I’m not one to tout the benefits of alternative medicine, mainly because I’ve seen one thing work for one person and then not work for another. Plus I’ve heard the sales tactics of many herbal and essential oil companies as they try to convince me that their product will cure many of my ills. But that doesn’t stop me from believing that many of them are safe and effective options and have been used for thousands of years.
Herpes Simplex – Cold Sores
I’m writing to share a tip that really worked for me!** I have that dreaded malady called ‘herpes simplex’. Yes, it sounds like something you don’t talk about, but it’s just the Latin name for cold sores or fever blisters. And if you get them, you know they are no fun at all. They are quite embarrassing when they take over your lip with a crusty sore and you feel so helpless just waiting it out.
Well, an over-the-counter medication that really works for these nasty blisters is Abreva. It’s a man-made chemical, docosanol, and it’s expensive, but it does shorten the duration and severity of the blister. Our family has used it for years.
But last week, after hearing that the essential oil, Geranium, works for cold sores, I decided to give it a try. With all the stress of our upcoming move, I had come down with a head cold, was extremely tired, and to top it off, I got that tingly sensation in my lower lip! Always the sign of an impending cold sore.
Geranium Oil – A Great Alternative!
So now was my time to experiment. It was a bit difficult to persevere, knowing that it might not work and I’d still be left with the remnants of a large sore on my lip for over a week. But, alas – on day two of putting a drop of Geranium oil on my sore every few hours, I realized that instead of getting larger and more sore, it was already drying up! What a pleasant surprise! And instead of lasting the usual, uncomfortable 7-10 days, it never even got crusty and was almost gone at day 5.
So, I can heartily recommend** the essential oil, Geranium, to treat herpes simplex (cold sores or fever blisters). One 15 ml. bottle of Geranium oil only costs 1-2x more than a tube of Abreve’ but will last at least ten times longer. I used the ——- brand (see note below), which is made with the purest distillation processes. I would recommend using only a highly reputable manufacturer of essential oils.
Update – Feb. 2013 – Another supplement that many people say works is L-Lysine. You can buy it in capsule form and 500-1,000 mg. a day should help the cold sores to lessen in severity. I again tried Geranium and L-Lysine for a new type of cold sore I’ve been getting lately – a sore in my nose! Oh, joy! But this one was gone in only three days using L-Lysine 3X/day for three days and putting Geranium oil on the sore, several times each day. I’m a believer!
Not a world-changing revelation, but one that offers relief to those of us who struggle with cold sores! If you have any suggestions for what has worked for you, please send in your comments.
And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. Exodus 30:25
**Please understand – this information is based on my experience and opinion. How you use essential oils is completely your responsibility. **The FDA is banning all “Brand” posts claiming that illnesses which can be diagnosed by a doctor cannot be described as treatable by alternative medicine, such as essential oils. Oh, well. I have removed my specific brand name and pictures, but I will be leaving the information relating to essential oils. I firmly believe in our right and need to educate ourselves about alternative medicine. Thanks for wanting to be smart about your health.
