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Lemon balm for treatment of cold sores

Preliminary studies suggest lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) may shorten the healing time of cold sores. Some people also use it to prevent outbreaks, but there is not much evidence to support how well it works.1 More research is needed.

Most cold sores heal on their own without prescription medications or complementary therapies.

Citations

  1. Murray MT, Pizzorno JE Jr (1999). Herpes simplex. In JE Pizzorno Jr, MT Murray, eds., Textbook of Natural Medicine, 2nd ed., vol. 2, pp. 1273–1276. New York: Churchill Livingstone.

Author Ralph Poore
Editor Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor Tracy Landauer
Associate Editor Pat Truman
Associate Editor Terrina Vail
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: April 07, 2006
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