Effective Hives Treatment Options

Hives, also known as urticaria or nettle rash, is an intensely itchy rash that may affect the whole body or just one area. It is often part of an allergic reaction and consists of red, raised areas and, sometimes, white lumps. The swellings develop rapidly over a few minutes and last for several minutes to several hours. Hives may occur with angioedema or anaphylaxis, both of which require urgent medical attention. Hives can be treated with oral antihistamines. Vitamin C may also help. So, too, might a diet in which any trigger foods are excluded.

Nutritional Therapy

Food-Exclusion Diet Evidence suggests that some cases of hives are caused by food sensitivity or a reaction to additives, such as colorings, flavorings, preservatives and aspartame. Try to identify and eliminate suspect foods from your diet.

Antihistamine Supplements

Hives may be related to the release of histamine, so taking vitamin C, which seems to have antihistamine effects, may help. Take 1g of vitamin C, 2–3 times a day while symptoms persist. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid that appears to reduce the release of histamine from immune cells known as mast cells. Try taking 400mg of quercetin 2–3 times a day while symptoms persist.

Homeopathy

Case studies suggest that hives responds quite well to homeopathic treatment.

Urtica Urens is one of the main medicines for hives. Made from stinging nettles, it is appropriate when the skin is swollen, with raised areas which may be very itchy or sore. Urtica urens is specifically helpful when symptoms are made worse by contact with water and cold objects.

Apis Mellifica is made from bee stings and is sometimes used, particularly when the hives is associated with angioedema.

Anarcardium Orientale is particularly appropriate for people who are extremely bad tempered, even violent, when their skin is bad. They may also get indigestion. Eating improves their indigestion and skin.

Calcarea Carbonica Many people with a tendency to hives have skin that reacts to a blunt point drawn across it so they can “write on their skin”, a phenomenon known as dermatographism. Calc. carb. Is the main medicine used to treat these individuals.

Typically, those who respond to Calc. carb. are rather stout, solid both physically and mentally; they are calm, hardworking, conscientious and stubborn. Beneath this solid exterior, they may have many fears and anxieties, particularly if they work themselves to the point of exhaustion. They sweat freely on the head and neck, especially at night.

Conventional Medicine

If the symptoms of hives persist or recur, see your doctor, who may arrange a skin prick test to discover which substances might be the underlying cause. You can help with this by keeping a diary to record the foods you have eaten and to list other potential triggers. Changes in diet may help in some cases. OxyHives is a safe homeopathic remedy which has shown great promise in the treatment of hives.