Lysine and Cold Sores - How It Works On Your Cold Sore?

Published July 31st, 2008

by Denny Bodoh

Lysine and cold sores - an excellent remedy if used correctly. By the time you are done reading this short article, you will know the truth about using lysine for cold sores.

Lysine for cold sores is a hot topic right now. We are seeing more and more proof every day for successfully using lysine for cold sores.

How does lysine work for cold sores, fever blisters and oral herpes? What is the best way to use it?

Great questions.

However, it is important to know what actually creates the cold sore before using lysine for cold sores.

Herpes simplex virus is the root cause of all oral herpes outbreaks. Some call them cold sores or fever blisters but they are both identical oral herpes events.

90% of the world population carries this terribly contagious virus. It is most common to be exposed to it before 12 years old.

The herpes virus hides in the root area of your facial nerves and will be dormant there most of the time. This is an area located behind either ear. As long as it is hibernating, you will not have any symptoms.

If the herpes simplex virus senses a weakening of your immune system, it may become active - wanting to create new virus. Stress, both physical and mental, is usually what triggers this chain of events.

Herpes virus moves to the surface through the set of nerve fibers that it has chosen to occupy. At the surface, each virus particle picks out a nerve cell to enter.

The herpes simplex virus then compels the cell to build new virus. The cell eventually swells and explodes. Then millions of highly contagious virus particles cascade out.

The cold sore is a large ulcerated wound caused the disintegration of a huge group of surface nerve cells.

Arginine, an amino acid, is the main ingredient your cells need to create this new herpes virus. Arginine is a common protein found in many foods. Chocolate and nuts are quite rich in this protein.

Your cells will store arginine in a specific spot within the cell membrane.

Lysine is another important amino acid. Lysine can be found in high quantities in dairy and fish. Herpes viruses cannot be created with this particular protein fraction. Lysine is to cold sores as water is to fire.

Here is the good news. Arginine and lysine fight over the same storage space within your cells. The more your cells store lysine, the less arginine it can hold.

It is easy for you to drop your stored arginine levels by taking in higher quantities of lysine. This is a proven method many folks use to reduce duration or occurrences of oral herpes cold sore wounds. Lysine extinguishes the cold sore fire.

You can improve your intake of lysine by eating more vegetables, cheese, yogurt and fish. For best results, you may also have to lower your intake of arginine foods such as nuts and chocolate.

Adjusting your eating habits to control oral herpes, cold sore or fever blister attacks is not usually much fun. Most folks prefer lysine in capsules for the bulk of their treatment. This amino acid is inexpensive and you can find it anywhere.

With lysine capsules, you can change your intake based on your need. And you often do not have to give up the foods you love, such as chocolate or nuts.

Two to five grams (2000 to 5000 milligrams) is a common dosage during an oral herpes cold sore outbreak. Between sores, folks take 500 to 1000 milligrams per day as prevention maintenance.

But, this is where lysine is misunderstood.

Lysine for cold sores is awesome when taken as an internal remedy. But it has not been very effective when put directly on the sore.

There are lysine salves on the market for use as cold sore remedies. Lysine must get into the cells to work. Lysine does not absorb through the skin. You must take it orally for good results.

Lysine for cold sores is one of several really good cold sore remedies that you will find useful.

I would like to give you a lot more tips about lysine for cold sores and some additional cold sore remedies that will super-charge your efforts, but I have run out of room here.

Whether you suffer from frequent outbreaks, or each one seems to last forever, lysine is a great treatment choice. But do not quit here. There are other cold sore remedies you will discover that work equally as well as lysine for cold sores.

About the Author:

Got Cold Sores? Go to Denny Bodoh’s excellent web-site loaded with FREE information about Cold Sores. You will discover some great Cold Sore cures and tactics you can use today.