Cold sore lysine treatment has been in the news a lot in recent years. Studies continue to show it to be very helpful for relief of these persistent sores. But many people who write about lysine do not know how it actually works.



FACT: Lysine quenches cold sores much like water extinguishes fire.

A fire is extinguished with water because the water prevents oxygen from feeding the fire. Lysine can stop or prevent cold sores the same way. Lysine starves the herpes virus of what it must have to replicate.

Right now, we need to take a look at what really causes cold sores and how lysine can literally stop them in their tracks.

Normally the herpes virus is latent. It becomes active only to create new virus. It does this by moving to the surface, infecting the nerve cells there, and forcing them to build copies of the virus. When the cell is full, it is destroyed to release the new virus.

The herpes virus, type 1 or 2, creates the open, ugly ulcer on your lip or nose by burning up thousands of nerve cells during this replication process.

FACT: Arginine is the main nutrient that feeds the herpes fire.

The herpes virus is made of protein. The main protein used by the cells to create this sub-microscopic virus is the amino acid arginine.

Arginine, along with lysine, is in a group designated as essential amino acids. There are about 17 amino acids in this group the body cannot create. They must be obtained from the foods we eat. Each one is important to specific tasks within our body.

Your nerve cells store arginine in a specific location within the cell. Cells that are forced to create herpes virus will do so only until the arginine stores are used up. Arginine is the main building block of the herpes virus. Without it, no virus cloning can take place.

FACT: Lysine quells cold sores by keeping arginine from being available.

Your cells warehouse lysine too. And it does so in the same storage space as arginine. Since arginine and lysine compete for the same storage area, the more lysine you eat and make available to your cells, the less arginine will be available for virus creation.

Lysine cannot be used for creating herpes virus - like water cannot burn. And it smothers the replication process by keeping arginine from being available for use.

FACT: Lysine is only available to the cells if taken orally.

The best way to flood your cells with cold sore lysine is by eating high lysine foods. Dairy products, meats, and fish are excellent sources of this amino acid.

For convenience, you can find lysine capsules at most stores that sell vitamins. These are very convenient since they reduce the need to change your diet. Combining diet with supplemental lysine would still be the best method.

There are several drug-store treatments that contain lysine. These treatments often contain other herpes fighting ingredients that will help - at least for comfort. Lysine sounds good on the label - but, as a topical remedy for cold sores, it has not been proven to work.

Lysine does not absorb through the skin to prevent cold sores, nor is it any good once the sore opens up. The lysine molecule can only be absorbed by the cells through the normal nutritional pathway - the bloodstream.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT - lysine is great for extinguishing, and preventing, cold sores. But keep in mind that lysine only works when it gets into the cells. This can only happen when it is taken by mouth and absorbed internally from food and supplements.

For treatment of a currently active sore, a common daily dosage would be about 4000 mg.. Between outbreaks, many people take 500 to 1000 mg. of supplemental lysine as a preventative.

Beating your cold sores may be as simple as eating high lysine foods, avoiding high arginine foods, and taking a booster dose of lysine in capsules. This is the very best way to get therapeutic levels of cold sore lysine.