Cold sores are something I have dealt with my entire life from the time I was a toddler. I missed a lot of elementary school because my outbreaks would be so bad and I doctors couldn't figure out what to do with me. I started taking Valacyclovir around age 3 and continued to take it every single day for 30 years upping to dose year after year to keep them at bay until 2 years ago when I started to target root cause. Now I am officially free of taking a medication and I rarely have an outbreak. I have had a lifelong learning what causes them and what relieves them. 

What I learned:  Cold sores can be influenced by a variety of underlying factors, making it important to look beyond just surface symptoms.

Low tissue calcium levels may contribute to more frequent outbreaks, while different forms of stress, both mental and physical, can trigger flare-ups. In addition to emotional stress, extreme temperature changes, whether hot or cold, can place added strain on the adrenal and immune systems.

Supporting the body with targeted supplements (listed below) may help strengthen immune resilience during these times.

Addressing deeper root causes, including working with a NET (Neuro Emotional Technique) practitioner (see recommended providers in The List) to process mental and emotional stress, as well as clear the body of any parasites and viruses that are contributing to outbreaks, can be a valuable step toward reducing the frequency and severity of outbreaks.