So Much For That

So in November or so, while at Nature's Fare, I noticed a bottle of L-Lysine in the sale rack. Not having heard of it, I picked it up and read that it was to prevent cold sores. So I bought it. When I got home, I looked it up on the internet and found this and a list of foods (that I can't find now) to not eat in order to avoid a cold sore. I got the cold sore virus when I was 10. For the last couple of decades, I normally get one cold sore a year - usually in February, although in the last 2 years I have got it in March. Last year I had a particularly bad cold sore that lasted for a month and spread all over the right side of my mouth - both upper and bottom lips. I made up my mind that this year I would avoid getting a cold sore. I also found this lip balm recipe and when I was making all my lip balms for Christmas I made up a cold sore remedy one as well - adding all the essential oils I had that were supposed to be good for cold sores (peppermint, tea tree, cinnamon, bergamot...).

So in January I started taking the L-Lysine and ate a lot less chocolate and peanuts.

And then, on February 10 those old familiar fish eggs appeared on the bottom left corner of my lip. The cold sore.

I can say this: I think it has gone away faster. Although it is hard to remember exactly how long they usually take to go away as I only get 1 a year. It has been 10 days now and it is looking much better. The swelling did go down very quickly. I think one of the things that has really helped this year is using the salve I made in the summer from olive oil, calendula, plantain, chamomile and bees wax. I have applied it constantly and it has kept it moist and kept the healing skin from cracking and bleeding. Tea tree oil, which I have been using for years, also seems to be the most effective at stopping it in its tracks and drying it up. At night when I go to sleep and when I go out, I use the lip balm.

Not sure if I will buy L-Lysine again but there you have it, my cold sore report. At least I have got it over with earlier than last year!