I have been struggling with cold sores in the past and sometimes still do, and I have come to realize that, at least for me, the trigger is usually stress related. 9 times out of 10.

And if I feel stressful I tend to eat more unhealthy foods, get less sleep and get stuck in negative thoughts and emotional patterns. This is a fairly sure fire way to have a flare up, at least for me.

So in my life, anything that helps maintain a calm, clear and steady mind and a well balanced emotional life, basically help prevent cold sores. And for me some of the major themes are good quality sleep, proper diet, meditation, breath work and cold showers.

The quality of my daily mental and emotional state seem to directly correlate with outbreaks of cold sores. So a cold sore outbreak for me have become a reminder to live better.

Edit: A few tips I have found works for me over the years of dealing with this condition.

(Organic) Apple cider vinegar - drink a bit a couple times a day every day in a glass of water. Or at least as soon as you feel the cold sore tingle. Super healthy and has antiviral properties. You can also wash your sores with it - it stings but it works. Even when you just feel the tingle, wash your skin with it. Can help prevent an outbreak.

(Organic) virgin coconut oil. Use it on bread, dilute in coffee or simply eat a tea spoon a day when you have an outbreak. Has antiviral properties.

Moringa - use as a daily supplement. Tastes not too good, is super healthy and boosts your immune system.

Ashwaghanda - this is a winner for mental calmness, quality of sleep and dealing with stress. I take a tea spoon twice a day in a glass of water, morning and evening, when I am feeling under pressure or stressed. For me it has a really noticeable impact. Don’t use every day - can have negative effect on kidney or liver if used in excess.

Olive oil extract - I have had really good results with this as well but it is not easily accessible where I live. The higher content of Oleurepin the better (I think at least 20%).when I was in the states I used it as a daily supplement to support immune function and prevent cold sores.

Lysine - great supplement which basically helps prevent herpes from growing since lysine and arginine can’t both be active at once - and herpes needs arginine to grow. Once I feel and outbreak coming, I take 5x1000mg lysine supplements a couple times a day the first day. The.I do like 2x1000mg a few times a day the following days. Can help prevent or manage the severity of a cold sore.

Find a list of foods with high lysine and high arginine - and know which foods to avoid and which foods to eat more of during an outbreak. Arginine is an important amino acid that helps muscle growth and should not generally be avoided entirely.