Cold sores are caused by the infection of the body's nervous system by the herpes simplex virus. The virus enters the body, attaches itself the nervous system and remains dormant in the ganglia of the infected area. The virus then remains in the body for life, and can cause numerous outbreaks each year if preventative treatment is not used.
What Causes A Cold Sore Outbreak?
There are numerous reasons the cold sore virus might reactivate once dormant in the body, but common reasons are stress; exposure to sunlight; weakening of the immune system; and damage to the skin of the affected area, such as repeated blowing of the nose when suffering from a cold.
How to Treat a Cold Sore
Outbreaks can be prevented, or the chances of an outbreak can be severely reduced; and healing time for existing outbreaks can be shortened by using two complementing dietary supplements. Zinc and Lysine work together to strengthen the body's immune system and help the body heal after being damaged.
What is Lysine?
Lysine is an essential amino acid that is found in significant amounts in eggs, lentils, red meat, spinach and many kinds of bean. It is a necessary component in the production of proteins and antibodies, making it an essential part of the immune system.
In clinical studies, lysine has been found to significantly reduce the healing time and occurrence rate of cold sores when ingested in large enough doses.
Why the Body Needs Zinc
Zinc is a micronutrient that humans need to maintain a healthy immune system, amongst many other things. It also increases the body's ability to heal injuries quickly, which makes it doubly useful in fighting the effects of the herpes simplex virus.
How Much to Take
Although the amount of each supplement to take will vary depending on body mass, studies have shown that ingesting less than 1000mg of lysine per day gives no benefit, and that the increased benefit of more lysine disappears after 8000mg are taken per day.
It is therefore recommended that between 1000 and 8000mg be taken daily, with the actual amount to ingest being dependent on body mass. If in doubt, start with a low dose and work upward if required.
As zinc is a micronutrient found in many foodstuffs, only a small amount is required as a supplement. In the EU, the recommended daily allowance of Zinc for an adult is 15mg and studies have shown that between 100 and 300mg of zinc a day is enough to suppress the body's ability to absorb copper. The recommended daily allowance should therefore be stuck to closely.
It is possible to prevent cold sores and reduce the healing time of existing outbreaks. Taking zinc and lysine supplements ensures the body has the essential ingredients for developing and maintaining a healthy immune system, as well as healing after being damaged. As a result of taking these supplements, the chances of a cold sore breaking out are severely reduced and any that do occur will not last as long.
References
- Griffith RS et al, A Multicentered Study of Lysine Therapy in Herpes simplex Infection, Dermatologica, 1978;156:257-267
- McCune MA et al, Treatment of recurrent herpes simplex infections with L-lysine monohydrochloride, Cutis, 1984 Oct;34(4):366-73
- National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society Dingwall Branch, "Vitamins and Minerals"
Zoe Kirk-Robinson - Zoë Kirk-Robinson is a freelance writer/artist specialising in legal writing, internet technology and creative writing. She holds a ...
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