Cold Sores & Canker Sores
I had an interesting bout of cold sores and canker sores this fall and I had never had them in my life on my tongue and on the outside of my lip. I felt mortified everywhere I went. It was very discouraging to be in public and also very painful and really made it hard to eat so I ended up resorting to mostly shakes, smoothies or really bland foods. It kept my diet in check because I wasn’t tasting anything so I didn’t have an urge to put anything bad in my body!
As a girl on a mission, I went to Whole Foods hoping to find some answers! Paired with a lot of my own research, I found a few really great products that helped heal the inside and outside of my mouth in a matter of 2 days.
#1 - MOUTHWASH - not just any though!
I gargled with this 2-3 times a day for a week - even though it cleared up after a couple days. I now use this as a staple mouthwash! Now Xyli-White Mouthwash with Neem & Tea Tree
Many of you I’m sure have heard of Tea Tree oil, but if not, its known for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It's thought to calm redness, swelling, and inflammation. It may even help to prevent and reduce acne scars, leaving you with smooth, clear skin.
Neem oil is not as commonly known but has some of the same properties and is laden with natural nutrients that are extremely beneficial for those who have eczema, psoriasis and dry, itchy skin. It's antibacterial and anti-fungal properties help to heal small cuts and wounds, alleviate acne symptoms and fight skin-related fungal infections.
Together you can see they are a great combo for killing off any bacteria in or around the mouth. Using it in this form makes it tolerable and not bad because it is a mouthwash it does have a minty taste!
#2 - OIL PULLING
Another method that I have a love/hate relationship with is oil pulling where you gargle with coconut oil, swish it around and spit it out. There are actually a lot of benefits to this ancient Ayurveda practice and it involves swishing oil in your mouth to remove bacteria and promote oral hygiene.
Oil pulling is easy to do and involves just a few simple steps.
Here are the 4 simple steps to do oil pulling:
Measure one tablespoon of coconut oil
Swish it around in your mouth for 15–20 minutes, being careful not to swallow any.
Spit the oil into a trash can once you're done. Avoid spitting it into the sink or toilet, as this can cause a buildup of oil, which may lead to clogging.
Rinse your mouth well using water before eating or drinking anything
Repeat these steps a few times per week or up to three times daily. You may also want to work your way up, starting with swishing for just 5 minutes and increasing the duration until you're able to do it for a full 15–20 minutes.
- Healthline Newsletter - Written by Rachael Link, MS, RD on July 1, 2017
#3 - ZINC
I swear by these tablets and love them because they also have Elderberry - TheraZinc tablets! They are great to pop in for the first day or two of your cold and usually helps to clear things up within a day or two. Sometimes, not always the cold sores and cold may be related so its always good to have these guys on hand! You can also just pop any good ole’ zinc tablets but personally just love this brand!
#4 - JUICE
The other thing I love to do is just drink potent juice. Either making my own green juice or beet/carrot/orange juice OR I love the KOR shots. They are little bottles of potent juice and are lot a shot to the system and making it super convenient for on-the-go! You can buy them now at many stores or online. I’ve linked it above in the name to Amazon for you to check out! Otherwise, you can visit their website HERE.
That concludes my list of cold remedies! I hope you find a remedy that works for you! If you have another remedy that you’d like to share, I’d love to hear about it! Please let me know in the comments below OR find me on Instagram @AngieReneeFitLife !
Thanks for following along! Cheers to a healthy 2019!
XX
Angie