Alernative treatments for canker and cold sores.

Hindsfeet

I'm looking for alternative treatments (that works) for complex canker and herpie cold sores. Thanks.

Grimbol

I was recommended L-Lysine supplements to help prevent them. I dont know much that helps once you have them though!

theBCavenger

Lysine does work well.

Hindsfeet

I take super lyzine (has several immune combinations added) everyday. Sometimes, I take several lyzines a day! I just started using coconut oil, and bought kanka which helps the canker sores. My oncologist believes the canker sores to be a herpie virus. I'm not sure. I haven't had problems with cold sores since my youth. I've had a few of late. I have complex canker sores that are very large, and also on my tongue. It is very painful and I'm frustrated as it's sooo painful. I began having the outbreak a little over 2 yrs back after taking a few rounds of antibiotics. I have had breaks from mouth sores, but since the mastectomy and herceptin the mouth sores have been constant, sometimes 3 or 4 at a time.

I've read that mouth sores are due to low immunity. Everytime I have surgery, with the antibiotics my sores worsen. Right now, I have small ones in my mouth, but fighting a small cold sore under my nose. It itchs and hurts like crazy. I've read of quick cures on the Internet, but not sure of it all what really works.

My oncologist prescriped acycloir. I tried it for a few days and it didn't seem to make a differenece except pain around kidneys and extremely tired. After I quit it, I came down with the first severe flu in years. I almost thought I was immune to the flu.

I think if I could somehow build my immune system, which seems to be an impossibility, the mouth sores would go away.

I wonder how those on chemo who get mouth sores do it? How do they tolerate it?

chrissyb

Eve, I don't usually post on these threads but do like to read and lurk as the information gleaned from here is invaluable.  I suffer from both the mouth sores and cold sores and find that for the mouth sores it is best to keep the mouth extremely clean and the best way to do that is often rinse with a bicarb soda and water mouth rinse as well as brushing your teeth often.  Just plain salt in water also works......hurts like hell while you are doing it but gives relief.

As for the cold sores, I use tee tree oil applied as soon as I feel the tingling.  Again applying it often is the key.  The tee tree oil keeps the skin soft so it won't crack and bleed while helping to dry the sore out.  Just two of the things that help me, hope they help you.

Love n hugs.   Chrissy 

Chantal10

I get horrible, huge cankers from the stress of surgeries. My surgeon said they are not the herpes virus. my father in law bought me a bottle of l-lysine, it's only 5 bucks for a giant bottle, and I took 1 every 6 hours during outbreak. Now I take 1 daily. I haven't see a canker since March. Those things hurt like heck!

leggo

If it's external, Vicks Vapor Rub works great. If you can catch it when it's starting to tingle, it won't ulcerate and if it already has, it's usually gone by the third or fourth day. I love the stuff; it's good for so many things.

MiniMacsMom

When i had these a few weeks ago they gave me an ulcer mouth wash called acyclovir first... that didnt help.it more of a preventative. The baking soda and magoc mouth wash didnt help. Caramax ulcer medicine helped some. It coated the ulcers so tjat other things didnt irritate them but honestly 2 neupogen shots helped the most. I was neutropenic we my levels at 7 percent and after the neupogen shots they were gone in like 3 days.

rosemary-b

Ouch, those things are so painful. I use peroxide to rinse my mouth out . It helps to prevent and treat sores in the mouth. My DH gets cold sores and lysine or carmex seem to help him.

SusanMichaelson

I have a couple of good recommendations for both cold sores and canker sores. First, let me say I just registered on this site to help support my sister-in-law who was recently diagnosed with stage 2 IDC.  I've had cold sores since childhood and canker sores almost as long, and I've come to believe what evebarry's oncologist said, that canker sores is a herpes infection, just like a cold sore. But I believe there's an exception, canker sores caused by eating acidic food, which is a food allergy reaction.  Those of you successfully taking Lysine for your canker sores are benefiting from lysine's anti-viral properties that work for cold sores as well.  The two remedies I've been using for years are Cold Sores Begone and Canker Sores Begone. They both contain herbs known for their anti-viral properties, such as lemon balm.  Cold Sores Begone prevents a cold sore from materializing by applying it when you feel the first symptom.  I used to occasionally wake up with a cold sore so I experimented and have prevented that from happening by routinely applying it every night before bed.  Canker sores caused by any other reason  than acidic food heal, for me, in a day or two.  What's really should be exciting for you to know that over the years, I've either given a bottle to, or recommended it, to a handful people undergoing chemo or radiation who had very large cankers on their tongue and all complained it was very painful.  They all reported back to me that after applying the canker sore remedy, it was healed by the next day.  That's quite dramatic, and I don't really understand why its so effective, but I'm very glad that it is, especially for this group of people. I've had difficulty finding them at Whole Foods Market lately, so I order directly from the company's websites, www.coldsoresbegone.com and www.cankersoresbegone.com.  They're each $10.99 and the shipping is free.

