Ayurveda or ayurvedic healing is an alternative form of treatment that has existed in India for centuries. Ayurveda hives, otherwise known as ayurveda urticaria treatment, consists of home remedies used to treat hives to relieve itchy and irritated skin. In Sanskrit, the term “Ayurveda” breaks down to mean lifespan ‘ayus’ knowledge ‘veda’, and it may indeed hold up to that name.

Listed on Ehow.com, is one ayurvedic treatment that combats hives and itching skin. It consists of a mixture of lemon juice and coconut oil. If applied to skin and allowed to dry it is said to relieve symptoms. Also, adding coconut oil to your diet is said to help.

Neem oil is another ayurveda hives (urticaria) treatment that helps. Applying the oil to the affected area, or boiling the leaves and soaking the area, relieves itching. The same can be said of the leaves of a babul tree (Acacia Arabica). A shot of apple cider vinegar to either boiled remedy can restore the skin’s pH balance.

One of the articles on ezinearticles.com breaks down the treatment of ayurveda urticaria treatment rather well. The article states that ayurveda hives treatments must be tailored to the specific individual. The patient’s history of symptoms and constitutional framework both play a part in deciding the right combinations of medicines. Soda bicarbonate mixed with warm water is said to relieve itching. Trikatu, Marich (piper nigrum) and Tumeric are useful in ayurveda urticaria treatments. Finally, Kamdudha, Mukta, and Gairik are used in treating the burning sensation.

Ayurveda Hives Treatment

According to Ayurvedamedicinetreatment.com there are four specific aryurveda urticaria treatments. These are Arogya Vardhini Rasa, Suta Shekhara Rasa, Kamadugha Rasa, and Haridra Khanda. They are described as follows:

Arogya Vardhini Rasa & Suta Shekhara Rasa – both are recommended for patients that have an acute form of urticaria. You can use both these medications together or independently. A dosage of 0.5 gram should be taken with a teaspoon of honey three times a day.

Kamadugha Rasa – This medicine is made of red ochre primarily. A half a teaspoon of this, mixed with a teaspoon of honey should be taken four times a day.

Haridra Khanda – Haridra is used in curries in many Indian household. To eat this regularly is said to prevent urticaria. Haridra powder is available across many Ayurvedic counters. Since it tastes bitter, the website suggests taking it with sugar or milk. It may be bought in granule form. One teaspoon of these granules, mixed with a cup of warm water, should be given three times a day for this ayurveda hives treatment (Ayurvedamedicinetreatment.com, 2011).

Hives can be very unnerving and irritating; sometimes they are hard to get rid of. If you are prone to these breakouts, it is time to start looking at methods for preventing hives. As the saying goes ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’, so start today.

The underlying cause of hive problems is overactive immunity. So in preventing hives, maintaining a balanced diet is immanent. Vitamin C has been found to be effective in strengthening the immune system and releasing antihistamines. Eating fruits and vegetables regularly is a good way to keep the vitamin in your system. Turnip greens, green peppers, and other leafy greens are some top sources of vitamin C. Strawberries, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and cantaloupe provide high concentrations as well.

Consuming foods that inhibit the release of histamine is also. Niacin, or vitamin B3, is good for this. Niacin can be found in seafood, poultry, seeds, nuts and whole grains. Since digestive problems have been known to be a cause of hives, high-fiber diets are also recommended. Cold water fish, which contain fatty acids, aid in reducing inflammation as well.

Avoiding Triggers

Although hives are really caused by immune system or digestive system problems, there are some substances that may trigger a hive reaction in people. A large part of preventing hives is figuring out what triggers your hives and learning how to avoid these substances. Consulting your health care provider is the first step in determining what to avoid.

The next step in preventing hives is to take some time to find out what affects you personally. You can do this by keeping a health journal. When you have an outbreak, write down what you ate. This way you can begin to compare lists and you may be able to determine that it is a food allergy. Don’t forget that additives trigger reactions as well, so you may want to look at the ingredients too.

