Treatment for Hives

Treatment for hives is always a challenge. Antihistamines are the main approach for treatment for hives. These types of medicines can be given in oral forms and frequent or large doses. Corticosteroids can be given in short courses. Epinephrine shots may be given for immediate and temporary relief for severe hives.

If the cause of hives is food or medication, the best way is to avoid the trigger. In rare cases of chronic hives and angioedema, symptoms can last for many years. If this is the case, the individual should schedule an appointment with an allergist for the appropriate treatment. However, there are other treatments for hives which is the natural treatment.

What are Hives?

In this article, we’ll discuss what is hives, what causes hives, what are the symptoms of hives, what are the most common allopathic approaches to treatment for hives, and finally, what is the best natural treatment for hives.

So, what is hives? Hives is a skin condition that can affect anyone of any age and any race. Hives are also known as urticarial. People experience the development of red bumps which are smooth to the touch. The center of the bump is often white or blanched and they can be incredibly itchy. The sufferer usually experiences a burning or stinging sensation which is very similar to a sunburn.

These bumps are also referred to as welts and can be of varying size and shape and can appear on any part of the body. The area of skin that is affected can also vary in size from just a few inches to even the size of a dinner plate. On some occasions, two or more areas of affected skin can morph into each other and form areas referred to as plaques. They can appear without warning and last for just a few minutes or even hours. You may only ever experience one outbreak of hives in your life or it may develop into an ongoing problem.

People who have chronic idiopathic urticaria will spontaneously develop hives without a clear explanation or link as to the cause of those hives. Unlike people with urticaria due to a distinct allergic or infectious cause, people with chronic idiopathic urticaria may have hives all over their bodies with no clear pattern as to cause or distribution.
People who have chronic idiopathic urticaria will spontaneously develop hives without a clear explanation or link as to the cause of those hives.

One in five people is estimated to experience an outbreak of hives in their life. There are many different factors or triggers that can cause a reaction. It is important to understand that although there is a common group of triggers, every person is different and their body makeup is unique to them and only them. One person may react to a particular food, the next person may develop a reaction due to physical exercise resulting in the outbreak of sweat, and another person may react to a certain cosmetic, and so on.

What Causes Hives?

The following are some of the most common causes of hives.

Viral Infections

This is a particularly common cause in children but can also be true in adults. Even if a person is showing no other outward signs of an infection, this can still be the case. Hives can also be a symptom of athletes’ feet or a urinary tract infection.

Allergies

These are other common causes of hives, especially in the case of an allergy to medication or food. If the allergy is to food, then the rash tends to appear within minutes or hours.

Medications

Some causes of hives linked to consumption of certain medicines leading to an allergic reaction resulting in hives.

Keep in mind though that not all people may experience a hives attack when taking medicines. It is just that a lot of those whose immune system is sensitive to medications such as penicillin or aspirin.

Insect and Bug Bites

Some people get hives outbreak once they get bitten by a wasp, bee, or another insect. Their skin develops raised itchy wheals when their body is exposed to the sting’s chemicals causing an allergic reaction resulting in a hives outbreak.

Stress

This can cause both acute and chronic skin conditions. You may not even realize that you are stressed, especially if you are very busy, but your body will know and urticarial is quite a usual outward sign of stress. It is important to remember that stress can have both a positive and negative effect on your life.

Symptoms of Hives

The symptoms of hives will vary depending on the severity of the outbreak. It is not uncommon to have a few red blotches pop up and then dissipate just as quickly. The telltale welt might last a few hours or could stick around for up to two days. It is also not uncommon for the hives to appear to jump around from one part of the body to another. Researchers say 15% of the population will suffer from hives at some point in their life.

The worst symptoms of hives are an itching and burning sensation. The burning pain appears to get worse when exposed to heat so it is best to keep the body cool if you have an outbreak. Many people have found that the symptoms will improve if cool compresses are applied to the spot or a cold shower can also provide some relief. Another symptom associated with hives is inflammation. The center of the red blotch will become raised and hydrocortisone cream can be applied to try and reduce the swelling. Antihistamines are also recommended as a way to calm the symptoms down.

The typical symptoms of hives include a rash and lesions. The rash is typically very itchy, but in some cases, it may not itch at all. The lesions are usually raised and pink in color with pale centers, varying in size from half an inch to many inches wide. Also, the shapes can vary and there can be a fast and repeated alteration in shape, location, and size.

In less common cases, the skin condition can sting and cause pain. In such cases, the sufferer could even have bruises on the skin. There may be other accompanying symptoms, depending on what is causing the skin condition. For instance, if a viral infection is triggering the outbreak, then you may have a runny nose, sore throat, and/or cough.

Types of Hives

There are different types of hives and if you suffer from this skin condition, you need to know what type of hives you have. That is the only way you can find the best treatment for hives. Listed below are types of hives:

Acute Hives

Acute urticarial is the term for the more common forms of hives that can last from 6 hours up to 6 weeks. They can be triggered by several factors, including:

• Viral infections account for over 80% of acute hive occurrences in kids. Many viruses can trigger hives such as the cold virus.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and antibiotics such as naproxen, aspirin, or ibuprofen can cause hives.
• Stings from particular insects like hornets, bees, fire ants, and wasps can trigger hives around the spot that has been stung.
• Urticarial that are food-associated normally become visible within half an hour of consuming the food. Eggs, milk, wheat, soy, peanuts, and nuts can cause hives to appear in kids. Whereas shellfish, fish, peanuts, and other nut products are what cause hives to appear in adults.
• Touching particular substances especially if you are sensitive to them can trigger hives. Vegetables, raw fruits, latex (condoms, latex gloves, balloons, etc.), and plants are some of the things that trigger hives as well.

