Canker sores are an irritation inside the mouth that can make eating difficult and painful. Cold sores or fever blisters are painful ulcerations caused by viruses that appear on your lip, mouth, or nose. Too much sugar and stress can all make you more prone to both. Here’s how to soothe those sores right now.
Cures from Grandma’s Kitchen
It’s easy to make an instant breath freshener. Just take 1/2 cup (120 ml) of water and add 4 drops anise, fennel, cinnamon, peppermint, or tea tree essential oil.
For cold sores, do a warm salt-water swish (1 tablespoon [18 g] of salt in 8 ounces [235 ml] of water) every hour. Though it will sting, it will help heal the cold sore more quickly. It can also help to apply ice held in a white handkerchief. Leave it on as long as you can and do it as often as possible.
Salves that contain combinations of soothing and antiviral substances including the amino acid lysine (which inhibits the virus’s replication), anti-inflammatory licorice, and antiviral melissa (aka lemon balm) essential oil can help heal cold sores. Look for these salves at a natural foods store and apply them 3 or 4 times daily.
Thrifty Cures!
Chewing on whole cinnamon bark pieces, cloves, fennel seed, or peeled cardamom pods will give your mouth an alluring flavor your lover will want to kiss. My favorite breath-freshening remedy is to suck on a whole clove for a long-lasting, inexpensive breath freshener. Even if you take a few bites of food, you can tuck the clove between your cheek and gum with your tongue and then bring it back in your mouth after eating. You can also eat a sprig of parsley or a small piece of lemon peel to freshen the breath. Apples and celery are natural breath fresheners too. Eat them liberally!
You can also apply aloe vera gel, a pinch of baking soda, apple cider vinegar, calendula salve, goldenseal powder, or tea tree oil to help combat bacteria.
Finally, take probiotics (1 capsule three times daily) and lysine (550 mg 3 times daily) to boost immunity when feeling vulnerable. You can also find lysine in flounder, nutritional yeast, and potatoes.
This Home Remedies for Canker Sores, Cold Sores or Fever Blisters article is taken from :
The Country Almanac of Home Remedies - Brigitte Mars
