Compress
Lemon balm compress
This is the emergency version. If you do not have the lip balm ready, and it starts to prickle, you can make a compress in half an hour.
Lemon balm is one of the best-studied plants for cold sores, and timing is everything. Applied at the very first prickle, the outbreak can be smaller and shorter. Applied once the blister has broken, it still helps, but less.
So do not wait and see. Put the kettle on.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp dried lemon balm leaves
- 200 ml boiling water
- Clean pieces of cotton or cotton pads
Equipment
- Bowl
- Strainer
- Clean cotton pads or cotton
Method
- 1
Pour boiling water over 2 tbsp dried lemon balm leaves, steep 10 minutes, strain and cool.
- 2
Dip a clean piece of cotton in the tea and place on the area 3-4 times daily.
Dosage
Apply the cooled compress for 5-10 minutes, 3-4 times daily.
Use a fresh piece of cotton each time and throw it away afterwards. Never dip the same piece into the tea twice.
Shelf life
Use the tea the same day. It keeps 1 day refrigerated.
Safety
A fresh piece of cotton every time, and never dip a used piece back into the tea. Herpes is contagious, and you can move the virus around or pass it on.
Do not touch your eyes after touching the sore. Herpes in the eye is serious and needs a doctor immediately.
Wash your hands before and after. Do not share towels, lipstick or glasses while the outbreak lasts.
Do not kiss infants when you have a cold sore. Herpes in newborns can become serious.
A first-ever outbreak, an outbreak near the eye, high fever, or one lasting longer than two weeks belongs with a doctor. Antiviral medication exists and works, especially started early.
How the herbs work
Lemon balm contains rosmarinic acid and other polyphenols, which stop the herpes virus binding to cells and entering them. The effect has been studied with fewer and shorter outbreaks as the result.
The cold of the compress eases the burning sensation and draws the swelling in.
Timing matters more here than in almost any other recipe in the apothecary. The virus multiplies fastest in the first hours, and that is where the plant can make a difference.
The content here is general knowledge and folk herbal lore, not medical treatment. In illness, pregnancy, breastfeeding or alongside medication: always talk to your doctor first.