Although cold sores or fever blisters as they are otherwise known, normally appear after a fever, cold or flu and hence the name; they can also manifest as a result of stress or fatigue. Cold sores are also known to appear during the menstrual cycle of a girl or when a person is deficient in calcium.

Caused by a highly contagious virus (herpes simplex type I and type 2) that attacks the body when its immune system is vulnerable, cold sores appear as tiny red blisters filled with fluid. Painful to endure, these blisters, which can last for two weeks, develop in the regions along the outer edges of the mouth or on the lips and nose.

So what can you do to tackle the problem of these sores should you or your loved one be afflicted by them? Some of the techniques are very simple- as simple as applying ice for five to ten minutes once every hour when the sores have first shown up. This ensures against the sores developing further.

They say tea has many medicinal properties that can be put to use for several ailments and conditions. Here is one such application wherein the tannic acid found in tea, which is known to have antiviral properties, helps to treat the sores. Application procedure is the same as in the case of ice. Pressing a warm tea bag on a cold sore for about 30 minutes makes the sore vanish in less than a week.

Diet is the root to a person’s wholeness irrespective of the medical condition. In the case of cold sores, while foods with salt and acid content should be avoided, intake of coffee and foods containing amino-acid arginine should be reduced. As is the case with many minor ailments related to colds and fever, supplementing the diet with B-complex and B12 vitamin is highly recommended.

Other simple applications for cold sores include Witch Hazel, aloe juice or gel, cornstarch paste, lemon balm extract and spirit of camphor.

Using these simple home remedies, the problem of cold sores can be easily overcome, irrespective of the reason for its manifestation. However, if the problem persists for more than two weeks and you are unable to ebb the further development of the sores, please consult your physician.