Beware of remedies for cold sores and oral herpes available in the stores and pharmacies.

Many of them are good for comfort but fall far short when it comes to preventing or getting rid of your cold sores fast.

Don't get me wrong. Cold sores are quite a pain and a cold sore treatment that gives comfort is very important. But the quicker you can get rid of it the sooner you get back your life.

The following remedies for cold sores are well documented to give you immediate relief. And they will help your cold sore to heal much faster than store-bought salves and lotions.

Don't spend another dime on miracle cures before you give these remedies for cold sores a try. They work for others and they will work for you.

TEA TREE OIL

Tea tree oil is an oil from the bark of the Australian Tea Tree. This oil was a very important antiseptic and wound dressing during World War II. It tastes and smells much like turpentine, but tea tree oil is a powerful anti-virus, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal remedy.

There are currently some studies in progress regarding tea tree oil and cold sores. You don't need the studies. All you need to know is that people have been successfully using it for cold sores for over 100 years.

Tea tree oil is not for internal use. As a topical treatment it soaks into the wound, chases away the herpes virus, sanitizes the entire cold sore area and greatly speeds healing.

During the scab stage, tea tree oil will keep the scab soft and pliable. This prevents painful cracking and the need for re-healing. Look for this essential oil in the vitamin section of bigger department stores.

Tea tree oil is inexpensive and will come in handy time and time again for a multitude of uses. A little goes a long way.

CALCIUM

Calcium is a key player in cold sore healing and prevention. Calcium is the main mineral that keeps the body alkaline. Your body is healthiest when it is slightly alkaline. The cold sore virus hates an alkaline environment.

It is almost a sure bet that if you have a cold sore, or get them frequently, your body has turned slightly acid due to stress or illness. Sufficient calcium intake every day can help prevent these cold sores by helping to reduce the acidity of your body.

Most good multi-vitamins should contain a daily dose of 1000 milligrams of calcium. If yours does not, you may need to get an additional calcium supplement.

If you are under a lot of stress, or get a lot of cold sores, a daily dosage of 2000 milligrams would be in order. With supplements, calcium is poorly absorbed. Search for a high-absorption formula.

The best form of calcium is from real food. Canned salmon (with bones in) is an excellent food source for calcium. Asparagus, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower are also excellent sources of body-ready calcium.

Usually a combination of food calcium and supplement calcium is the right choice of remedies for cold sores.

HERBAL TEA

Tea - in the form of tea bags - is one of the more powerful remedies for cold sores. Most of those who use this remedy use black tea. A growing number of folks, however, are discovering herbal tea to be even better.

You can experiment with different herbs, but it seems the most success has been with mint tea. There are many blends that contain mint. As long as the tea contains mint, you will do fine.

Make as strong a batch of this tea as you can take. Sipping on it is quite refreshing and will help attack the cold sore virus internally.

The best results come from applying the hot, wet tea bag to the cold sore area. The phyto-nutrients from the tea will stop the progression of the virus and heal the cold sore quickly.

These are just three of several great remedies for cold sores that have been well proven over time. Give them a try the next time you get a cold sore.

The more cold sore treatment options you have, the more you can combine them and fine-tune them for your personal needs. Keep searching and discover the best remedies for cold sores for a lifetime of cold sore freedom.