Quick Cold Sore Remedy

Wear a high-SPF lip gloss or balm. According to Seattle naturopath Tamara Cullen, prolonged sun exposure can trigger flare-ups.

Lay off the chocolate and nuts. Foods high in arginine disrupt the amino acid balance in your body, which can aggravate the herpes-simplex virus (HSV-1), says Cullen. Cut back as soon as a sore appears.

Have lysine handy. This amino acid inhibits the replication of HSV-1 and helps restore balance. Cullen recommends 500 to 1,500 mg a day for maintenance and 1,500 to 3,000 mg a day at the first sign of an outbreak.

Rely on licorice and lemon. Both extracts have antiviral properties and can be taken orally (as a tea or tincture) during an eruption or applied directly to the sore (in the form of ointments or extracts).