Canker sores are small ulcers in the mouth caused by an assortment of viruses. A susceptibility to canker sores tends to run in families. No successful conventional treatment is available.
Proposed Natural Treatments for Canker Sores
A highly preliminary study suggests that a chemically altered form of the herb licorice known as
deglycyrrhizinated licorice
(DGL) may be useful for speeding the resolution of canker sores.
1
And, in a second, better designed trial employing a dissolving adhesive patch with glycyrrhiza root extract, researchers noted an improvement in ulcer size and pain compared to the use of a placebo patch.
8
A product containing vitamins and minerals as well as the herbs paprika,
rosemary
,
peppermint
, milfoil,
hawthorn
, and
pumpkin seed
has been used in Scandinavia for many years as a treatment for various mouth-related conditions. A small 6-month study reported that use of this product could reduce frequency of canker sores.
2
However, two subsequent studies failed to find any meaningful benefit.
3-4
One small double-blind study found benefits with an extract of the bark of the red mangrove tree,
Rhizophora mangle
.
5
A study performed in Iraq reported benefits through use of a mouthwash containing 5% lactic acid.
7
Other herbs and supplements sometimes recommended for canker sores but lacking supporting evidence include
caraway
,
oak bark
,
witch hazel
,
acidophilus
,
calendula
,
slippery elm
, and
vitamin B
1
.
One study failed to find that alpha-linolenic acid from perilla oil reduced incidence of canker sores.
6