Cold Sore

[Sarah*]

Has anyone heard of a herbal supplement that you can take to prevent coldsores appearing at all? I've heard of it from a friend but she couldn't remember what it was! I've had four coldsores in as many weeks and am right fed up with them at this stage! Thanks.

[Lotus]

You need to take any supplement that will boost your immune system - cos thats what cold sores are. They are nervous endings which get irritated when your body's immune system is low, or youve recently had a major stress, and cold sores appear... Ive found something called Amixin is really good, but I dont know whether its on sale in the UK. But if go to anywhere like Holland and Barret and ask for an immune system supplement, I am sure they will find something for you. Hope this helps! (and as a fellow sufferer I sympathise)

[j2buttonsw]

I thought it was caused by a virus that is related to the herpes virus. I have also heard that coffee (no I am not kidding) is very good: simply apply instant coffee to the cold sore.

[Lotus]

No, although both these things are called 'herpes', they are viruses of a different nature and are unrelated in their cause. Cold sores 'herpes' you either have or dont have, whereas the other kinda herpes you can pick up from other people... Ive been suffering from cold sores for as long as I remember myself, and got very curious as to what and how and why, and this is what all the doctors told me... Ive heard the coffee cure, but never actually tried it..I usually get the horrid little things after Ive been ill, and am therefore prepared :) Zovirax is great if you manage to catch the cold sore when its just beginning to appear and sort of itch on your lip, and after that its pretty much useless. You might think me mad, but if i get them and miss the Zovirax stage, I use toothpaste...Just a bit, overnight, to dry it up...It helps :)

[becks]

It's Melissa extract which helps when you've got the tingle, also try taking Lysine which is supposed to prevent any attacks from occuring in the first place - Lysine is available in Holland and Barratt or any other good health food shop and you should take one tablet daily then up it to two if you feel an attack or during an attack. hope they help - oh and in studies of herpes acyclovir was found to be as useful as nothing at all...

[becks]

It is the herpes virus - not just something called the same name, but the herpes virus also covers shingles, genital herpes, chicken pox etc, with facial and genital herpes they are type I and type II but they can cross over - ie you could catch it on your face from gential herpes - and they are not unrelated in their cause or viruses of a different nature, herpes attacks often occur during periods of stress or being generally under the weather - which is maybe why you've been told to boost your immune system and it isn't a case of cold-sore herpes you have or don't have, there's no way of telling which type you have - unless you pay for swab tests so when you have a coldsore you shouldn't kiss your partner.

[Lotus]

Really? How very odd, my doctor told me something quite opposite to that...But you sound like you know what youre talking about..

[secretspirit]

Holding ice on it for as long as possible (in a sandwich bag to protect your hand) or putting pure vitamin E oil out of a sliced open capsule can drastically cut down the time you have the sore.

[morg_monster]

If you're interested in 'natural remedies', the 'What's the alternative' column in the Sunday Times recommended something called Themba cream, the letter is on this webpage which also mentions a supplier. might be pricey though... http://www.whatreallyworks.co.uk/start/qanda.asp?article_ID= 1395

[Pmonk]

I am interested in Amixin for my son but can only find references to it defining what it is under Amixin or Amiksin.Where did you get it from,Lotus?