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: Cold sores are quelled by lysine similar to a fire being quenched by water.

Water puts out a fire by starving it of the oxygen it needs to burn. Lysine works in a similar way - it represses cold sores by depriving the herpes virus of what it must have to create the sore.

Before using lysine, however, let us explore the cause and effect of these outbreaks and how lysine actually works for you.

The herpes simplex virus moves to the surface for the sole purpose of creating new virus. This parasite virus enters a cell and forces that cell to produce new virus clones. When full, the cell is broken open to spill out the fresh 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 feeds cold sores like oxygen feeds fires.

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 and lysine are considered essential amino acids. Your body cannot create these. They are essential for your health and must come from your diet.

Your body cells store arginine in a special area within the cell. If forced to create new herpes virus, your cell will draw on these stores until depleted. Without arginine readily available, new virus cannot be created.

FACT: Lysine smothers cold sores by making arginine unavailable.

Your cells stock up on lysine too. And they do so in the same storage space as arginine. Since these two amino acids 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.

Here is the best news. Lysine cannot be used to create new virus. Like water, it cannot burn. And because lysine forces arginine out of the cells, it removes the main building block for the virus.

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 foods high in this protein. Dairy products, meats, and fish are excellent sources of this amino acid.

Lysine capsules, although not as well absorbed, are much more convenient for many people. A special diet is often hard to keep, especially with your busy schedule. But, it would be best to combine dietary sources with these supplements.

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.

Amino acids, such as lysine, do not go into the cells through the skin. Putting it on the skin before the sores blossom is of no value. And applying this amino acid after the sore opens up, even if it did work, is too late. The damage is already done.

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

Lysine is perfectly safe. It is only a protein fraction. Commonly, lysine supplements are taken in doses up to 4000 mg. per day during the outbreak. Some folks also take 500 to 1000 mg. daily to prevent cold sores.

Consuming high lysine foods is the best source of quality lysine. Taking lysine capsules may also be necessary for you to reach the levels you need for effective cold sore lysine treatment.