. Sores appear when the virus is triggered due to certain factors such as injury, fatigue and stress, intense sunlight or the menstrual cycle. For some, the sores might appear once in a lifetime before the virus would go in its dormant state. For others, sores can appear two to three times a year.
Usually, the typical types of sores around the mouth are caused by HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus 1). However, you may also get cold sores via HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus types 2). Sores caused due to HSV-2 may be a result of having oral sex with a person who is suffering from genital herpes. Moreover, kids are more prone to the attack of herpes virus as compared to adults.
Do not confuse cold sores with canker sores. The canker sores, unlike cold sores, appear on the soft tissues of the mouth and are generally painful. They are also known as aphthous ulcers. Also, canker sores can be treated faster than cold sores.
What should you do to get rid of the painful, ugly sores on your skin?
First and foremost, stay away from anyone who might have the infection or if you are suffering from the same, avoid close contact with anyone you don’t wish to infect. The herpes virus is extremely contagious and the infection might spread.
Symptoms of cold sores at primary level include blisters in the mouth, tongue or mouth lesions, mouth ulcers, pain in tongue and mouth, swelling of lips, difficulty in swallowing, foul breath, sore throat, elevated body temperature, nausea, and headache. You might also suffer from dehydration due to lack of water consumption.
Once the body has experienced the attack of herpes virus, it prepares itself to fight the attack in case it reoccurs. A recurring infection will always be short lived and less severe. Moreover, in the case of recurring cold sores, one can also identify the onset of the sores and their location.
There are many treatments available for curing cold sores. You could opt for a visit to your medical practitioner if it is the first time you are experiencing a cold sore. The body develops the power to fight the sore within a span of two weeks. While the swelling reduces and the sore bursts and oozes, it takes a while for the skin cells to regenerate completely.
Typically, over the counter prescriptions and antiviral creams work well in treating cold sores. The treatment of the sore is dependent on the severity of the infection. Your medical practitioner will prescribe medicines accordingly.
We all know how harmful these antibiotics or medicines can be. Hence, it is important to ensure you fight the sores naturally as and when possible. One of the best ways to treat this skin anomaly and viral infection is by using essential oils. Below is a list of top 5 essential oils for cold sores that can help you treat your infection effectively.
If you are planning to use this natural therapy for the first time, you can explore the different types of essential oils and their uses in this article.
Best Essential Oils For Cold Sores
1. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint oil is blessed with antiviral properties. These antiviral constituents work really well on healing cold sores. A clinical study done in 2013, published in Phytomedicine, reveals peppermint essential oil’s inhibitory action against the herpes simplex viruses (both the types). The oil proves to be more effective during the early stages of the infection, making is a great first option as an essential oil for cold sores. You can buy here pure therapeutic grade peppermint oil.
2. Oregano Essential Oil
The oregano plant almost never gets affected by pests, diseases or fungus. This is the case because of the natural oils that the plant contains possesses strong antimicrobial properties. Oregano essential oil helps reduce inflammation on the sores and aids in drying the blister by killing the virus inside. To use oregano as an essential oil for cold sores, dab a drop or two of the oregano essential oil on a cotton swab and apply it directly on the affected area. Do not press the cotton swab against the sore. Also, dispose of the cotton swab right after the application to ensure the infection does not spread.
3. Geranium Essential Oil
The essential oil of geranium is a holistic treatment for mind, body, and soul. The oil is a potent astringent and an anti-inflammatory agent. It is a powerful antimicrobial agent as well. To use geranium essential oil for cold sores, pour a drop or two of geranium oil on a water soaked cotton ball and dab this swab on the cold sore. Always dispose of the used cotton ball and the water it was soaked in to prevent the infection from spreading.
4. Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree essential oil is a wondrous oil for fighting microbial skin infections, making it one of the best essential oils for cold sores. One has to be very careful while using this oil on the affected area for it is extremely strong. Take a clean cotton swab and pour three drops of coconut oil or olive oil on it. Next, pour a drop of tea tree oil on it. Slightly press the ball to blend the oils. Now, apply this topically on the affected area and fight the virus causing the sore. Replace with a fresh cotton ball each day. You could also consider preparing a blend of coconut or olive oil and tea tree oil to treat the sore. However, we recommend that you stay extra cautious about not dipping the used cotton in the same mixture. That might spoil and infect the blend causing the infection to spread further.
5. Blend Essential Oils For Cold Sore
You may also want to opt for this magical blend of essential oils for cold sores. You would need 3 drops of lavender essential oil, 3 drops of chamomile essential oil, 6 drops of tea tree essential oil, 6 drops of geranium essential oil and 3 drops of lemon essential oil. Blend all these together in sweet almond oil. Store the mixture in a clean, airtight container. Take a clean cotton swab dipped in water or a Q-tip and dip it in the blend. Using the cotton or the Q-tip apply the mixture on the sore to achieve fast healing and long lasting results. Apply the mixture twice a day, until the sore vanishes completely.
Now that you know of such wonderful tips to use these essential oils for cold sores, share it with someone who might need the information. Do share your views on the article in the comments section below.
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