Try these essential oils for cold sores to naturally treat your cold sores and get them to heal faster! This natural cold sore treatment can greatly reduce the healing time!
If you’ve reached this page because you’ve done a frantic google search for something like “essential oils for cold sores” then I feel you! I’m a fellow cold sore sufferer and I know how painful, annoying and downright ugly they can be. I’ve had cold sores for years but I’ve got the best home remedy for cold sores now that knocks them dead.
I remember the first time I got a cold sore. I was about 16 and I my lip was feeling strangely tingly but I didn’t really think anything of it. I just assumed the tingling would stop eventually.
If you’re a fellow cold sore sufferer, you can easily imagine my horror when I woke up the next morning with little bumps around the outside corner of my bottom lip. And it only got worse from there.
Those small bumps turned into a huge, painful, weeping, bleeding, crusty sore (TMI? Probably…) It took weeks to completely heal and I was terrified that I’d get another one.
The frequency and severity of cold sores typically decreases after the initial outbreak, and this has been my experience.
I still do get cold sores a couple times a year, but luckily, my cold sores aren’t anywhere near as severe as the first one was.And now that I’m well versed in cold sores (that seems like such a weird thing to say haha) I can immediately tell when a cold sore is brewing.
I’ve tried many over-the-counter cold sore remedies over the years, with varying results. Some of them do absolutely nothing and some of them definitely seem to help but they all have one thing in common – they’re packed full of chemicals.
Given that cold sores generally appear around the mouth and on the lips, it’s inevitable that you’re going to ingest cold sore cream.
Plus they are sooo expensive (these oils may seem pricey at first glance, but remember they will last a very long time and have multiple different uses).
I’ve treated my last three cold sores with essential oils and it definitely works to reduce the pain, severity and duration of my cold sores. You can also use essential oils to treat your baby’s congestion, and to soothe teeth pain – as well as making your house smell great for the holidays.
Remember, just like OTC cold sore treatments, not everything works for everyone.
However, I have had amazing success with this and know of many other people that have successfully used this natural cold sore remedy.
Essential Oils to treat Cold Sores
For these remedies to work best, you need to try to stop the cold sore in it’s tracks (this is true of basically all cold sore treatments.) What that means is as soon as you start to feel a tingling, don’t delay! Start applying this natural cold sore remedy immediately.
Note: The below information contains paid links.
(I get all of my essential oils from Plant Therapy. I have bought expensive essential oils from various other companies in the past, but after learning about Plant Therapy, they are now my go-to for high-quality essential oils at very reasonable prices.)
Oregano Oil
What You’ll Need:
Oregano oil is one of my favorite essential oils. It is one of the most potent and powerful essential oils and has been used for over 2500 years. Scientific research continues to confirm the antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic and antioxidant properties of oregano oil (that’s a lot of “anti’s!”)
Simply put a couple drops of pure oregano oil onto a q-tip and gently rub directly onto the affected area several times a day.
I also apply a small amount of coconut oil around the affected area to help keep it moisturized and because of the antibacterial and antiviral properties found in coconut oil.
Tea Tree Oil
What You’ll Need:
In addition to be great to treat acne, tea tree oil has antiseptic and antiviral properties which can help to treat cold sores. Use the same method as above for application.
It is recommended to dilute tea tree oil to reduce irritation, but I have actually used it undiluted with good results as well (CAUTION – try it diluted first. It is never recommended to use essential oils directly on the skin without dilution, so test it first).
Peppermint Oil
What You’ll Need:
Peppermint oil has also been shown to be effective at killing the virus that causes cold sores. Plus, it smells all fresh and minty 🙂
Lemon Balm Oil
What You’ll Need:
Lemon balm works to prevent as well as treat cold sores. Lemon balm is typically considered very effective in treating cold sores as it inhibits the herpes simplex virus from penetrating the cells that cause infection.
Chamomile Oil
What You’ll Need:
Chamomile oil has antiviral properties and is also soothing to the skin, making it perfect to treat cold sores.
Thyme Oil
What You’ll Need:
Thyme oil also has very potent antiviral properties and can help zap a cold sore pretty quickly.
Other Natural Cold Sore Remedies
In addition to essential oils, try the following home remedies to soothe the symptoms of cold sores and help them to heal faster:
- Use a chapstick that contains lemon balm;
- Ice it – use an ice pack or an ice cube wrapped in a paper towel and put it directly on the cold sore for 5 minutes;
- Wear lip sunscreen to prevent your cold sores from getting worse, and also to prevent another outbreak;
- Work on stress reduction – try these breathing exercises for anxiety;
- Eating healthy and staying active is always a great way to increase your body’s defenses against viral infection
Have you used essential oils to treat a cold sore? Leave a comment below and let me know about your experience!
I have heard of the essential oils to help stop cold sores. Thanks for explaining this well.
You’re welcome!