With all the stress of surgery and recovery, my immune system finally gave me the middle finger… I woke up with a fever blister (cold sore).
Cold sores are annoying to say the least. Not only do they look bad and feel irritating — but they can often be heavily laced with an unwanted social stigma that affects everything from your professional life, to your sex life. No one has time for that nonsense. Life is too short.
Normally, cold sore breakouts are triggered and exacerbated by a specific event or condition, such as stress or illness. The most common reasons for cold sore breakouts are:
Illness, such as flu and/or fever.
Fatigue, exhaustion or tiredness.
Excessive levels of stress or anxiety.
A weak or compromised immune system (hai surgery, thanks).
Damage to the skin, such as a scratch, rash or burn.
Hormonal changes or imbalances, such as those that occur during menstruation.
I haven’t had a one show up in years, and was quick to start up the insanely effective treatment regimen I developed when I used to get them frequently.
No pill or supplement regimen will ‘cure’ cold sores. Discomfort will usually need to be endured for 7–14 days, but the life-cycle can be shortened with various treatments.
Today I thought I’d share my method for reducing discomfort and speeding up healing. I can’t say for certain that it will help you, but it is damn near magic for me compared to letting the natural healing cycle to do its thing.
Lysine
The herpes simplex virus (HSV) requires arginine for reproduction, and lysine competes with arginine in the reproductive process, thereby inhibiting its ability to replicate [1].
Studies are mixed with their findings, some showing benefits [2–4] and others not [5,6]. There’s obviously individual variability, and it seems that you need a dose of lysine that leads to serum levels >165 nmol/mL [2].
I take 1 gram three times per day along with zinc and vitamin C for general immune boosting properties — but lysine is the superstar here.
Olive Leaf Extract
Olive Leaf Extract contains significant quantities of the phenolic compounds oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol. Those compounds have been shown to have antimicrobial properties, antioxidant power, and the ability to support phagocytosis (the process in which immune cells engulf and destroy invading organisms) [7,8]. It basically enhances immune function and assists in the management of viral infections.
I take 750 mg of olive leaf, containing 375 mg of oleuropein, 3–4 times daily (this is the product I use).
Monolaurin
It’s been known for decades that monolaurin inactivates lipid-coated viruses like herpes simplex by binding to the lipid-protein envelope of the virus, thereby preventing it from attaching and entering host cells [9]. This is said to make infection and replication impossible.
No, you cannot just eat coconut oil; it would take 300–900 mL a day to each a therapeutic dose and you would most definitely shit yourself.
Take 3–9 grams a day for an antiviral effect (I use Lauricidin).
Light Therapy
There have been endless studies documenting wound healing effects from red and infrared light therapy [10–12]. The effect is believed to be owed to an enhanced localized immune response. For cold sores, you want a wavelength of 1072 nm [13,14].
I do not have a device specifically made for cold sores, but the infrared device I do have seems to work efficiently and it puts out dual wavelengths of 633 and 830 nm (Eneo Advanced).
These are just my personal favorite treatments and the ones I find the most effective. I'm sure there are numerous other methods that are effective as well. Prior to changing my diet towards the main focus being nutrient density —I had cold sores frequently and they were severe. No amount of natural treatments are helpful if your lifestyle is shit.
At that time I was prescribed antivirals and was made aware of how they seem like magic to those of us who have suffered from an ugly fever blister (~90% of humans in various populations are affected by one type of HSV worldwide[15]). Aciclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir are highly effective. None offer notable side effects for most people. As always — a lifestyle that supports immune health is preferential, but alas we are humans and life sometimes throws curveballs our way.
References:
1. Tomblin FA Jr, Lucas KH. Lysine for management of herpes labialis. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2001;58:298–300, 304.
2. Thein DJ, Hurt WC. Lysine as a prophylactic agent in the treatment of recurrent herpes simplex labialis. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1984;58:659–66.
3. Walsh DE, Griffith RS, Behforooz A. Subjective response to lysine in the therapy of herpes simplex. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1983;12:489–96.
4. Milman N, Scheibel J, Jessen O. Lysine prophylaxis in recurrent herpes simplex labialis: a double-blind, controlled crossover study. Acta Derm Venereol. 1980;60:85–7.
5. Simon CA, Van Melle GD, Ramelet AA. Failure of lysine in frequently recurrent herpes simplex infection. Arch Dermatol. 1985;121:167–8.
6. DiGiovanna JJ, Blank H. Failure of lysine in frequently recurrent herpes simplex infection. Treatment and prophylaxis. Arch Dermatol. 1984;120:48–51.
7. Vogel P, Kasper Machado I, Garavaglia J, Zani VT, de Souza D, Morelo Dal Bosco S. Polyphenols benefits of olive leaf (Olea europaea L) to human health. Nutr Hosp. 2014;31:1427–33.
8. El SN, Karakaya S. Olive tree (Olea europaea) leaves: potential beneficial effects on human health. Nutr Rev. 2009;67:632–8.
9. Sands J, Auperin D, Snipes W. Extreme sensitivity of enveloped viruses, including herpes simplex, to long-chain unsaturated monoglycerides and alcohols. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1979;15:67–73.
10. Hsu Y-H, Lin Y-F, Chen C-H, Chiu Y-J, Chiu H-W. Far infrared promotes wound healing through activation of Notch1 signaling. J Mol Med . 2017;95:1203–13.
11. Tsai S-R, Hamblin MR. Biological effects and medical applications of infrared radiation. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2017;170:197–207.
12. Kuffler DP. Photobiomodulation in promoting wound healing: a review. Regen Med. 2016;11:107–22.
13. Dougal G, Lee SY. Evaluation of the efficacy of low-level light therapy using 1072 nm infrared light for the treatment of herpes simplex labialis. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2013;38:713–8.
14. Hargate G. A randomised double-blind study comparing the effect of 1072-nm light against placebo for the treatment of herpes labialis. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2006;31:638–41.
15. Wald A, Corey L. Persistence in the population: epidemiology, transmission. In: Arvin A, Campadelli-Fiume G, Mocarski E, Moore PS, Roizman B, Whitley R, et al., editors. Human Herpesviruses: Biology, Therapy, and Immunoprophylaxis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2011.