Chronic Hives

Chronic urticarial is among the types of hives that develop every day or practically every day lasting for over 6 weeks and in some cases years. This type can ruin your life as they appear and then disappear.

Not to mention that they can disrupt your daily life such as work, school, or sleep. Nevertheless, you have to keep in mind that they are seldom permanent and hardly ever caused by allergic reactions.

Chronic hives can be treated in nearly all people. Furthermore, all types of hives are not infectious so there is no reason for other people to stay away from you.

Physical Hives

Various physical factors trigger this skin condition and they are:

• Sweating or body temperature changes
• Pressure
• Exposure to cold
• Water or sunlight although this is uncommon

Finding out what is causing your hives to appear is truly important so you can avoid that certain trigger and find the best treatment for hives. Although hives can disappear in a couple of days or weeks even if you do not exactly know what is triggering it.

Natural Treatment for Hives

There are various natural treatments for hives; this is preferred over western options because it eliminates the side effects, such as drowsiness, that are often bundled with such treatment. You don’t want the itching only to stop so you can sleep, you want to eliminate it and carry on with your life. Listed below are natural remedies for hives.

Home Remedies for Hives – Most Common Form of Natural Treatment for Hives

Home remedies for hives effectively and rapidly resolve the problem. Listed below are some different approaches to home treatment for hives.

• Oatmeal bath: The anti-inflammatory properties of oatmeal can soothe hives, as long as you’re not allergic to any component of oatmeal. Add up to one-and-a-half cups of colloidal oatmeal to a bath, making sure the water is not too hot. Too much heat can trigger hives and make treatment ineffective.
• Aloe Vera can be applied topically to relieve itching, or it can also be consumed to aid in removing toxins. It is also commonly used in the treatment of skin allergy.
• Taking or cooking with turmeric can be a good idea. It can help protect the liver against toxins, has an antihistamine effect, and can help the production of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids.

Acupuncture for Hives – Traditional Chinese Natural Treatment for Hives

Acupuncture for hives has long been used to treat hives in Asian cultures. Acute urticarial can be easily and effectively treated with acupuncture Quchi, Xuehai, Sanyinjiao, and Zusanli are the 4 acupuncture points most commonly prescribed.

There are at least 6 kinds of acupuncture for hives developed to overcome the symptoms of hives. The combination of ordinary acupuncture and auricular acupuncture has been observed to be a highly effective cure of chronic urticarial.

Herbs for Hives – An Effective Home-Based Natural Treatment for Hives

Herbs for hives is a natural treatment for hives that have been effective without any side effects. Listed below are herbs for hives.

• Mint is a herb for hives that are known to aid in many ailments, but it also can help relieve the itching of urticarial and is one of the more powerful home remedies for hives. The best way to make great use of this natural remedy is to crush up mint leaves, place them in an ice cube tray, add water, and freeze to make “mint cubes”. Later, when they are ready, simply take them out of the freezer and apply them for a soothing result on your skin.
• Drinking chamomile tea can also help. Chamomile is an herb that has great antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Homeopathy – the #1 Natural Treatment for Hives

Homeopathic remedies for hives have shown consistently good results over the ages. This has been the experience of patients all over the world and at the hands of homeopathic doctors all over the world. Even in the most severe and chronic cases, the results have been most encouraging. Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition.

Listed below are homeopathic remedies for hives:

Apis:

• This is one of the best homeopathic remedies for hives. It is the most commonly prescribed one when it comes to the treatment of urticarial. The characteristic symptoms of this medicine happen to be the burning and stinging that accompanies the eruptions. There is redness and swelling as from the sting of a honey bee. Heat is intolerable and most of the time.

Dulcamara:

• When the problem is triggered by exposure to cold air or dampness or wet weather, Dulcamara is the best homeopathic remedy for hives.

Natrum Muriaticum:

• This is one of the most frequently used natural homeopathic remedies for hives. The eruptions are red and oedematous in character. There is intense itching of the skin. Exposure to the sun can easily trigger itching and eruptions. Another factor that can cause the eruptions is exercise or any sort of exertion. The skin is usually oily or greasy. It also helps in cases of chronic urticaria. Lesions are intensely itchy which develop after severe irritation.

Summary 

An accurate diagnosis of your type of urticaria is very important in the treatment and management of the condition. A trigger is known for some types of beehives and no trigger is known in other cases. While this can be incredibly frustrating, an accurate diagnosis is important as different types of hives are treated differently.

Some people prefer to use it for the treatment of hives medicinal herbs. If stress is causing hives, try relaxation techniques, including clinical hypnosis. Be aware that they have been shown to relieve itching but not swellings. Many pieces of evidence also suggest that acupuncture can help relieve symptoms. Homeopathic remedies are highly effective and are the #1 natural treatment for hives.

Before starting any treatment, talk to your doctor to find out if it’s right for you. To discuss with Dr. Tsan your best options of natural treatment for hives contact Philadelphia Homeopathic Clinic and schedule an appointment for a comprehensive homeopathic evaluation.

At the clinic, you’ll find the best practitioners in each area of holistic medicine. We provide treatment with homeopathic remedies, acupuncture, hypnosis, reiki, medicinal herbs, and more. All modalities reside under one roof.