Coldsore Lip Balm Recipe

Winter behind us now many of you may have suffered from the normal round of colds and flus that often go around offices and schools. Our immune systems are probably feeling a bit battered and need some care. There are a few who also suffer from coldsores when this happens. Here I’ve put together a coldsore lip balm recipe, that I think works as well, if not better than any of the store brands.

A member of the herpes simplex virus, coldsores don’t just affect us when we have a cold. They can come at anytime, but most likely when we’re a bit stressed or run down. They are at best annoying and uncomfortable but can be quite painful and are very contagious.

There are a number of effective over the counter treatments available from the pharmacy for herpes but if you prefer to use something naturally derived, I have a recipe that you can put together with a few natural ingredients from the health food store. Packed full of anti-viral ingredients, it fights the infection, smells great this lip balm feels cool and soothing on the skin.

Coldsore Lip Balm recipe

LEMON BALM • COCONUT • TEA TREE • CLOVE • PEPPERMINT

To make the balm, start by  making a base oil infused with herbs, then you add the other ingredients. Add the essential oils last as the mixture cools, as they are volatile and will evaporate with the heat.

Lemon Balm Oil:

• 1 cup cold pressed organic coconut oil (anti-viral)
• 15g Lemon Balm, dried herb (anti-viral) (I used tea leaves)

METHOD:

1. Melt coconut oil in a double boiler/in a glass bowl over water that has only JUST reached a simmer, add the lemon balm and mix well, leave for two hours, checking regularly to ensure there is enough water in the pan still as it simmers away. If after two hours the oil has taken on the colour and scent of the herbs, perfect, if not, leave for another couple of hours.
2. The longer and you can leave your herbs to extract the better, as long as it is at a very low temperature.
3. Strain through cheesecloth bag, wring out the herbs to get every last drop out.

Balm:

• 60ml lemon balm oil
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped/grated organic beeswax (about 15g) (deeply moisturising, soothing, creates a protective layer over the skin)
• 2 tablespoons finely grated Cocoa butter (a rich moisturiser, rich source of fatty acids to aid in emulsification, gives firmness)
• 10 drops tea tree oil (anti-viral)
• 2 drops of clove oil (anaesthesia)
• 4 drops peppermint essential oil (anti-viral, cooling, pleasant scent)

Alternatively to infusing the oil, you could add 10 drops of lemon balm (melissa officianalis) essential oil with the other oils.

METHOD:

1. In a double boiler, combine the herbal oil with the beeswax and Cocoa butter and let the water simmer till everything has melted and combined, stir frequently.
2. At this point, you may want to test the consistency of the balm. Spoon a little into a container and set in the freezer for a few minutes. If it is too soft, add more beeswax, if it is too firm, add more oil.
3. Remove from heat, let cool a little, add the essential oils (they are heat sensitive so adding them to a hot mixture will see the volatile oils evaporate and escape), pour into little lip containers or small pots, set in the fridge.

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Recipe adapted from https://ascensionkitchen.com/homemade-cold-sore-salve/. Ingredients sourced from http://www.auroma.com.au

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