Hives

Hives

Urticaria (or hives) is a kind of skin rash notable for pale red, raised, itchy bumps. Hives is frequently caused by allergic reactions; however, there are many non-allergic causes. Most cases of hives lasting less than six weeks (acute urticaria) are the result of an allergic trigger. Chronic urticaria (hives lasting longer than six weeks) is rarely due to an allergy. The majority of patients with chronic hives have an unknown (idiopathic) cause. Perhaps as many as 30–40% of patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria will, in fact, have an autoimmune cause. Acute viral infection is another common cause of acute urticaria (viral exanthem). Less common causes of hives include friction, pressure, temperature extremes, exercise, and sunlight.

Unfortunately what makes treating hives so difficult is the fact that for every sufferer there are different triggers, as a result what helps one hives sufferer might not do anything for another. 

Basically hives is an imbalance in the body, whether it be to stress, an allergy or a build up of toxins, the best way to rid yourself of hives is to work with the body’s natural abilities and discover the imbalance.

Coconut and Oregano Body Oil - Mix 2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil and 10-15 drops of Oil of Oregano. Completely smooth over affected area.

Both coconut and oregano oil have amazing natural healing properties. Oregano oil has an anti-inflammatory action and is a natural anesthetic which will help relieve any pain or itching. And both coconut and oregano oil are anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic and anti-bacterial, which when applied topically will be absorbed into the body via the skin and assist in the healing and detoxifying process.

Oatmeal and Cornstarch Paste - Make a paste with 2 cups of oatmeal and 3 tablespoons of cornstarch. Add a little water to make it into a paste. Apply to affected area for 15-30 minutes. This paste will dry up affected areas within a few hours of applying. If a large portion of your body is covered in hives then try having an oatmeal and cornstarch bath instead.

Oatmeal is known to have great healing properties and both cornstarch and oatmeal are soothing agents to calm the skin. This is a treatment that can be applied daily.

Soothing Mint Ice Cubes - This remedy needs to be pre-made but can be used to provide immediate relief from the symptoms of hives. Make a tea with 2 teaspoons of freshly crushed organic mint leaves and leave until cooled, then strain the tea into ice cubes and freeze.

Mint is known for its cooling effects; place the ice cubes directly onto the affected area to instantly relieve inflamed or irritated skin. Once they have frozen you can place these directly on the skin.

Healing Vitamins - Vitamins and essential fatty acids are very important for the health of your skin. Some vitamins that are highly recommended to help heal hives are cayenne pepper (which can be taken in capsule form), vitamin C, vitamin E, Omega 3 and 6 and zinc.

Repair the acid/alkaline balance in your body - The foods we eat and our environment can greatly affect the body's natural pH state, which can be a leading factor in the development of many diseases. The basic idea is about ensuring the body is in its optimal natural state to give it the ability to heal itself.

There is heaps of information on the internet if you do a quick search about the acid/alkaline balance and what the best foods are to consume and avoid to allow the body to repair itself. Foods and drinks you should always try to avoid are processed meats, refined sugar, soft drinks, refined white bread. Another great tip is have the juice of half a lemon (or a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar) in a glass of water upon rising.

If you would like to test the acidity of your body you can do a quick saliva test with litmus paper - be careful not to touch the litmus paper though because the skin is usually slightly acidic, and will vary the results.

Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar - Make a tea with 1 teaspoon of Aluminum FREE baking soda and 2 tablespoons of organic apple cider vinegar and drink twice daily. This tea is great detoxifying the body of allergens and histamine that cause inflammation whilst also returning the body to its natural pH.

Quercetin - Quercetin is a plant pigment that acts as a natural antihistamine, which can help reduce and even completely cure some people of hives, as it acts as a natural balance to the allergen effect which creates hives. Quercetin is most commonly found in leafy green vegetables, onions and apples. Naturopathic doctors generally recommend taking 500 milligrams of this natural herbal remedy twice a day.

OxyHives Homeopathic Remedy - OxyHives is a natural oral remedy that uses the principals of homeopathy to heal the source of hives and prevent them from reoccuring. There have been many people who have had great success with this treatment and have even reported no reoccurences since taking OxyHives.

Sandalwood essential oil - This essential oil is well known for its calming and cooling effects. Consequently, many herbalists refer to Sandalwood as a sedative for the skin. Simply add several drops of this essential oil to a cotton ball and then apply it to the infected area every three hours. You should be careful when apply essential oils directly to the skin - if you notice any irritation simply add a couple of drops of oil to coconut oil.

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