Herpes and fever blisters are contagious and can be passed on via kissing, drinking cups and silverware so use caution. It is all stages of the outbreak that are contagious as well. The cold sores or herpes on the lip are due to herpes simplex 1 virus and those that are genital are caused by herpes simplex 2 virus.

Below are a number of home remedy for herpes treatments which have been shown to effectively treat the symptoms as well as the length of the outbreak. However if you are already being prescribed with some form of medication by your doctor then talk to him before you try any of these home remedies and even talk to him if you are not on prescribed medication.

A folk remedy some recommend is lemon balm and they say it can also reduce frequency of the herpes or fever blister sore attacks. Healing time is said to be reduced and may just be four to five days which cuts down a few days.

Take a warm tea bag and apply it to the cold sore blister in order to help it's pain and inflammation and itching be reduced. The internet has many citations of this folk remedy for the troublesome cold sore or herpes blister.

Witch hazel is used by many for skin troubles and it has mentions in application for herpes and cold sore relief as well. Many teens find it helps their acne heal quickly and it works well for various sores.

Lysine - An amino acid that is used make protein which will help boost a persons immune system. Unfortunately our body can not make lysine so we have to obtain through the food we eat or by taking lysine supplements.

Asian medicine uses mushrooms including reishi for helping the herpes virus heal faster, the immune system strengthen and preventing the spread of the virus. Reishi can be found in powder as well as capsule forms.

Resveratrol Cream - This is made from red grapes and can be applied directly to the infection site and is affective at suppressing the herpes virus as well as the outbreak of cold sores.

On top of home remedies for cold sores and fever blister relief remember to check your diet and be sure your amino acid protein balance is good (or take lysine). By eating a balanced diet you'll sleep better and that too has an effect on health and the immune system.