Manuka Honey and Cold Sores: Does It Work?

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Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and affect about two thirds of the world’s population³.

That’s a lot of people dealing with these pesky and often uncomfortable blisters.

While incurable, there are ways we can speed up healing - and research suggests that natural remedies may be just as effective as over-the-counter medications¹.

This is important because conventional treatments can sometimes cause nasty side effects¹.

With its enduring reputation for health and wellness, is honey a good option? What happens if you put honey on a cold sore? And is there any specific evidence for Manuka honey and cold sores? That’s what we’ll be exploring here.

In this guide to Manuka honey and cold sores:

• Can honey help cold sores?

• The best honey for a cold sore

• How to use Manuka honey for cold sores

• Support the natural healing of your cold sores with New Zealand Honey Co. Manuka honey

Can Honey Help Cold Sores?

Yes, research suggests that using honey for cold sore treatment may be just as effective, or more effective, than traditional medications¹.

“The average absolute healing time was 72.4% slower with conventional treatment compared to MGH [medical-grade honey]. After MGH treatment, 86.2% of all patients experienced faster objective healing…

If the patients normally experience pain and itching during their cold sores, these levels were lower with MGH therapy compared to conventional treatment...

Moreover, 100% of the patients prefer MGH treatment over conventional treatment and will use it again on future cold sores. MGH is a promising alternative treatment for cold sores, likely by combining both increased antiviral and wound healing activities while alleviating pain and itching.”

• Medical-grade honey outperforms conventional treatments for healing cold sores, a 2021 study¹.

This study used the medical-grade honey product L-Mesitran Soft, which is a combination of sterilised honey with high peroxide activity, and other wound healing agents like lanolin, sunflower oil, vitamins and zinc oxide⁷.

Other studies have tested the topical application of honey on herpes sores elsewhere on the body:

“Two cases of labial herpes and one case of genital herpes remitted completely with the use of honey.

No side effects were observed with repeated applications of honey, whereas 3 patients developed local itching with acyclovir.

Topical honey application is safe and effective in the management of the signs and symptoms of recurrent lesions from labial and genital herpes.”

• Topical honey application vs. acyclovir for the treatment of recurrent herpes simplex lesions, a 2004 study⁶.

So what do researchers think honey contains that can make it effective against cold sores?

Cold sores (or fever blisters) are contagious clusters of fluid-filled blisters caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV)⁸. Whilst HSV can’t be cured, we can manage the symptoms with antiviral treatments⁴.

Honey has been shown to exert antiviral effects thanks, in part, to its phenolic content. Phenols help the body to respond effectively to inflammation (like cold sores)⁹.

“In vitro studies show that honey or propolis have been successful in inhibiting the spread of HSV from infected cells and their antiherpetic effect is probably due to the presence of phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids and caffeates.”

• Effect of honey and propolis, compared to acyclovir, against Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)-induced lesions, a 2022 analysis⁴.

But this isn’t all.

Researchers also attribute the efficacy of honey on cold sores to a few other factors:

“Medical-grade honey (MGH) exerts a broad range of antimicrobial activities via multiple mechanisms, including low pH, strong osmotic actions, production of hydrogen peroxide, and the presence of antimicrobial molecules.”

• Medical-grade honey outperforms conventional treatments for healing cold sores, a 2021 study¹.

These benefits extend far beyond the treatment of cold sores.

Honey has attracted the attention of researchers and medical professionals as a natural remedy for all sorts of conditions, particularly related to wound healing more broadly:

“Honey is gaining acceptance as an agent for the treatment of ulcers, bed sores and other skin infections resulting from burns and wounds.

The honey, when applied topically, rapidly clears wound infection to facilitate healing of deep surgical wounds with infection.

Raw honey contains copious amounts of compounds such as flavonoids and other polyphenols which may function as antioxidants. Clinical observations have been reported of reduced symptoms of inflammation when honey is applied to wounds…

Manuka honey has been widely researched and its antibacterial potential is renowned worldwide.”

• Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity, a 2011 study⁵.

Learn more about using Manuka honey for wound healing.

Learn more about using Manuka honey for mouth ulcers and canker sores.

How long does it take honey to heal a cold sore?

The time it takes a cold sore to heal will depend on a number of factors, with the treatment used being just one of them. Research suggests, however, that honey can speed things up¹⁰.

