Question:
My mom told me something she insists is a sure fire cure for cold sores. She
told me to rub a wet (unlit) match head on the sore four times a day and it
will be gone in just a couple days. Has anyone ever heard of this or tried it?
Answer:
As you might imagine, there are a number of folk remedies connected to
HSV such as baking soda, buttermilk, Clorox bleach, acetone, and
Listerine. I would count the match idea as one of them.
However, there are some topical remedies for cold sores that are
helpful such as Blistex which contains allatontin, a dervivative of
comfrey, that adds moisture and camphor, which is a slight drying
agent.
There are others you can find in the health food store that contain
such ingredients as lysine, licorice, tea tree oil, melissa extract and
homeopathics.
