Is Peppermint Oil for Cold Sore Beneficial?

Updated on March 4th, 2020
peppermint oil for cold sores

Cold sores are medically defined as outbreaks of small, unpleasant, blisters that take many days to recover. Also known as fever blisters, the herpes simplex virus triggers them; it internally attacks the body.

As the virus dwells within a human body, kept routinely in examine by the immune system; The unfortunate part is sores are created in the outer frame of lips, areas around the oral cavity, and other dominant areas of the face making a visible facial sore.

Cold sores are not necessarily only a cosmetic issue; for a few people, it could be more than that due to the weakened immune system or any other genetic disorders.

Did You Know!

  • Scientifically peppermint is known as Mentha Piperita.
  • The Greek and Romans were the first to use peppermint in their food.

How Do You Know You Are Suffering from a Cold Sore?

  • Swollen and red gums with little, painful sores in and around the oral cavity – also known as herpes simplex gingivostomatitis
  • Sore throat and inflamed glands
  • Producing more than usual saliva
  • High body temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or higher
  • Dehydration
  • Feeling sick (nausea)
  • Headaches

Can Peppermint Oil Be Used for a Cold Sore?

Peppermint Essential Oil Benefits
Image: ShutterStock

Peppermint oil(1) has menthol, which luxuriates the skin. It moisturizes the skin and enhances the texture of oily skin and is utilized to relieve skin irritability, itchiness, and decrease skin redness.

Peppermint mixes well with numerous other essential oils incorporating eucalyptus, rosemary, lemon, marjoram, so many aromatherapists, and herbalists generally use peppermint oil in their therapeutic or aromatic mixtures.

How to Use Peppermint Oil for Cold Sores?

Take a few drops of peppermint oil in a cotton and apply it on the affected area to treat cold sores.

Research has proved that the antiviral properties that peppermint oil has given you relief from the pain that you go through while suffering from a cold sore.

It has also been recommended by various experts and researchers that peppermint oil should be bought from the best manufacturers in the industry to get the best result.

You can have the peppermint oil on cold sore the one that is available in the topic form rather than the one available in the oral form to get the best result.

[Also Read: Benefits of Peppermint Oil]

Benefits of peppermint oil

1. Reduce Muscle Pain

Muscle Pain
Image:ShutterStock

Peppermint oil acts as an activating agent for muscle pain and calms your muscles. Suitable for soothing sore back, headaches, and muscle aches. Research shows that one of the uses of peppermint oil was used to relieve pain associated with Fibromyalgia(2) and Myofascial Pain problems Syndrome.

[Also Read : Tea Tree Oil for Cold Sores]

2. Treat Joints

If you are suffering from pain or having rigidity in the joints and ligaments, immediately apply peppermint oil and lavender oil. A mixture of both will help you relax. However, these oils still provide warmth in your body.

3. Coping with Stress

Peppermint oil also helps you to cope up with stress. They eliminate stress, mental fatigue, and depression because of their soothing properties. It prevents you from headache, hypertension, and anxiety.

4. Overcoming Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Peppermint oil is the best remedy for controlling urinary tract infections (UTI). Although it has traditionally been used in medicine, scientifically continuously examined to determine the facts in these oils. Peppermint essential oil contains anti-bacterial, and this being the possibility of why this oil can treat urinary tract.

5. Help in Breathing

Girl Breathing
Image:ShutterStock

The composition of menthol in peppermint oil helps to prevent respiratory problems. Inhaling peppermint oil can relieve nasal congestion, bronchitis, asthma, coughs, and sinusitis can be overcome.

In addition to inhaling, peppermint essential oil can also rub on the chest. It would relieve respiratory and cough and cold.

[Also Read: Popular Home Remedies For Cold Sores]

Side Effects of Peppermint Oil

Here are some side effects of the use of peppermint oil:

1. Dangerous for the Digestive System

Although useful for treating indigestion, but the relaxed nature of this oil also has the potential to interfere with digestion such as heartburn. Research shows that relaxation of the sphincter muscles can cause stomach acid flow to the esophagus.

2. Skin Erupt into Rashes

MedLine Plus, a health portal reported that some people are using peppermint oil has a rash on their skin. Suggested, the use of peppermint oil was as much as 0.4 milliliters a day.

3. Using Excess Can Lead to Seizures

The surplus uses of peppermint oil in large amount may affect your health. Among these effects are seizures, muscle damage, and brain. If you experience such as seizures, nausea, lower heart rate, dizziness, shortness of breath after using peppermint oil, immediately contact medical personnel to get help

4. Dizziness and Headaches

Furthermore, interference and dangerous side effects can occur, such as dizziness and headache. This disorder is believed to be a result of excessive use of peppermint oil.

5. Harmful for Pregnant Women

Peppermint oil affects the health of pregnant women. It provides tranquility in the uterus and may cause perversion of the baby

[Also Read: Essential Oils For Treating Cold Sores]

Bottom Line

Peppermint oil is an effective home remedy to cure a cold sore. You don’t have to spend money on medicines or drugs for healing a cold sore. Just try it and see the benefits of peppermint oil for cold sore.

It may have specific side effects, but then those are negligible, and if you are looking for an apt alternative to the problem of the cold sore treatment, then nothing can be better than the peppermint oil.

FAQs

1. Can Peppermint Cause an Allergic Reaction?

Yes, it causes an allergic reaction like skin redness, swelling, nausea, and vomiting.

2. How Beneficial Is Peppermint Oil for a Cold Sore?

It is very much beneficial for cold sore, and it takes approx 1week to cure cold sore.

3. At What Amount Peppermint Oil on Cold Sore Would Be Used?

A minimal amount of peppermint oil for cold sore should be used to get relief from the problem you are going through.

 

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