It is impossible to tell which the best cold sore cure is. While conventional medicine comes up with over-the-counter medications and prescription strength drugs that can keep this condition under control, alternative medicine provides some reliable solutions, too. However, it is very important to keep in mind that both drugs and plants can have secondary effects and thus, can lead to complications.

Echinacea, black currant, rhubarb, sage and undaria pinnatifida are only some of the ways to get rid of cold sore. According to a study that has been conducted at the University of Ottawa, Echinacea is able to influence the activity of herpes simplex type 1 virus. In conclusion, this herb is able to reduce the frequency of the blister episodes and to prevent the virus from spreading both to the other parts of the body and to other persons.

Black currant, an herb that is also called Ribes nigrum or Kurokarin in Japan, seems to be effective in the fight against the herpes simplex type 1 virus. At least this is what concluded several laboratory studies.

When sage is used on its own as a treatment for oral herpes, it might not be very effective. The efficiency increases when sage is combined with rhubarb in a cream. This combined topical preparation is as efficient as the acyclovir cream.
Undaria pinnatifida, an herb that is called wakame in Japan, influences the duration of the blister episodes.

More than that, this type of seaweed prevents the virus from getting reactivated very often. In conclusion, when undaria pinnatifida is used as part of the cold sore treatment, this herb is able to keep the virus in a dormant state for a prolonged period of time.

By doing this, another effect is achieved. As the risk of transmitting the disease increases when the blisters are noticeable, wakame also is used in the prevention of the spreading of the virus.

A lysine cold sore is not a common thing, as the oral herpes usually appears in other areas. Fever blisters have a unique cause, namely the herpes virus. More precisely, a strain of this virus, that is called herpes simplex virus type 1, causes the blisters.

In the majority of the cases, the areas of the body that are affected by this viral infection are the lips, the gums and the roof of the mouth.

One of the main signs of cold sore nose is represented by some tiny blisters that contain a fluid and that cause a sharp sensation of pain. As soon as the viral infection is detected, people are recommended to ask for medical advice.

The health care provider comes with several suggestions that will make people's life a lot easier. First of all, the doctor may recommend over the counter analgesics as a cold sure core. Next, antiseptics and antiviral medication may also be prescribed. These two types of medication prevent the virus from spreading and fight the viral infection.

Over the counter topical medications such as creams and ointments based on certain substances that have been discovered to be effective against the herpes simplex virus type 1. The topical medication is able to relieve the symptoms, to protect the skin and to provide the necessary moisture.

When it is discovered that neither the over the counter topical medication or the over the counter analgesics work, the doctor may recommend some prescription strength medication.

The effect of this medication is much stronger, and in conclusion, it is made especially for more severe forms of cold sore. People who consult a doctor get help with healing their cold sore nose and the other areas of the body that may be affected by the viral infection.

If you have cold sores you will no doubt be looking for
best cold sore treatment to rid yourself of them, however it can be hard to choose between over the counter treatments and home remedies.

Both can offer effective results and relief from the pain and discomfort of cold sores, but both can also lead to complications from secondary effects so you should be aware of this when choosing how to get rid of cold sores

Some of the natural cold sore treatments that you might have heard of include undaria pinnatifida, Echinacea, sage, black current and even sage.

Such is the need for natural treatments that the University of Ottawa even studied the effects of using Echinacea when treating cold sores and found that it was able to inhibit the activity of the herpes simplex type 1 virus (the virus that causes cold sores) and even stop the virus spreading over the body and to others.

Black current or Kurokarin as it is known in Japan was also shown in studies to be of use when trying to control and fight against cold sores.

One herb that is not of much use for treating cold sores when it is used on its own is sage - however you should mix this with rhubarb, usually in a cream, and you have a highly effective topical preparation which can be just as good as using acyclovir cream which is an over the counter treatment.

Another herb that has shown its effectiveness when treating cold sores is undaria pinnatifida or wakame as it is referred to in Japan.

