Conventional Remedy: Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex. The virus is passed on by direct contact with infected oral secretions. After the first attack, it lives in the nerve-endings around the nose, the lips and the mouth.
From time to time, the virus becomes active again. The sores or blisters usually come back at the same place. They start as itchy, burning and painful areas which develop into fluid-filled blisters. Ulceration occurs next, and finally a scab forms.
As you have discovered, heat, sunlight and periods of stress often precipitate a new cold sore. And if a person's immune system is severely compromised, a more serious and widespread illness results.
Treatment is usually with a cream called Acylovir, which is available over the counter. The key is to start treatment as soon as the first tingling or burning is felt, before the blisters appear. The cream needs to be applied five times a day.
An oral form of Acylovir is available. This is usually used in cases of shingles, a sister virus of herpes simplex. However, in cases of severe cold sores, especially if there is a possibility of eye involvement, your doctor may treat you with a course of Acylovir tablets. There is also evidence that oral treatment started before severe sun exposure and continued during exposure will prevent reactivation of chronically occurring cold sores.
If you have a stressful lifestyle, reducing stress will almost certainly mean fewer attacks.
Dr Muiris Houston
Alternative Remedy: A carefully chosen homoeopathic remedy can give great relief from the discomfort and pain caused by cold sores and can also help to speed the healing process. As with all homoeopathic prescriptions, however, remedy selection is made from a number of aspects including personal likes and dislikes and not just the disease. Remedies can include:
Natrum muriaticum: This is the most commonly used remedy for cold sores of which symptoms include dry cracked lips, sores situated on the lips and often at the corners of the mouth, or cold sores caused by exposure to the sun, which may be worse just before the menstrual period.
A person requiring Nat-mur treatment will suffer from dryness generally and thirst, and suffer dislike of the sun. Sepia: This remedy is appropriate for periodic outbreaks of cold sores with chapped, raw or cracking skin, situated on the lower lip, and including blisters which crust and crack. Again, this remedy is often associated with complaints linked to the menstrual cycle. The person for whom Sepia is appropriate, although feeling run down and complaining of exhaustion, will feel much better after some form of strenuous exercise.
Depending upon which remedy you feel fits you best, I should suggest at the next outbreak you take one tablet of that chosen - in the 6c potency - every four hours for up to 48 hours. You should stop taking them once you experience significant improvement. Should the infection reoccur, I would suggest a visit to a homoeopath, who will select a remedy to reinforce your natural immunity to the virus.
The Irish Society of Homoeopaths can be contacted Monday-Thursday mornings, 091-565040.
Homoeopath Karen Doherty
Health questions may be e-mailed to patientquery@irish-times.ie