Ask the health experts: cold sores

They’re rarely serious, but cold sores can be painful and make you feel self-conscious – our experts explain how to beat the tingle and get the better of them

Some people definitely seem to be more prone to cold sores than others,” says Naturopath Sara Jubb. “They’re caused by the herpes simplex virus and tend to occur when we’re run down or our immune system is compromised because of illness or medication. “The single most important thing to do is to balance your gut flora, because most of your immune tissue is housed in your gut. “I would recommend you eat lots of probiotic foods such as natural yogurt, apple cider vinegar and sauerkraut. Certain vegetables such as chicory, Jerusalem artichoke, garlic, onions, leeks and asparagus contain a helpful fibre called inulin that feeds the gut bacteria and helps to boost your immune response to fight off the cold sore virus.

“Zinc and Vitamin C could also help by fighting the virus and reducing inflammation, so eat plenty of brightly coloured fruit and vegetables as well as pumpkin seeds, cashew nuts, grass-fed beef, chickpeas, chicken, turkey, eggs and salmon. “L-lysine is an amino acid that could

Cold sores are commonly found around the mouth area, but did you know they can actually show up anywhere on the body?

help to prevent the herpes virus from growing. It’s found in fish, turkey, chicken and some vegetables. If you already have a cold sore, try a supplement such as Lamberts L-Lysine 500mg tablets three times a days to shorten the attack. “Applying a small amount of Lemon Balm or Echinacea essential oil or tincture using a cotton bud to the cold sore during the day may help to ease discomfort and help it heal.”