Lysine and Cold Sores - Proven Cold Sore Medicine?

Published July 31st, 2008

by Denny Bodoh

Lysine and cold sores? A great remedy if you use it the right way. If you will let me, I would like to share with you the right and wrong way to use 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 cold sore lysine fix and prevent oral herpes cold sore outbreaks? What is the correct way to use it?

Great questions.

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

The primary cause of all cold sore events is the herpes simplex virus. Whether you call them cold sores, fever blisters, or oral herpes outbreaks, they are all the same thing.

An extremely contagious virus, it currently infects about 89% of humans around the world. The majority of these people catch the herpes simplex virus before 12 years of age.

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.

The herpes simplex virus, because it lives in your nerve cells, can quickly sense a change in your immunity. If so, it will activate to replicate. Stress is the primary trigger that brings on a cold sore event.

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 cold sore virus then makes the cell create new virus copies. Once the cell is filled to capacity, it bursts open and the new virus gushes out, looking for a home.

Your open cold sore is caused by this destruction of millions of adjacent 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 have a specific area within the cell for storing amino acids such as arginine.

Lysine is also an essential amino acid. Dairy and fish are good sources of lysine. New herpes virus can not be created using lysine. It is like putting water in your gas tank.

Lysine and arginine share the same storage area in your cells. The more lysine you put in storage, the less room for arginine.

Reducing your arginine supplies by increasing lysine intake is a trick many folks use to stop herpes virus activity and support quick healing. It can also prevent future cold sore events by starving the herpes virus of the fuel it needs.

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.

The trouble is, changing your diet as a way to stop cold sores, fever blisters or oral herpes is not always practical. The best bet for most people are lysine capsules or tablets. They are quite cheap and available everywhere.

Lysine capsules normally come in 500-milligram size. You can get much more lysine into your system this way than trying to eat more lysine food. And you can easily take extra lysine rather than go without chocolate.

Lysine is one of many common proteins and is quite safe. To treat a cold sore, dosages of 2000 to 4000 milligrams daily are the norm. Many people take 500 milligrams per day to help prevent future oral herpes cold sore outbreaks.

But, this is where you need to be careful.

Lysine for cold sores is a well-proven and effective treatment when taken internally. However, it has not shown much value as a topical treatment.

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.

There is much more you should know about lysine for cold sores - and other great cold sore remedies. But, there is just not enough room to cover it all in this one article.

If you are a victim of long duration or frequent cold sore events, lysine is an excellent choice. But do not stop there. There are many other great cold sore remedies. You may find some will work even better for you than lysine for cold sores.

About the Author:

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