Canker sores and cold sores are annoying, unattractive and uncomfortable. What exactly are they, why do we get them, and how can we NOT? The two sores differ in many ways, but ultimately, they are a sign that something is off in our bodies. They can be treated and prevented by making sure our bodies have adequate nutrition, movement, sleep and relaxation. In the Podcast below, Dr. Mark Hyman and Dr. Elizabeth Boham of The UltraWellness Center discuss the Functional Medicine Approach to preventing and curing these sores.
Canker sores generally occur inside the mouth by the cheek or under the tongue. They are approximately 3-5mm, round and reddish with a yellowish coating. Getting them once or twice is not a problem. However, it you get them a few times per month or 5-6 times per year, well “Houston” that’s a problem. Functional medicine, unlike conventional medicine, seeks to find the root causes of the sore. Typically these causes can be: celiac disease, non celiac gluten/wheat sensitivity, food additives/chemicals, food sensitivities, nutritional deficiencies and even autoimmune processes(Lupus). So instead of simply addressing the symptom or the canker sore with a medicated mouth wash, Functional Medicine will look deeper to resolve one or more of the causes listed above. The doctors explain how removing gluten, balancing the gut, remedying Vitamin B, D, zinc or other deficiencies can clear those painful sores.
Cold sores are more common than canker sores. Approximately 66% of the population has them and they can be embarrassing, unsightly and uncomfortable. Whereas canker sores don’t appear on the lip and are not infectious, cold sores generally appear on the lips, skin and nose. They are known as the Herpes Simplex Virus 1(HSV) and can be passed on through kissing, sharing cups, straws and through sexual contact. Generally, these sores appear after a cold, sore throat or other virus has gone. The HSV however stays and lives in the nerves. The following triggers may reactivate the virus and cause the sore to reappear: stress, exhaustion, dental work, sunshine, infection or nutritional depletion. Functional medicine practitioners will again look for a root cause of the sore. They generally ask “why the immune system is unable to keep the virus in the nerves and stop the sore from coming out.” The answer is that the risk of a cold sore is usually tied to the state of our immune system. While conventional medicine doesn’t really know how to create a resilient immune system, functional medicine does. Functional medicine has various strategies to help all of our immune systems be resilient. Dr. Hyman and Dr. Boham discuss the importance of bolstering our nutritional status, essential fats and digestion as well as eliminating refined foods such as sugar and flour. The doctors also discuss how the amino acid Lysine is helpful in preventing and treating cold sores and how quinoa is high in lysine.
In the episode below, Dr. Hyman and Dr. Boham teach us why individuals have frequent recurrence of cold sores or canker sores and how they treat patients experiencing these issues. Listen to the full episode and let’s keep those sores away!
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