One of the most common triggers for hives includes medicines which contain aspirin such as Bufferin, Excedrine, Alka-Seltzer, and Anacin. Those containing salicylates such as Pepto-Bismol have been a known trigger as well. Penicillin can be another trigger, so make sure to speak to your doctor if you have to change or take any new medications.

In preventing hives, you may want to avoid certain foods that are known to trigger out breaks. Nuts were listed above as being helpful, but can actually bring about outbreaks in some people. Eggs, shellfish, and milk are also known triggers. In your health journal, you may also want to make notes of times that you have been exposed to excess heat, cold, or sunlight. Heavy exercise, stress, and anxiety should be noted as well as they are all known to be related to outbreaks.

Chronic hives (urticaria) have been deemed idiopathic, which means there is no cause. About half of the cases are linked to autoimmune conditions. Dermatologists and allergist-immunologists are the hives specialists who evaluate the condition and point you to specific resources if further tests are required. In many cases anesthesiologists are the type of physician to talk to.

There are a number of resources available to help you find the right physician to help in the treatment of hives. There are directories available at the MedlinePlus website, which you can find by visiting Nlm.nig.gov. A physician directory can also be found in Directory.webmd.com.  Ama-assn.org provides a ‘DoctorFinder’ that is will also help you fine the physician that is right for you.

Most people are referred by their primary care physician (PCP), but you are not required to see the first specialist your PCP suggests. It is important to find a specialist that has the knowledge you need and that you are comfortable with. You’ll also need to find one that will be available for many years, so you may want to make sure they are not close to retirement.

Looking for Hives Specialists

Sometimes finding the right specialist isn’t easy, but in the case of hives specialists, it is important to find one that you think you can get along with for a long period of time. One method you may try is calling the closest medical school and asking for two or three names of physicians who specialize in hives. You’ll want to ask if they are actively treating patients, as some physicians are only involved in teaching and research.

There are several medical websites that will help you find hives specialists in your area. Try out some by visiting:

• Acaai.org
• myhivescure.org
• Quickcare.org
• Medhelp.org

When you think you have found hives specialists that you are interested in call their offices to find out some basic information. You’ll want to know which hospital each doctor uses and if they maintain more than one office. Make sure the location is nearby your home, in case you have to visit often. You will want to ask what types of insurance your doctor takes, and what kind of treatments to expect as well.

If you have done your groundwork, your PCP should not have any objections about the specialist you choose. Sometimes you may need to see a second specialist for another opinion, as many health insurers require this before they will cover certain treatments. It is also important to make sure that you are covered before your visit.

If you have hives, you may have found that prescriptions and over the counter medications are just not working for you. Many people have turned to hives alternative medicine as a means to take care of their hives, and for good reasons. Much of the medications prescribed for hives cause drowsiness or other side effects. In addition, many of these drugs only treat the symptoms of hives and not the problem overall.

According to Associatedcontent.com, hydrotherapy is a great way to treat hives naturally. Taking a cool shower releases histamines that relieve itching. So, whenever you feel the itching become intense, just jump in the shower for just 10 or 15 minutes.

Taking quercetin (500 mg) twice a day is said to clear up hives and stop itching. Quercetin is a natural antihistamine and can be found in onions, apples, and leafy vegetables. Vitamins C and B12 are known to help in treating hives, and essential fatty acids are recommended for overall immune system function. Evening primrose is a great source of essential fatty acids according to Herbs2000.com. Sandalwood is also recommended, mixed with coconut or almond oil, to be applied to the skin every three or four hours.

Homeopathy

Many claims have been made that homeopathy treatments work best. Homeopathy treatments are recommended very highly among amid health experts as a good hives alternative medicine. In fact many sources claim that hives can be completely cured with homeopathic medicines.

Homeopathy was developed by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in Germany. It was based on the “Law of Similars”; the idea is that ‘like cures like’ meaning that a substance that produces symptoms in a healthy person may also cure similar symptoms on a person. For example, an onion may make your eyes water and your nose burn and hay fever may cause watering in your eyes and burning in your now. Therefore, a remedy made from an onion may relieve your hay fever (Hpathy.com, 2011).

