Lysine For Cold Sores - Correct Way To Use It For Your Cold Sore
Lysine for cold sores has been much talked about. Studies and empirical evidence seem to point to the successful use of lysine for cold sores.
But how does cold sore lysine work? And how do I use it correctly?
Excellent questions - but wait.
Before we explore using lysine for cold sores, let us first look at the causes of a cold sore event.
The herpes simplex virus is the cause of all oral herpes outbreaks. You may call them cold sores or fever blisters but they are both oral herpes blisters.
This is a very contagious virus that currently infects about 88% of the world population. Most people catch the herpes simplex virus by the time they are 12 years old.
Normally the herpes virus is latent in the nerve roots. For facial sores, the virus resides behind the ear, where the nerves meet. As long as the virus is latent, there will be no cold sore.
When the herpes simplex virus senses weakened immunity, it may become active for the purpose of creating new virus. Stress, both physical and mental, can cause this to occur.
This parasite virus will travel to the surface of your face through the set of nerve fibers that it occupies. Once at the surface, each microscopic virus particle will enter a nerve cell.
The herpes virus then takes control of its chosen cell, and forces that cell to act as a virus factory and build clones of itself. When the cell is full, the virus destroys it to spill out the new virus copies.
It is the destruction of a huge number of close-together cells that forms the open wound we call a cold sore.
The main building block your cells use to build new virus is the amino acid called arginine. This is a common protein in your diet. It is particularly high in chocolate and nuts.
Your cells have a special storage area within the cell where it stores arginine and other proteins.
Lysine is another essential amino acid (protein). It is common in fish and dairy products. New herpes virus cannot be created using lysine. It is like trying to run your car on water.
Lysine shares the arginine storage area inside your cells. The more lysine you put in storage, the less arginine will be there.
Lowering your arginine levels by increasing lysine intake is a tactic many use to stop current herpes virus activity and encourage quick healing. They find it can also prevent future cold sores by not providing the fuel the herpes virus needs.
You can increase your lysine levels with a diet rich in vegetables, fish and dairy products. Also, reducing high arginine foods such as chocolate and nuts will support this effort.
For most people, changing your diet just to fight cold sores, fever blisters or oral herpes is neither convenient nor practical. Fortunately, lysine supplements in the form of capsules or tablets are cheap and very easy to find.
By using capsules, you can quickly adjust your intake based on your need. And you do not have to eat foods you do not like or give up the chocolate and nuts you love.
Three to four grams (3000 to 4000 milligrams) is a commonly used dosage during a cold sore event. Between outbreaks, as a preventative measure, many folks take 500 to 1000 milligrams per day.
Word of caution.
Lysine for cold sores works great as an internal treatment, but not too well as an external treatment.
You will find cold sore remedies containing lysine for putting directly on the sore. This has not been shown to be very effective because the lysine cannot get into the cells this way. Save your money.
Lysine for cold sores works well for many. It will help you too, if used as mentioned above.
There is much more to share with you about lysine and other excellent cold sore remedies, but there is not enough room here. It truly would pay you to check out some of my other free articles.
If you are bothered by long and frequent cold sores, lysine for cold sores is an excellent choice. But, do not stop there because you will find other powerful cold sore remedies that will work well for you too.
Denny Bodoh knows COLD SORES! Go and check out his free articles before spending another dime on your cold sores. You will discover some nice and easy COLD SORE facts, tactics and remedies you can use right today.
Tags: cold sore, cold sore remedies, cold sores, lysine, lysine cold sores, oral herpes
