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Homeopathic Remedies for Canker Sores

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Suffering from canker sores? Are homeopathic remedies for canker sores the answer? Find out!

Canker sores are common, annoying, and painful. Most people will get canker sores from time to time, either due to stress, allergic reactions, physical irritants, or a pH imbalance in the mouth. 

But, did you know that there may be hidden reasons why you are getting canker sores?

There is some evidence that suggests that individuals who get canker sores regularly may have some imbalance in the gut or mouth that makes these sores appear more often.

Homeopathy may help provide some solutions for these canker sores.

But before we dive into that, a little background on canker sores.

Canker Sore Fast Facts

Here are some facts about canker sores and homeopathy for canker sores.

Risk factors for canker sores include a weakened immune system, gut bacteria imbalance, pH imbalance, genetics, and stress.

Most canker sores heal within 2-4 weeks.

Canker sores appear on the inside of the mouth. They are commonly confused with cold sores, but cold sores usually appear on the lips.

Canker sores are most common in women and adolescents.

30% of people who get canker sores get them regularly (more than 4 times a year).

The 2 Types of Canker Sores

There are two types of canker sores: simple canker sores and complex canker sores. Simple canker sores can show up 3-4 times a year and usually last less than 2 weeks.

They are painful, but not harmful, and often go away on their own after the stressful event is over, and as a person ages.

Complex canker sores are a bigger problem. These canker sores are more painful, last longer, and can even cause scarring in the mouth. These canker sores can last a month and are often triggered by imbalances in nutrition, gut health, the immune system, or medical conditions. Homeopathic remedies for canker sores usually focus on the source of complex canker sores.

Canker Sore Causes that Homeopathy May Help

Many people suffer from occasional canker sores. Usually, the best treatment for these is a topical healing gel or anything that prevents infection. But, if you’re one of the people who gets canker sores often and they last for several weeks, then you may need to look at the underlying cause behind your frequent canker sores.

Underlying Causes of Complex Canker Sores
  • Hormone imbalance
  • Gut bacteria imbalance
  • Immune deficiency 
  • Drugs and medications
  • Nutritional deficiencies (usually folic acid, vitamin B12, zinc, and iron)
  • Stress

The United States Surgeon General estimates that up to 25% of adults have recurring, painful, and complex canker sores. 

Canker Sore Symptoms

Usually, it’s pretty easy to tell if you have a canker sore. However, many people confuse the symptoms of cold sores with the symptoms of canker sores. Canker sores have the following symptoms:

  • Small, round depressions in the mouth’s lining (can look red or white).
  • Tingling/sore sensation in the mouth.
  • Usually, appear on the inside of the lips or cheeks, but can also appear under the tongue or even on it.
  • Most canker sores take about 1-2 weeks to heal.
  • Rarely, canker sores may also cause fever, a feeling of sluggishness, and swollen lymph nodes.

How can Homeopathy Help Canker Sores?

Homeopathy is the art of using small doses of natural substances to improve certain physical conditions. Homeopathy is based on the principle that “like cures like” meaning that the same thing that theoretically made you sick can help you get better if you take it in smaller doses. Homeopathic remedies contain tiny doses of substances because homeopathic medicine suggests that the lower a dose of medication, the higher its effectiveness.

While there aren’t any studies specifically addressing how homeopathic remedies could benefit someone with canker sores, there are a few suggested remedies from homeopathic practitioners.
Commonly, canker sores are caused by pH imbalances in the mouth or gut, which can be triggered by food. Many foods high in acid or sugar can trigger canker sores.

Before a homeopathic remedy can be used for a canker sore, you must identify what is causing the canker sores. If it is food, a different remedy should be used than if the cause is something like an immune system response or due to the use of medication.

Homeopathic Remedies for Canker Sores

The following homeopathic remedies can be used to treat and prevent canker sores:

Mercurius sol 200

This is a common homeopathic remedy usually used for sore throats. However, many people who have reviewed the product also state that the remedy can help reduce pain and inflammation from canker sores. This treatment does not cure the canker sores or treat the root cause, but it does reduce the pain and swelling at the site of the canker sore.

Arsenicum album

If you suffer from anxiety and stress and you get a lot of canker sores, this may be the remedy for you. Arsenicum album is used to treat canker sores that are the result of anxiety, stress, and a poor diet. If you are a baseline anxious person, try this remedy.

Borax

Borax is simply a topical remedy for canker sores. Be careful using this in young children, as borax can cause an allergic reaction in some children.

Nux vomica

If your canker sores are caused by an overdose on sugar, spicy foods, or acidic foods, this could be the canker sore remedy for you. Usually, you will also see swollen gums and a coating on the tongue along with your canker sores. If you’ve over-indulged in junk food and have a resulting canker sore, try this homeopathic remedy for canker sores.

Sulfur

If your canker sores are large, persistent, and irritated by heat or other temperature changes, Sulphur may be the right remedy for you. If you have swollen gums and a bad taste in your mouth along with easily irritated skin elsewhere on the body, try Sulphur.

Calcarea carbonica

If you have recurring canker sores, calcarean carbonica may be the right homeopathic treatment for your canker sores. If you are tired easily and are prone to night sweats, then this may be the ideal remedy for the prevention of recurring canker sores.

Hepar sulphuris calcareum

Hepar sulphuris calcareum is the remedy of choice for infected canker sores. If your canker sores linger longer than the normal two weeks, this could be the right homeopathic remedy. This solution works best on canker sores that are sensitive to touch and cold.

Natrum muriaticum

If your canker sores are present on the tongue or the gums (rather than on the cheeks and lips, which is most common), then you might try natrum muriaticum. Other symptoms that this remedy can address are tingling in the mouth and dry mouth. You may also find this remedy helps prevent cracking and chapped lips.

Do Homeopathic Remedies for Canker Sores Work?

There are no studies that test if homeopathic remedies work for canker sores in particular. However, many reviewers have claimed that these remedies work well in preventing canker sores and helping them heal faster.

On the other hand, most scientific studies suggest that the number of active ingredients in homeopathic remedies is so low that there are unlikely to be any benefits beyond the placebo.

If you are plagued by persistent canker sores, you are unlikely to see any negative side effects from trying homeopathic remedies, but you’ll likely see better results by implementing other treatment options.

Proven Remedies for Canker Sores

For most people, canker sores are temporary and don’t require any additional treatment beyond keeping them clean and waiting it out.

However, if you are in the 25% of people who get recurring canker sores, it may be helpful to look into why you might be getting canker sores so often.

Research suggests that a highly acidic diet, stress, and being low in certain vitamins and nutrients can contribute to a higher chance of developing a canker sore.

Reducing stress as much as possible, keeping away from acidic foods, and ensuring you get enough vitamins in your diet is likely to produce better results than just using homeopathic remedies.

Vitamins that Can Prevent Canker Sores
  • Vitamin B12
  • Iron
  • Zinc
  • Folic acid

Should I Use Homeopathy to Treat Canker Sores?

Homeopathy is an area of medicine that is polarizing. Individuals who use homeopathic remedies swear by their effectiveness. However, no scientific studies so far have found any benefit to these remedies beyond the placebo effect. If you suffer from chronic canker sores, it wouldn’t hurt to try homeopathic remedies.

However, you are likely to see even greater benefits if you can eliminate the cause of your canker sores- which are commonly triggered by stress, immune system deficiencies, or caused by vitamin deficiencies.

Sources


https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10945-canker-sores
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071433/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/303311.php

Next Article: Herbs and Supplements for Canker Sores