Herbs2000.com provides the following information on hives alternative medicine:  The remedy should be taken every 15 minutes for the first hour and gradually be reduced to single hour doses as symptoms subside. If there is not any improvement within the first two hours, a different remedy or approach should be undertaken. This should be done until the symptoms subside or for a total of 5 or 6 doses per intervening period.  The treatment should be continued for several days with dosages given 3 to 6 times daily. People with chronic hives should seek professional homeopath supervision and remedy. The following remedies are provided:

• Apis is used when the sensation of burning pain, itching, and stinging.
• Arsenicum is used when there is a burning sensation and a presence of fine and small hives.
• Dulcamara is prescribed when there is a lot of itching with the hives and there are white blotches with red in the center.
• Pulsatilla is to be used in cases of large measle-like hives accompanied by a burning and itching sensation symptom.
• Rhus tox is a remedy that is used when there is a lot of itching and burning, with red skin that is swollen and inflamed.
• Sepia is given for hives that affect the face, neck, or in some cases the whole body.
• Urtica urens is used where there is a lot of itching along with burning or prickling sensations.

Managing hives isn’t easy, but there are lots sites on the Internet that will help you in managing urticaria. They mainly deal with the correct evaluation of patterns and causes where possible, and avoiding potential ‘triggers’ that cause reactions in the skin. Good diet practices should also be adhered to because the overall health of the body will hinder the condition from continuing.

One site to visit when learning about managing urticaria is Infoallergy.com. This site suggests identifying aggravating factors that could make the urticaria worse. Some of these include avoiding situations like taking aspirin, overheating, wearing tight clothing, and stress. If patients do not respond well to antihistamines, they should talk to their doctor about taking a higher dose or about any other medications that may be available.

Mayoclinic.com has excellent advice on managing urticaria, as well as many other conditions. They suggest do a little work before seeing your doctor, such as writing down what your experiencing and personal information about stress and life changes. Also, you should write down a list of all the medications, vitamins, and supplements that you are taking as well as a list of questions to ask your doctor.

This site also suggests ways to relieve your symptoms. These include wearing light, loose fitting clothing and other ways to avoid irritating the affected area. The recommends taking over-the-counter anti-histamines until you can get in to see your doctor, and cooling the affected area with a shower, fan, cool cloth or soothing lotion.

Home Treatment

There are lots of things that you can do to treat and sooth your symptoms at home. Many people turn to home remedies for managing urticaria because anti-histamines are simply not enough, or they make people too drowsy to cope. Also, many home remedies offer long term solutions that conventional medicines can’t. Yet, any type of remedy should always be discussed with your physician beforehand.

Home-remedies-for-you.com suggests taking cool baths and showers, applying vitamin E oil to the affected area. Adding corn starch and baking soda to luke-warm water is helpful in managing urticaria, and so applying a mixture of oatmeal and hot water. Herbal teas such as chamomile and peppermint teas are suggested by the site for managing hives, and so are foods rich in zinc and vitamins C and E.

Ayurvediccure.com offers some of the same advice, however they add much more. They suggest nettle tea with honey or lemon flavor, as nettles are considered to be able to heal hives. Applying Aloe Vera to the affected area is said to be a trusted home remedy to help with managing hives. In addition, the herb is said to have healing properties.

In diagnosing hives, a very detailed history must be given to determine the duration of the hives.  Hives can be either chronic or acute. Acute hives last for less than six weeks and chronic hives last longer than six weeks. Diagnosing chronic hives is more involved than diagnosing acute hives, but it is important to make the distinction as chronic hives can be caused by more serious underlying problems.

Chronic hives are known as physical urticaria when a specific stimulus triggers hives in certain people. According to Dermatolotgy.about.com, different types of urticaria include:

Dermographism – This type of physical hives is very common. The hives are produced suddenly by rubbing or stroking the skin.