This herb is a type of seaweed that can slow down the incidences of cold sores and keep the virus dormant for some time.

As well as preventing outbreaks wakame also hinders the spread of the virus as it is also reduces the blisters which are responsible for spreading cold sores.

Cold sores are a constant source of irritation for anyone who suffers from them as they can come and go, once you have caught them for the rest of your life.

As cold sores are the result of a viral infection it is difficult to control them, and so far, no total cold sore cures cold sore cures have been found.
There are methods and medications that can be used to control cold sores and prevent them, but as yet no cure has been found to wipe out the virus from a sufferers body once and for all.

As the blisters which characterise an outbreak can be spread easily is important that if you do have cold sores you know what to do when you get them.

Many people use medications such as analgesics to help with pain that cold sores cause, antiseptics to contain the virus and antiviral medications to stop the virus from spreading. Unfortunately it is not enough just to take these medications when you have an outbreak you also need to be alert to the fact that the blisters which make a cold sore contagious cold sore contagious should not be touched as this will spread the virus.

As with all types of medication the medication used to treat and prevent cold sores can have side effects in some people so if you are wary about this you can try natural methods to treat your cold sores.

Lemon balm is one way which as well moisturising the skin around the blisters can hinder the spread of them and using it can be beneficial if you do not want to use over the counter or prescription treatments for your cold sores. Aloe vera is also useful in combating cold sores as it can protect and calm your skin, reducing the cold sores as it
does so.

Having cold sores is not only an embarrassing condition but it is also very painful as the sores themselves will throb and sometimes create a sharp stinging sensation which is very unpleasant. If you can stand the pain you can leave cold sores to heal by themselves and this will typically happen in 7 to 10 days.

Many cold sore suffers will buy an over the counter anaesthetic in order to soothe the pain of their cold sores, whilst some will even go to their doctor to get analgesics prescribed for them.
If these are not what you would like to take in order to begin the cold sore healing process you might want to try using aspirin to help with the pain.

Taking aspirin, which is one of the most well known and used pain killing preparations in the world is not without its drawbacks however. There are some people who have a condition known as Reye's syndrome, often without realising it, and this syndrome can lead to death if the person takes aspirin. So it is essential that if you have a child who has cold sore fever blisters that you do
not give them aspirin for the pain.

Sometimes the pain that is associated with cold sores is so unbearable that the sufferer will need to visit their doctor to get the sores properly checked out. This will often lead to the doctor prescribing the sufferer some high strength medication or even creams which can provide a calming and soothing effect on the cold sores.

It is also good to make sure that you get your cold sores correctly diagnosed as they can often be mistaken for canker sores which are larger, not contagious and tend to be situated on the inside of the cheeks and the genitals.

Many of the sufferers of cold sores are not aware of just how contagious their skin condition is and this is one of the reasons that they are passed so easily from person to person. One of the main ways of spreading the herpes simplex type 1 virus or cold sores is through skin to skin contact such as kissing. So it is of vital importance that during an outbreak a sufferer does all they can to maximise cold sore prevention .

There are various types of cold sore medicine available both over the counter and from a doctor but none of them will actually cure cold sores once and for all. This is due to the fact that once the virus that causes cold sores is in a person's body it will remain there forever. Even if there are no cold sores present the virus is in the body, but it is dormant. When an outbreak happens, the cold sore blisters will appear and this is when the virus is at its most contagious.

Some things will provoke an outbreak of cold sores and these include coffee which acts as a catalyst for cold sores. Exposure to the sun is also often blamed for cold sores, so if you are prone to them it is a good idea to use sun block on the lips and face. Conditions that put a strain on the immune system such as being generally unwell can also signal an attack of cold sores so sufferers should do all they can to stay well.

Good hygiene is also important if cold sores are not to be spread as touching the sores then touching other parts of the body or others can create new outbreaks. Sharing towels can also transmit these unpleasant blisters so people with cold sores should use their own towels to avoid this.