I also want to mention another alternative healing product I'm just now learning about but haven't yet tried. It's called bentonite clay.  I know it sounds strange but it acts like a magnet and draws the toxins out of your body.  It's at least worth reading about and helps most conditions besides cancer.  http://www.aboutclay.com/info/history_of_clay.htm

LouLou40

As soon as I feel or notice a cold sore developing I apply ice directly onto the sore and most of the time it never blisters. I have tried all the creams and I swear that ice works better than anything. I apply a cube wrapped in a tissue until it melts several times the first day which stops it in the very early stage, also good pain relief.

sweetbean

I will chime in about Lysine.  If you have a cold sore from the herpes virus, take 5000 mgs of lysine on an empty stomach.  (Makes it much more effective).  If you are just trying to prevent them, take 2000 mgs of lysine.  I take it first thing in the morning and right before bed (1000mg).

leggo

Not reported by the community? What's up? She's selling something....even provided the link. Better hurry. Funny how you pick and choose what YOU'LL allow.

Go for it....report me. It's so easy, five easy steps.

sweetbean

Gracie, huh?  Why would we report you?

 I'm not a fan of reporting anyone or anything, unless it is super offensive or porn.  I think we should allow posts to stand and let people make their own decisions.  I don't need to be protected from other posters who are selling something - I'm a grown-up and perfectly capable of drawing my own conclusions. 

leggo

Not you sweetbean. I'm speaking to the chick with the happy "report this post" trigger finger, who likes to remove any evidence of alternative treatments she doesn't deem worthy. Shocked that she hasn't had the post a few up removed yet. Seems she's selective with her policing.

thenewme

Gracie, I wonder if you'd mind sharing your thoughts on why, exactly, you think there's a single "chick with a happy trigger finger."   I think your insinuations and indictments may be quite off target. 

Re: SusanMichaelson's spammy post above, I personally won't be reporting it, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if it does get deleted, since it's a clear violation of BCO's no advertising policy.  Why would you consider that to be some kind of big conspiracy or single-handed "Trigger Chick" attack?   

Personally, I'd prefer to let it stand and encourage an honest and fact-based discussion about the quackery and woo she's shilling for, but I'll save my breath since I'm guessing it will be deleted anyway.  Unfortunately, I don't get to make the rules here.

ETA- EveBarry, I hate canker sores too.  I've had some luck with lysine and an over-the-counter product called  "Rincinol PRN," but your doctor should definitely culture yours to determine the cause and treatment.

leggo

Well, a nice young lady came on yesterday (or the day before) don't remember exactly, to inform those of us interested in alternatives about a certain product. She did not provide a link, just invited research by those who may be interested. It was removed. The post about black salve was removed. It too, did not provide a link for purchase. I sense that when a link is provided for where to purchase the item it strikes a chord with some, as it does for me. Neither of these posts did that. Not to mention the rudeness that follows some of these posts by people clearly not interested in alternative treatments. I don't think I'm that off target. I'll explain without naming names of what is clearly going on with comments made such as these.

- A thread started that read DO NOT READ _______'S POSTS. Thank goodness the mods removed it. Besides being incredibly rude, obnoxious and arrogant, it was none of this member's beeswax who's posts I want to read.

- A comment made to a very sick women that "she should get over herself and take a coffee enema".

- The complete arrogance of a member that think she's a doctor, who has mentioned numerous times what she does for a living, (not in the medical field) making it her business to de-bunk anything posted in the alternative forum, not in a nice way, but a disgusting sarcastic way to make the OP feel stupid. You know, because she knows EVERYTHING.

Only a few examples. If you think this is right and just, fine. I don't. I think it's self-serving, rude, arrogant and just put there to stir sh*t up. These women can use the excuse of helping newbies all they want. It doesn't wash with me. Particularly in the first instance. Anyone who would actually start a thread advising members to avoid someone's posts, in big capital letters, without regard for anyone else, makes my stomach turn.

Like sweetbean so eloquently said above: "I don't need to be protected from other posters who are selling something - I'm a grown-up and perfectly capable of drawing my own conclusions". Unfortunately, these women think they're smarter than everyone else. A personality trait that offends me. I don't stand for it in real life and I'm tired of keeping my mouth shut here to avoid conflict. If it wasn't for an alternative treatment (that got removed, BTW), I seriously doubt I would still be here, so yes, I'm sensitive about the issue.

