They always seem to pop up before an event that requires lots of photography! Cold sores and canker sores can be very frustrating. They are high contagious and you can get them from kissing, sharing eating utensils, drinking glasses, and even towels. Typically, they pop up 20 days after exposure as a series of red and painful bumps. Some people even experience flu-like symptoms or a fever! Here are some natural healing therapies to use with cold sores and canker sores.
- It’s important to maintain a good Ph balance in your body. Adding cultured foods to your diet can help in preventing cold sores and canker sores. Such foods include yogurt, kefir, and raw sauerkraut.
- Swishing Echinacea, lemon balm, chamomile tea, aloe vera juice, and salt water have been shown to help with cold sores and canker sores.
- Avoid red meats, fried foods, and sugary foods.
- Apply ice packs frequently to stop the movement of the virus from the nerves to the skin. Follow with vitamin E oil.
- Eat a mineral-rich diet with lots of salads, raw and cooked vegetables, whole grains, baked potatoes, and steamed broccoli. Fresh carrot juice is also a great choice.
- Avoid foods that are high in arginine such as coffee, chocolate, peanut butter, nuts, and seeds. You should also try to avoid nightshade plants such as eggplant and peppers.
- Relax! Get plenty of sleep and rest.
- For chronic canker sores, switch your toothpaste to a sodium lauryl sulfate-free brand.
References
Page, Linda. (2006). Healthy Healing. Healthy Healing Inc.
