Cold Sores, and How Lysine Can Help

Cold sores are small, painful, red or white-grey sores that form in the mouth. They are caused by a form of the herpes virus, type I herpes. Most people contract the type I herpes virus as children from contact with other children or adults. It is important to note that the type I herpes virus is not transmitted through sexual contact and does not cause genital herpes. Cold sore outbreaks can be caused by dietary deficiencies, psychological stress, a compromised immune system or other physical stresses on your body. There are many different treatments for cold sores, all with varying degrees of success. One of the most helpful home remedies for treating cold sores is to increase the amount of lysine in your diet.
 
Lysine is an essential amino acid that the human body cannot create on its own. It is a part of many functions performed by the body, including calcium absorption, protein synthesis, and tissue maintenance. Because Lysine is essential to healthy tissue it is very helpful in the treatment of cold sores. There is medical evidence suggesting that consuming a healthy level of lysine each day will actually prevent the outbreak of new cold sores and shorten the duration of existing cold sores. It is also reported that lysine can reduce the pain associated with existing cold sore outbreaks.
 
There is a small amount of lysine in many common foods including, meats, beans and cheeses, but to treat cold sores a higher dosage of the amino acid is ideal. Supplements are available over the counter in both pills and topical creams.
 
If you suffer from regular cold sores taking as little as 300-600mg of lysine each day can help reduce the frequency of your outbreaks. When suffering from a cold sore outbreak a dosage between 3,000-5,000mg is recommended. When embarking on a lysine regimen for your cold sores make sure to do what works best for you. There are no known adverse interactions between lysine and other over-the-counter or conventionally prescribed medications. As with vitamin C, your body is capable of easily disposing of any extra lysine, so it is not possible to add too much lysine to your diet.