Essential Oil Remedies for Cold Sores (Fever Blisters)

Essential Oils, Health by Roxy Bentsen Faulkner

Cold sores (also known as fever blisters) are a painful and unsightly infectious blister that’s usually found on the lips or face. They are caused by the virus herpes simplex I (HSV), which can lie dormant in the body, only to flare up when your body is stressed out.

Sometime after being infected with the herpes I virus most people with develop the telltale sign – a large blister. Some people are more prone to developing cold sores than others, especially individuals who are exhausted, sick or exposed to excessively cold winds, sun or heat.

People with chronic immune system imbalances can have cold sores all the time, sometimes many at once.

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Essential Oils known to Combat Cold Sores

Simple Tea Tree Q-Tip Application

Ingredients:

Directions:

  • Place 1-2 drops of tea tree or geranium essential oil on a q-tip, tissue or damp cotton ball.
  • Dab on on sore spot. Repeat frequently until condition has cleared.

This method works best if applied as soon as you sense a cold sore coming on. Dab your skin as soon as that tingly feeling appears.

Astringent Lotion

(Good alternative to the tea tree method above)

Ingredients:

Directions:

  • Combine ingredients.
  • Apply directly to affected area frequently until condition has cleared.

NOTE: Only use this method if skin has not been broken.

Whole body Massage Lotion for Cold Sores

Ingredients:

Directions:

  • Combine ingredients in a small non-reactive bowl.
  • Massage oil onto your whole body, particularly the face and neck areas.
  • Apply once daily, or more if desired.

Essential Oil Infused Healing Lotion

Best used to bring about healing once the cold sore has started to show signs of diminishing.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  • Combine ingredients.
  • Apply frequently, but make sure to give the sore time to dry and air out between applications.

DIY  Cold Sore & Protective Lip Gloss

This DIY lip gloss will protect your lips from future outbreaks while also helping you to heal any current cold sores.

Ingredients:     round-glass

Lip gloss base:

  • 1 ounce white beeswax
  • 2 tablespoons sweet almond oil
  • 10 drops jojoba oil
  • 5 drops carrot seed

Essential oil base:

Make a synergy blend of the following ratio:

Combine essential oils together. We’ll later add it to the lip gloss base.

Directions:

  • Melt your beeswax using a double boiler
  • Once melted add almond oil, stirring as you combine.
  • Now add jojoba & carrot seed oils
  • Add 20 drops of your synergistic essential oil blend from above
  • Let cool and add mixture to a small circular glass container
  • Apply three times daily

Make sure your Cold Sore is allowed Breathing Time

You don’t necessarily want your cold sore to be dry all the time. For one, it would be hard to apply remedies if it was. But in the same vein you don’t want it to be damp, either. The virus thrives in a damp, moist environment.

So between treatment applications be sure to clean up the area and give it some time to air out. This helps the healing process.

Keep the Infection Contained

The liquid that pools inside of a cold sore is incredibly infectious and can increase the likelihood of the infection spreading. If you pop your blister or if it does on it’s own be sure to keep any of the juices from contacting other parts of your skin/face.

Rest and Relax to Recover

Stress is a big trigger for cold sore outbreaks. If you are dealing with a large outbreak right now investigate any stresses in your life. If you can cut them out, good. If you can’t, practice some relaxation techniques and try to see if you can approach events in your life that have been causes for stress a little bit differently.

Check to see if any medications you are taking are known to increase outbreaks

Some medications can increase the probability of experiencing an outbreak. For example, the mood stabilizer Lamictal is known to increase outbreaks as a common side effect. Do an internet search on current meds you are taking to check.

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10 Comments

  2. Kim Smyth

    What about break-outs in other regions besides the mouth? Should these be addressed internally (like oils ingested in water or food) instead of topically? Some people have blisters occur in genital regions, I wouldn’t think eo’s should be used there topically.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Roxy

      EEK! Offhand I would say that oils should NOT be used in that region. Aromatherapy, oil in veg caps, or therapeutic baths would be the preferred method. Let me do some research and I’ll post back! 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Kim Smyth

        That’s what I figured, but better to ask just in case! Besides, many oils have anti-viral properties, so using them internally should prevent break-outs in the first place.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Roxy

        Agreed on anti-viral and yes, better to ask. I would NEVER put undiluted oils down there. So far all of the research points to tea tree and believe it or not, peppermint. BUT, it needs to be mixed with a carrier oil although they say cream. 😝 No cream…..I recommend castor oil because it will “stick” better than even coconut oil. Apply 3 to 5 times daily. Dilution is not mentioned in these articles so I am going to my hard back books. I’m a HUGE advocate of Epsom Salts (1 cup) and baking soda (1/2 cup) and essential oils (10 drops for a small tub and 20 drops for a garden tub) for a detox bath. Sit for 20 minutes (as hot as you can stand it). Drink water while you detox in tub. QUICK cool shower afterwards to stop sweating. Drink more water. This is my GO TO for almost every ailment! Let me check my research books and I’ll check back in a bit.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Roxy

        *Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
        *Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium)

        *A little Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) or Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) at the first indication (usually a tingling) you may be able to avoid a breakout altogether.
        ——————————–
        Melissa (Melissa officinalis)
        Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
        Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha)
        Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini) Ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphoract. 1,8 — cineole)

        Mix above (see below for a few blends)with carrier oil in 10 ml roller ball. FCO and Castor Oil blend will work well.
        Add between 4 — 10 drops of essential oil.

        Blend 1 – equal drops Tea Tree and Palmarosa (up to 10 drops total)
        Blend 2 – equal drops Lavender and Tea Tree (up to 10 drops total)
        Blend 3 – 2 drops Melissa to one drop Myrrh (up to 10 drops total)
        Blend 4 – equal drops Manuka and Ranintsara (up to 10 drops total)
        ———————————-
        As you know, there is a LOT of overlap in essential oils. The roller ball method is a great way to take your “treatment” with you. Pick a blend and try it. If one does not give you results, pick another. PLEASE – Throw away roller balls after use. I do not recommend washing them although some do. They are cheap enough to be considered disposable for this type of application.
        ———————————–This is from my Essential Oils Desk Reference:
        Herpes Simplex Type 2
        Topical blend: 4 drops Dorado Azul, 2 drops Tea Tree (Alternifolia), 1 drop Ravintsara.

        Mix in Roller Ball as above.

        There is also instructions on another blend to put on tampon and insert, however it also says “if burning lasts more than 5 minutes, dilute from 20:80 to 10:90. I hope you don’t mind but I will not include that one for obvious reasons. LOL
        ——————————–
        Epsom Salt, Baking Soda and Essential Oil bath 2 x per week until you can add extra nights. Your body has to get used to it.

        You can add up to 2 cups epsom salt. (I do)

        Liked by 1 person

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