One study found medical-grade honey to heal cold sores in just under 6 days compared to 10 days with conventional treatment¹.

Another study looking at herpes attacks on other parts of the body found honey treatments to work on average 36.25% faster than the traditional treatment, acyclovir⁶.

Is it better to keep a cold sore moist or dry?

Opinions vary on whether you should let a cold sore dry out before treatment (which can cause cracking and discomfort) or keep it hydrated¹¹.

It’s a delicate balance - warm, moist environments can be a haven for viruses to spread¹². But they can also ease pain and promote healing¹¹. Honey may potentially offer a win-win scenario.

Thanks to its emollient, humectant properties and antiviral activity, honey can provide the moisture needed for healing whilst also working to reduce the viral infection¹³.

By applying honey topically, you may be able to ease the pain and discomfort of a dry cold sore without the increased risk of further infection¹⁴.

Is honey better than acyclovir?

Acyclovir is one of the conventional antiviral treatments against cold sores.

Studies have found that certain types of honey may be just as effective as acyclovir¹⁵, and others have found honey to be more effective and faster healing¹⁶.

The treatment you choose for your cold sore may depend on a few different factors, so it’s best to get the advice of your doctor before swapping any medication.

How to Use Manuka Honey for Cold Sores

Here are our top Manuka honey cold sore application tips. Make sure to check with your doctor before changing treatments.

1. Choose a high UMF™ grade of Manuka honey

Researchers have found a link between the amount of methylglyoxal (MGO) in Manuka honey and its antiviral potency². So when it comes to choosing the right Manuka honey for cold sores, it may be best to opt for high levels of MGO.

Although many jars of Manuka honey display the MGO content, there is an extra grading system that also tests its authenticity, purity, and freshness as well.

By opting for UMF™ graded Manuka honey, you can be sure you’re getting a pure and potent product straight from the wilds of New Zealand.

The grade is primarily based on the concentration of MGO - so the higher it is, the more MGO is present.

Get help choosing the right grade for you.

2. Clean the cold sore and your hands before application

Make sure you only touch the cold sore with clean hands. Wipe away any nasties before applying your honey so it doesn’t have to work harder than necessary!

3. Apply the honey to your cold sore

Try to cover the cold sore with a relatively thick layer of Manuka honey. It may be best to make your own simple wound dressing and apply it to keep the honey in place longer.

You could even leave the honey on your cold sore overnight if the dressing is comfortable.

See our easy guide to creating a Manuka honey wound dressing at home.

4. Reapply as needed

You may want to repeat this step a few times a day for the best chance of success.

Suggested further reading:

• Is Manuka Honey Good for Canker Sores and Mouth Ulcers?

• Manuka Honey for Teeth & Oral Health 

• Thinking of Buying Medical Grade Honey? Read This First…

• Is Manuka Honey Antiviral? (And Can It Cure COVID?)

Sources:

¹ Medical-grade honey outperforms conventional treatments for healing cold sores, National Library of Medicine.

² The sensitivity of adenovirus and herpes simplex virus to honey, University of Waikato.

³ Globally, an estimated two-thirds of the population under 50 are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1, World Health Organization.

⁴ Effect of honey and propolis, compared to acyclovir, against Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)-induced lesions, ScienceDirect.

⁵ Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity, National Library of Medicine.

⁶ Topical honey application vs. acyclovir for the treatment of recurrent herpes simplex lesions, ResearchGate.

⁷ L-Mesitran, Wounds UK.

⁸ Cold sore, Mayo Clinic.

⁹ Role of phenolic compounds in human disease: current knowledge and future prospects, National Library of Medicine.

¹⁰ How to get rid of cold sores, WebMD.

¹¹ How to stop a cold sore, Healthline.

¹² Cold sores, UHS.

¹³ Is Manuka honey antiviral? New Zealand Honey Co.

¹⁴ How to treat a wound infection naturally, New Zealand Honey Co.

¹⁵ Kanuka honey versus aciclovir for the topical treatment of herpes simplex labialis, BMJ Journals.

¹⁶ Randomised controlled trial of topical kanuka honey for the treatment of cold sores, ScienceDirect.

¹⁷ Fake Manuka honey, New Zealand Honey Co.