Witch Hazel
Another plant that boasts potent medicinal properties is witch hazel. When applied to your scalp and skin, it can soothe sensitive and irritated skin and reduce inflammation. It’s also possible to add it as a herbal ingredient to teas and orally ingest it in tiny amounts to treat other types of conditions. Other benefits include treating hemorrhoids, fighting acne, alleviating scalp sensitivity, soothing sore throat, protecting from skin damage, and so much more.
Research has also shown witch hazel to ward off infection. For example, a test-tube study found tannins in the plant exhibited robust antiviral effects in HPV or human papillomavirus and influenza A. Furthermore, another study showed its extract’s ability to inhibit the viral activities of herpes simplex, which typically is the cause of fever blisters. Therefore, it makes sense that witch hazel is a common treatment for combating and alleviating the symptoms of cold sores.
Generally, witch hazel can be used safely and with minimal chances of side effects. Extracts and ointments can be applied to your skin multiple times daily. However, it’s worth noting that some may experience an allergic reaction, so it’s best to do a skin patch test first.
