- Always educate yourself about properties and contraindications of essential oils you are going to use.
- Be sure you are not allergic to any ingredient before applying it on your body. First apply a dab on your wrist for example, and wait 24 hours to see if any irritation occurs.
- Make sure you buy the pure base ingredients and choose ingredients that have the most beneficial nutrients.
- Always dilute an essential oil in a base oil unless you are sure it is safe to use it neat.
- If you can afford, spend a little more on high quality and organic oils. This will insure no unnecessary chemicals are applied to your skin.
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, and they can be both unsightly and painful. Cold sore outbreaks can occur from time to time and can be triggered by many factors, such as menstruation, stress, exposure to sun/wind or a low immune system. Lavender essential oil is one type of essential oils used for cold sores that can be effective as an alternative treatment. How to use it to treat cold sores?
Does lavender oil work on cold sores?
Using essential oils can be very effective if you use them at the very beginning. Lavender essential oil usually works well and can help bring down the pain.
Research shows that lavender has anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to treat a cold sore.
How to use lavender essential oil for cold sores?
One of the factors that can cause frequent outbreaks of cold sores is stress.
Lavender is known as a calming and relaxing herb and has frequently been used for insomnia, anxiety, depression, and natural stress relief.
One way to use lavender essential oil is to add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a warm bath. You may also add 1 – 2 cups of epsom salt to the water. Soak for 15 – 30 minutes or until the water becomes cool.
You can also apply lavender essential oil on your cold sore by following this recipe:
Ingredients
- Lavender Essential Oil
– 10 drops - Olive oil – 25 ml
Directions
- Mix essential oil and olive oil together.
- Dip a clean cotton swab in the mixture, and apply directly to the cold sore.
- Store the remaining mixture in a tightly sealed glass container.
Apply it as soon as you recognize the first signs of pain or tingling that tell you a cold sore is on the way and reapply several times a day until the sore is gone.
Caution
Please keep in mind that essential oils are not for internal use and can cause irritation when applied externally.
Alternatively, you may also use peppermint, tea tree and lemon balm essential oils. Read this post to learn how to use them to get rid of cold sores.
Have you ever tried lavender essential oil for cold sores? Feel free to leave a comment here below to share your experience!
Do most people get cold sores?
- Disclaimer
Recipe by
J. Beck
DISCLAIMER
The information provided on Optiderma.com is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified practitioner.
If you are allergic to the foods, herbs, essential oils, any remedies listed here, you must of course avoid them. For example, consuming food that you’re sensitive to will only cause more (not reduce!) inflammation.
Please consult a practitioner (such as Naturopath, Homeopath, Doctor of Chinese Medicine, Dermatologist, ...) to follow the most appropriate treatment to heal your skin. All legal mentions »
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