Sometimes home remedies really are the best.

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

For cold sores on the inside of my mouth, I keep Gentian Violet in my medicine cabinet.  My mom used it from when I was a little girl.  It is purple, stains wherever it touches, so you have to be careful.

I put some on a Q-tip, and then dab on the inside of the mouth where the sore is.  Then I hold my mouth open wide with my finger and put my blow drier on low and dry it.

It tastes awful if you swallow it, and if it mixes with your saliva, you will have purple teeth, and you have to wait till it wears off, brushing won't remove it.

I know this sounds terrible, but if I put it on at night, blowdry it, when I get up the next morning, it is gone.  Or if I put it on in the morning and blowdry it, then by dinnertime it is gone.

[Bugsy]

I could only think of one thing to ad to this thread.  And it's probably not even helpful to most, lol.

Pink eye?  Squirt breast milk in it!

[Lady Neysa]

These are all really interesting suggestions.   As far as the skeptics debates are concerned, keep in mind that what may work for one person may not work for another.  As with everything in life, use common sense and your best judgement.  I think there is plenty of room for home remedies, certain kinds of homeopathy, as well as conventional medicine.  Just depends on what ails ya!

Has anyone seen on the internet the one about using Listerine to repel mosquitos?   Has anyone ever tried this?  I'd love to find an inexpensive, non-stinky non-icky bug repellant that I don't have to worry about staining clothes or furniture. 

[Leyla]

I love essential oils. My chiropractor has turned me on to these and I know I'm getting high quality product from her.
I use peppermint essential oil the most. A few drops rubbed between your palms and then rubbed on a sore muscle relieves as well as advil. Or, rubbed on the belly will relieve nausea or menstrual cramps.
Lavender essential oil is good for stress relief. It can be rubbed on pulse points (i.e. wrists) or into the soles of the feet. Also good for sleep.
Tea tree essential oil is highly antimicrobial. Good for cold sores and canker sores.

[Zoë]

Lavender essential oil is good for stress relief. It can be rubbed on pulse points (i.e. wrists) or into the soles of the feet. Also good for sleep.

I have an aromatherapy oil from Bath and Body Works for stress relief, it has peppermint and rosemary in it, to "refresh and foster creativity." 

Yay essential oils!

[Tygrkat]

Tea tree essential oil is highly antimicrobial. Good for cold sores and canker sores.

Tea Tree oil is great for humans, but it's also potentially Highly toxic to cats ~ even though it's sometimes used in natural flea & tick repellants, there have been a few reported cases of cats getting sick or worse after exposure to Tea Tree oil. I've used it for myself with great sucess, but since learing of the potential toxicity to my Nergal (she's my kitty  ) I've looked for alternatives. It's just not worth it to me. I just learned about this recently, and was a bit shocked as I had recommended products for companion animals containing tea tree oil when I worked in a pet food & supply shop years ago...

A few links...

http://www.messybeast.com/teatree.htm

http://www.veterinarywatch.com/Abstract-tea-tree-oil.htm

http://www.petcarenaturally.com/handouts/tea-tree-oil.pdf

http://www.beaverlakeah.com/site/view/63679_TeaTreeOil.pml

I am not affiliated with any of the above sites, I just wanted to add a caveat to information regarding an otherwise fantasic natural remendy for people. That said, if you don't have animals in the house, or are going to be away from them (camping, at Faire - if you don't bring them along) it's great for the first aid kit.

[Welsh Wench]

Spirits of camphor for the beginning of a cold sore.
Never fails.