Cold sore lysine - is it the miracle cure for cold sores that many claim? Find out the truth. Get the latest research facts, right now, about cold sore lysine remedies for herpes sores.
Cold sore lysine has been much talked about as a treatment for cold sores and other herpes outbreaks. It actually does work extremely well for stopping these troublesome sores - but ONLY if you know how to use it properly.
FACT: Lysine extinguishes cold sores very much the same as water quenches a fire.
Water puts out a fire by starving it of the oxygen it needs to burn. Lysine works in a similar way - it represses cold sores by depriving the herpes virus of what it must have to create the sore.
Right now, we need to take a look at what really causes cold sores and how lysine can literally stop them in their tracks.
Normally the herpes virus is latent. It becomes active only to create new virus. It does this by moving to the surface, infecting the nerve cells there, and forcing them to build copies of the virus. When the cell is full, it is destroyed to release the new virus.
The herpes virus, type 1 or 2, creates the open, ugly ulcer on your lip or nose by burning up thousands of nerve cells during this replication process.
FACT: Arginine feeds cold sores like oxygen feeds fires.
The herpes virus is made of protein. The main protein used by the cells to create this sub-microscopic virus is the amino acid arginine.
Arginine, along with lysine, is in a group designated as essential amino acids. There are about 17 amino acids in this group the body cannot create. They must be obtained from the foods we eat. Each one is important to specific tasks within our body.
Your body cells store arginine in a special area within the cell. If forced to create new herpes virus, your cell will draw on these stores until depleted. Without arginine readily available, new virus cannot be created.
FACT: Lysine quells cold sores by keeping arginine from being available.
Your cells warehouse lysine too. And it does so in the same storage space as arginine. Since arginine and lysine compete for the same storage area, the more lysine you eat and make available to your cells, the less arginine will be available for virus creation.
Here is the best news. Lysine cannot be used to create new virus. Like water, it cannot burn. And because lysine forces arginine out of the cells, it removes the main building block for the virus.
FACT: Lysine must be taken orally to reach the cells and be absorbed.
For high levels of lysine, your best solution is increasing your intake of high cold sore lysine foods. These include fish, meat and dairy items. Real food provides the best quality and most easily used form of this nutrient.
For convenience, you can find lysine capsules at most stores that sell vitamins. These are very convenient since they reduce the need to change your diet. Combining diet with supplemental lysine would still be the best method.
Do not sucker for lysine as a topical treatment for cold sores. These remedies may have other ingredients that can help relieve these painful sores. But lysine put directly on the sore area is of little or no use.
Lysine does not absorb through the skin to prevent cold sores, nor is it any good once the sore opens up. The lysine molecule can only be absorbed by the cells through the normal nutritional pathway - the bloodstream.
YES. Lysine works great for quenching cold sores. And Lysine is great for preventing them too. But your cold sore lysine must be taken orally to do its magic.
Lysine is as safe as food. Lysine capsules usually come in 500 mg. size. 4000 mg. per day is common during an outbreak. 500 to 1000 mg. daily is the usual amount for prevention.
Consuming high lysine foods is the best source of quality lysine. Taking lysine capsules may also be necessary for you to reach the levels you need for effective cold sore lysine treatment.
by Denny Bodoh
Tags: amino acid, arginine, body cells, cure for cold sores, essential amino acids, fire water, herpes, herpes outbreaks, herpes sores, herpes virus type 1, lysine, miracle cure, nerve cells, new virus, oxygen, protein, replication, treatment for cold sores, ulcer, virus type