For what it's worth, these women rarely come to this forum to contribute....just blow in once in a blue moon to cause havoc. I have a personal dislike for people like that. I just know they're sitting back laughing their asses off at the sh*t-storm they've created.

If disagreements start because of a certain alternative treatment, that's fine with me. I don't want to waste my time on woo either...but that's another story.

That you feel that if you spoke your mind, you would be deleted as you mentioned in your post, that's exactly what I'm talking about. You should be allowed to, without fear of being reported or banned or whatever. To be honest, it's not just the alternative forum either. There were some whammies made on other forums too, that were blatantly made just to stir the pot. Caught me on a bad day, not caring whether I get reported, banned, whatever. I've had my say and it feels good to take a load off.

leggo

...and eveberry, my apologies for hi-jacking your thread. Maybe I should delete them...I mean other than my Vick's post 'cos it really does work for me! I'll mull it over.

cp418

Also, search on "Cocount Oil" regarding cold sores.  Several coconut oil articles mentioned it's anti-viral effect against cold sores. 

thenewme

Hi Gracie, thanks for explaining.  I think I've missed the posts you mentioned but I will say that I agree with most of what you say.  I agree that posts should be left undeleted.  I agree that we're all intelligent grownups, capable of making our own choices, but I also think we need good, reliable information to help us make those critical choices. 

I don't have a problem with whats-her-name posting her "helpful information," either with or without a website link.  But I also think it's fair and right that someone else should have the freedom to disagree with it, correct misinformation, or even to call a quack a quack.  

I appreciate those who are willing to get it all "out on the table," so to speak, with the common goal of supporting breast cancer patients.   

leggo

Thanks for your understanding. I agree with you, completely. Having said that, there's a nice way to do disagree; without sarcasm, and without making somebody feel stupid or insignificant and small. I am who I am and reached my boiling point with these women. I despise bullies in every aspect of life...even children. So again, thank you for letting me vent. I think I'm over it. I should really take my own advice sometimes and take a break from all the madness, but even contributing a little gives me something to break up my day. Peace.

sweetbean

Yes, I agree with gracie.  I don't mind when people post different opinions about treatment, but I do mind when they use a sarcastic, condescending tone.   That's not only helpful, it's just not nice.  Do they treat people in their everyday life like that?  I hope not!

I definitely don't really buy the whole "I'm-just-trying-to-protect-the-scared-newbie" argument.  I was a scared newbie once - I remember EXACTLY what it was like.  I was HEAVILY pressured to go purely alternative and I researched it pretty thoroughly.  In the end, I couldn't find enough evidence that it was effective for a broad spectrum of patients.  Sure, one treatment might work for one person, but there was no guarantee that I would be that one person.  On the other hand, I found lots of people who had successfully done conventional treatment.  On the third hand (I apparently have three hands,) I also found that people who did CAM therapies along with their conventional treatment had fewer side effects and better quality of life.  I figured all of this out when I was still scared out of my head and bursting into tears 40 times a day.  I didn't need "protection" then and I don't need it now.

We should let posts stand and let people make their own decisions.  

Hindsfeet

Thanks so much for your help.

I am surprised this thread became somewhat controversal. I just wanted help with mouth sores, but agree threads that promote a product should be left alone, not deleted. I am so glad for the person who suggested coldsorebegone. I'm definately going to check it out. I'm also going to try a few other things mentioned. I'm desperate!

Right now for the first time in months, I don't have a cold or canker sore.  What a blessing to be able to eat without pain...or the dread of eating.

No one so far has talked about low immuity being one of the reasons for the outbreaks or other causes. I know that cold sore viruses are more likely to happen when our immune system is somewhat compromised. It is of my opinion that one of the reasons I'm suffering from the sores is yeast overgrowth, low immunity that causes viruses outbreaks, antibiotics, and stress.  I don't think I'm going to have complete victory over mouth sore problems until I deal with the root problems.

I also want to say, I'm still unsure if my problem is due to virus because in the past when I ate acid foods such as tomatoes, nuts or chocolate I was more likely to have a canker sore...but not huge ones, or 3 or 4 at a time.

mimikitty

Hmmm...I checked back into this thread and noticed that I believe my post about watermelon frost was deleted.  From the above posts, it appears it was thought I might have been promoting my product or something.  Just wanted to say it's not my product.  It's just something I've used that helped me. Intrepretations of Chinese herbal remedies are confusing and many times get lost in translation when converting them to english.  That's why I decided to google it and provide a link to a picture of the bottle that I use.  I believe there are several different brands out there and it probably doesn't matter which one you buy.  I've used the yellow bottle mostly because that is what was available at my local herb shop.  For what it's worth, I was just trying to help out. 

Another remedy I use for canker sores is fresh squeezed organic orange juice or grapefruit juice in the morning and the evening. Can't be store-bought, must be drank as fresh as possible.

