2. Canker sores

A canker sore is  a pocket of fluid that gets bigger and bigger until you feel your lip is going to explode!  Not to be confused with cold sores which are caused by the herpes virus, canker sores may be caused by hormone fluctuations, trauma to the lip or spicy foods.  Medical science has yet to identify the real cause behind these pesky little guys.  For a quick resolution to a developing canker sore, apply frankincense oil in a carrier oil like coconut directly to the canker sore several times a day.  You can also cake a small paste of damp salt directly atop the sore, keeping it there for 10-15 minutes a few times a day.  This will leech some of the fluid out of the sore reducing swelling.  One last tip.  I will also make a small roller bottle, like those bonnie bell lip smackers we used to use in the 80’s, containing fractionated coconut oil, frankincense and a small amount of cayenne pepper, keep it in my purse for easy application to the sore throughout the day and night.  Even though the cayenne is spicy, it has certain properties which ease the pain of a canker sore.