How Lysine Works On Your Cold Sore

Lysine and cold sores are enemies. Read this discussion now. You will finally know what works and what does not when using lysine for cold sores.

Lysine for cold sores is much talked about these days. The truth is - laboratory and empirical data strongly support the use of lysine for cold sores.

How does lysine perform for cold sores, fever blisters and oral herpes? What is the best way to use it?

These are very good questions.

However, it is important to know what actually creates the cold sore before using lysine for cold sores.

Herpes simplex virus is the root cause of all oral herpes outbreaks. Some call them cold sores or fever blisters but they are both indistinguishable oral herpes events.

An extremely contagious virus, it currently infects about 89% of humans around the world. The majority of these people catch the herpes simplex virus before 12 years of age.

The herpes virus hides in the root area of your facial nerves and will be dormant there much of the time. This is an area located behind either ear. As long as it is hibernating, you will not have any symptoms.

If the herpes simplex virus senses a weakening of your immune system, it may become active - wanting to create new virus. Stress, both physical and mental, is usually what triggers this chain of events.

The herpes cold sore virus wiggles its way to the surface along the nerve fibers. Once there, each virus chooses a nerve cell, enters it and takes control.

The herpes simplex virus then compels the cell to build new virus. The cell naturally swells and explodes. Then millions of highly contagious virus particles gush out.

The gaping cold sore ulcer is the result of millions of destroyed cells.

Arginine, an amino acid, is the main ingredient your cells need to create this new herpes virus. Arginine is a common protein found in many foods. Chocolate and nuts are quite rich in this protein.

Your cells will accumulate arginine in a specific spot within the cell membrane.

Lysine is also an essential amino acid. Dairy and fish are good sources of lysine. New herpes virus cannot be created using lysine. It is like putting water in your gas tank.

Lysine is stored in the same area as arginine in your cells. And, the more lysine your cells put away, the less room it has for arginine.

Reducing your arginine supplies by increasing lysine intake is a trick many folks use to stop herpes virus activity and support quick healing. It can also prevent future cold sore events by starving the herpes virus of the fuel it needs.

You can increase your lysine levels with a diet rich in vegetables, fish and dairy products. Also, not eating high arginine foods, such as chocolate and nuts, will help reduce your arginine levels.

But, modifying your way of eating for the sake of fighting cold sore, fever blister or oral herpes outbreaks is usually not convenient or fun. I prefer lysine supplements. They are easy to find, quite cheap and convenient.

Lysine capsules normally come in 500-milligram size. You can get much more lysine into your system this way than trying to eat more lysine food. And you can easily take extra lysine rather than go without chocolate.

Lysine is one of many common proteins and is quite safe. To treat a cold sore, dosages of 2000 to 4000 milligrams daily are the norm. Many people take 500 milligrams per day to help prevent future oral herpes cold sore outbreaks.

But, this is where you need to be careful.

Lysine for cold sores is powerful when used as an internal treatment. But it does not work very well as a topical treatment.

I advise this because you will find cold sore remedies at the store that contain lysine. These are designed to put directly on the sore. The lysine does not absorb and get into the cells this way. Hold back your money.

Lysine for cold sores is one of the better cold sore remedies for you, if used as outlined above.

There is much more you should know about lysine for cold sores - and other great cold sore remedies. But, there is just not enough room to cover it all in this one article.

If you are a victim of long term or frequent herpes simplex virus cold sores outbreaks, lysine is an excellent choice. But do not stop there. There are many other great cold sore remedies. You may find some will work even better for you than lysine and cold sores. Check out other great home remedies for cold sores.