SusanMichaelson

I believe I'm one of the alleged spammers referred to, mentioning Cold Sores Begone and Betonite Clay. Reading back over what I wrote, It DOES sound kinda salesy.  Nope, just have always been an avid student of alternative ways to alleviate suffering, have amassed a lot of info over the years, and still learning about, and trying new things, at least new to me.  About the Betonite clay link, I provided it just for information because its regarded as the best site for clay information, I'm not even sure if they sell clay, it's not where I got mine. Why I thought it might be interesting to this group is clay's ability to pull the toxins like a magnet (i.e from chemo, radiation, etc) from the body. I think in the future, I won't be making any recommendations or sharing resources. I signed up here as a source of support for my sister in law and that's how I'll participate in the group.

SpecialK

There is some evidence that toothpastes containing sodium lauryl sulfate can cause/aggravate canker sores.  I switched to a brand that does not contain this ingredient and noticed a fairly dramatic decrease in the number of canker sores I get.  I have been prone to them all my life - and definitely will get them if I eat acidic foods.

flannelette

Hm - sodium lauryl sulfate rang a bell. In toothpaste? yikes, I'd recently printed out the dity dozen ingredients to avoid in cosmetics according to Dr. David Suzuki - and it says this: In products that foam such as shampoo. cleansers, bubble bath. SLES can be contaminated with 1,4-diocane, which may cause cancer. SLS may damage liver. Harmful to fish and other wildlife.

from www.DavidSuzuki.org. guess I'd better be reading the toothpaste ingredients!

I've discovered that a drop of geranium essential oil on the cold sore (wouldn't put it on a canker sore as tastes awful and may not be good to ingest ) several times a day gets rid of it in a day or 2. Geranium essential oil has anti-viral properties. it is also lovely to clean with -I mean the house, kitchen, anything greasy - drop a few drops on a cloth and go!

to boost immmunity, which i keep saying i will do but never really get down to, I use astragalus tincture which you may buy but i make my own - it is well reasearched i believe. I use it when a cold threatens and it seems to work. I often take lots of vitamin C at the same time, and several times a day for several days.

Hindsfeet

What is astragalus? I'm off work most of this week so I have time to look for it at a local health store. Tooth paste...my naturalpath said too that sodium laurl sulfate aggrevates canker sores. There are toothpaste at my local health store that sells toothpaste without it. It cost a little more, but well worth it. I was without a canker sore for a week...heaven! But, one day after herceptin another one is coming on.

flannelette

Eveberry - astragalus - it's a herb that i believe originates in the far east and you generally use the root. Lot of info on it on the net, I'd think. well-known for helping the immune ssystem and some countries apparently use it routinely during chemo. check out sites under Mayo clinic and other big research centres.

A tincture is usually based in alccohol which is very high proof - like vodka. the dried  astragalus root is grated and it steeps in a certain proportion in vodka fo a certain # of weks or months. the medicinal properties are transferred into the vodka where they keep for a very long time. You usually use it several times a day, so many drops at a time in a bit of plain water (comes in small brown bottles with a dropper). I could not use it during chemo as my taste buds were much like a baby's and everything was repellant including water and astragalus especially. I like to have something like a piece of orange or orange juice chaser right after, but these days it doesn't taste that bad. it's often found in mixes that have labels like "deep immune" and so on.

I'm NOT trying to sell anything but - to get a story on what tinctures are and what ones are good for immune enhancing check out herbalist sources like Susan Weed or St. Francis Herb Farm in combermere Ontario - they both have long-standing integrity, and websites. also mayo, WEb Md, etc. hey think I'll go have some!

for immune boosting check out about the various mushrooms - reishi, etc, from the east, and possibly some originate in N. america. when I'm feeling rich, i do buy a mushroom extract combo from a firm called Niken, originally from japan i believe. and I do an astragalus, mushroom (capsule form) vitamin c combo to get rid of colds.

if you try geranium essential oil for a cold sore, put some on a q-tip to keep it on the cold sore and not into your mouth as it tastes awful and one shouldn't ingest essential oils unless one really knows a lot about them.

Anonymous

evebarry - I was told by my naturpathic doc that often a cold sore ( lips) is triggered by STRESS, or an imbalance of 'largentine (sp?) and lysine.  TOo much 'largentine' ( nuts, brown rice, chocolate) gives me a cold sore really quickly.  As sweetbean said, taking LYSINE seems to stop it.  I also use carmex all the time, it helps a lot.

Hindsfeet

My dentist gave me a prescription of steroid (topical) to put on the cankersore. It works great! The huge one that I had for a few days was gone in a few days. My cancer sores are large and can last up to weeks to heal.