There are many cold sore remedies that can help you overcome the painful blisters caused by the herpes virus. Not only are these remedies for cold sores easily accessible, but also provides fast and effective relief from the discomfort.

Aloe Vera: Try rubbing aloe vera juice on the affected area. You need to keep in mind that this home remedy is especially effective if used at the first sign of a cold sore and is effective in keeping the sore from blossoming.

Petroleum Jelly: Vaseline or other lip balms can help ease cracking and dryness. They soften the scabs on the sores, thus providing relief from pain or bleeding.

Lysine: Lysine inhibits the virus's ability to replicate itself and inhibits the spread of the herpes simplex virus. You can take Lysine as soon as you feel the tingle of a cold sore coming on by either in-taking lysine supplements or using a lysine ointment. Use the lysine ointment three times a day to prevent the cold sore from developing.

Cornstarch: One of the easy cold sore home remedies is the use of cornstarch. Applying cornstarch paste on the affected area can provide relief from the painful cold sores and speed up the healing process.

Ice: A simple remedy for easing the pain of the cold sore is to rub an ice cube on it for a few minutes, especially before its onset. Applying ice every day for around ten minutes to an hour on the cold sores can prevent the movement of the virus from the nerve to the skin.

Lemon Balm: Lemon balm uses include antiviral properties that are not only known to reduce the painful swelling and other symptoms to speed up the healing process, but are also helpful in preventing the repeated occurrences of these blisters.

Camphor: To numb the pain of the cold sores you can try mixing some spirits of camphor and dabbing it on the painful sore with a cotton ball. Other numbing agents for cold sores include tetracaine, benzocaine, lidocaine, benzyl alcohol and phenol.

Herbs: Certain herbs are effective in treating cold sores. The herb chamomile is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and is an excellent treatment for sores of the mucus membrane.

Tea: Steep an ordinary tea bag in boiling water for a few minutes and let it cool a bit. Then apply these warm tea bags to the lesions for 30 minutes. The antiviral properties of the tannic acid present in the tea will allow the sores to crust over and heal completely in a few days.

Grapefruit Seed Extract: Mix a few drops of grapefruit seed extract with aloe vera or olive oil, and dab it on to the sore.

Zinc: Using zinc either topically or consuming zinc tablets are reported to reduce the duration of cold sores and speed healing. Zinc lozenges can boost the immune system and may also help treat cold sores.

OTC Medications: These are primarily palliative in nature and are meant to provide relief from the symptoms of cold sores. For example, products containing the docosanol compound have an inhibitory effect on the herpes virus and help to limit both the duration and severity of cold sores.