Stress, fatigue or food allergies can trigger canker sores, painful ulcerous sores, usually inside the mouth. Iron deficiency in anemia, as well as having a deficiency in vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12 or folic acid, are known to trigger attacks. Canker sores can be painful and can make eating and talking difficult.
Cold sores are caused by the herpes virus (HSV-1), which is usually transmitted by a person who has an active infection. Towels, razors and eating utensils can spread the herpes virus. Symptoms include fluid-filled blisters, or a red, painful area of the skin. Stress, menstruation, sun exposure or illness can trigger recurrences. When you have a cold sore, avoid contact with infants as well as those with weak immune systems. If you feel you have a cold sore, consult a physician for an examination and possible tests.
Self Help
If you have recurrent canker sores, evaluate food sensitivities to citrus fruits, tomatoes and other high acid level foods. Canker sores may also be caused and aggravated by smoking. Gluten-containing foods such as wheat, rye, oats, barley, and spelt are known to trigger canker sores.
To heal active ulcers and sores, take clove oil or myrrh tincture: Dab the liquid on the ulcer several times a day, making sure to hold the liquid in the mouth for as long as possible and moving the tongue to insure that the liquid remains in contact with the ulcer.
To speed healing of a canker sore, you can rinse your mouth with salt water or a mixture of one teaspoon baking soda in half a cup of warm water. Over-the-counter products such as Anbesol and Orajel can also help numb the pain of canker sores. To help relieve pain for canker sores and cold sores, apply ice or washcloths soaked in cold water over the sore to ease symptoms. Some over-the-counter medications contain a drying agent, such as alcohol, may speed the recovery of cold sores.
Western Treatments
Treatment usually isn’t necessary for minor canker sores; most go away on their own in a week or two. Severe episodes can lead to fever and swollen glands and may require antibiotics, antihistamines or corticosteroid preparations. If several canker sores are present, a doctor may prescribe a mouth rinse containing the steroid dexamethasone to reduce pain and inflammation. During the cautery of the sores, an instrument or chemical substance is used to burn, sear or destroy tissue. By chemically cauterizing canker sores, healing time may be reduced to one week.
Cold sores usually heal within two weeks; antiviral medications such as acyclovir, penciclovir, valacyclovir or famciclovir may be prescribed to help cold sores heal more quickly. Some of these products are packaged as pills to be swallowed, while others are creams to be applied to the sores. Some antiviral drugs can be administered intravenously for severe infections.
A Case in TCM Treatment
A healthy 29-year-old secretary frequently came down with canker sores, which lasted up to two weeks. Although she had signs of poor digestion, such as abdominal pain and burning as well as food intolerance, she was only interested in help for the canker sores. Traditional Chinese diagnosis found her pulse slightly fast and tongue bright red with cracks. As she was currently suffering an outbreak, it was suggested she dab clove oil on the sore three times per day and take three tablets of a formula with licorice root, White Peony root, scute root and other herbs four times a day. She telephoned the next day to say that the canker sores were gone.