Pressure Urticaria – This type is difficult to diagnose, but is fairly common.  In this type, hives are produced hours after applying pressure to the skin.

Cholinergic Urticaria – Hives appear shortly after or during exercise.

Exercise Induced Anaphylaxis – Hives, shortness of breath, and dizziness after exercising are symptoms of this rare disorder. People with this disorder may pass out or go into shock.

Cold Urticaria – These hives are produced with exposure to cold water, ice, or sudden drops in temperature.

Solar Urticaria – Hives of this kind occur minutes after exposure to the sun and disappear soon after.

Steps in Diagnosis

It usually doesn’t take a lot for the doctor to diagnose the pink or red bumps or slightly raised patches of skin as hives. However, he will have trouble knowing for sure the cause, although with a detailed story, sometimes it is easy enough to figure out what triggered the reaction. If you get hives a lot, or you have a serious reaction, your doctor may send you to an allergy specialist.

You will probably be asked to make a list of family members who have allergic reactions. You will need to inform the physician about other health conditions that run in your family, or that you currently have because many types of conditions can be the underlying cause of hives or skin rashes. Sometimes your doctor or the allergy specialist will order a series of skin tests to find out what you are allergic to.

If you and your doctor have trouble identifying what is causing your case of hives, you should keep a journal to prevent future outbreaks. First make a list of external irritants that may have triggered your hives, such as new laundry detergents, soaps, and cosmetics. Next, you should list any foods or medicines that you have ingested. Continue keeping track until you can narrow down what is triggering your reactions.

Acupressure hives treatment uses the same points as acupuncture hives treatment, but acupuncture employs needles and acupressure uses the gentle but firm pressure of the hands are feet. Like acupuncture, acupressure is an ancient art of healing as well, and it also uses the surface of the skin to stimulate the body’s self-curative abilities. In addition it promotes blood circulation and releases muscle tension.

Acupressure is one of the most effective alternative treatments out there. There is a lot of data showing that it is a great method of treatment for hives and other skin conditions. One of the advantages of acupressure hives treatments, over other treatments, is that it is safe enough to practice on your own or with others. This is of course if you follow instructions and pay attention to any cautions given.

Before you start, here are some of the warnings concerning acupressure treatments given by Onlineartdirector.com:

• Do not use to replace emergency procedures or licensed medical treatment.
• Use only as a treatment for illness, continue seeing your doctor
• Do not use if you have a heart condition
• Do not use within 20 minutes before or after heavy exercise
• Do not use if you are pregnant
• Do not use acupressure point if it is under a mole, wart, varicose vein, abrasion, bruise, cut, or break in the skin

Acupressure Hives Method

A person who wants to practice acupressure hives treatment on themselves or anyone else should spend more time learning about the technique; however, the following information should give you a general idea of how it all works. Herbalshop.com lists these and other acupressure points for skin conditions. They include:

Heavenly Pillar: Located one-half inch below the base of the skull, on the ropy muscles one-half inch outward from either side of the spine.

Three Mile Point: Located four finger widths below the kneecap, toward the outside to the shinbone.

Third Eye Point: Directly between your eyebrows in the indention where the bridge of the nose meets the center of the forehead.

The following method of hives acupressure treatment can be found at Onlineartdirector.com (please visit the site for more information):

To stimulate the acupoint properly, you must use deep probing pressure with your fingertip, knuckle, or the eraser side of a pencil. Start by exploring the area with deep probing pressure, until the point announces itself with a sharp twinge. It will start a jolt, and then become a numbing sensation or tingling. It may be quite a shock the first time you do it, but your sensitivity decreases over time.

When you have found the right the right point, just apply pressure for 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat on the same point on the other side of the body. Immediate relief should be felt. You may feel a release of tension, sinus drainage, perspiration, or even belch or pass gas. Points on opposite sides of the body may have different effects, and that is ok, but if symptoms increase stops using that point.