Urticaria, also called hives or ‘nettle rash’, refers to raised, elevated, itchy bumps (wheals, also called welts) on the surface of the skin that result from an allergic reaction to certain allergens. Hives can be accompanied by burning sensations and stinging pain.
There is a wonderful scope to treat urticaria in homeopathy with natural homeopathic medicines. Homeopathy is helpful for treating hives that have surfaced recently (acute) as well as the ones that have been there for a longer duration (chronic). Homeopathic medicines initially help to clear the acute outbreak of wheals. These medicines help to heal the welts. Also, it provides relief from itching, burning, and stinging sensations. Subsequently, these medicines reduce the recurrence and severity of urticaria gradually.
How Homeopathy Treats Urticaria?
1 .Homoeopathy addresses the root cause: To overcome urticaria, homeopathic remedies act on the root cause of the problem. Urticaria is a result of a hyperactive immune system and overproduction of histamine in response to an allergen, leading to welts on the skin. There are also accompanying symptoms like itching, burning, and a stinging sensation. So, for complete treatment and cure, homeopathy optimizes the immune system and lowers the overproduction of histamine naturally.
2 Individualized Prescription:In homeopathy, there is no particular medicine that can treat all the cases of urticaria. Therefore, the most suitable medicine has to be administered from among the list of different medicines for urticaria as listed in homeopathic therapeutics. The medicines are administered as per the characteristic symptoms the individual shows, i.e., the specific type of urticaria, its trigger factors, and the factors that worsen & provide relief from its symptoms. Urticaria should be evaluated by only a qualified homeopath so that he prescribes the medicines depending on a case-by-case basis. Self-medication should be avoided.
3 .Natural medicines with no side effects: Homeopathic medicines are safe and natural. They have no unwanted adverse effects. The medicines are prepared from naturally obtained and highly diluted substances, which are gentle on the human body. With homeopathic treatment, the dependence on use of antihistamines and other conventional medicines is also reduced.
Homeopathy is recommended for mild to moderate cases of urticaria. In severe cases and cases of anaphylaxis, urgent treatment through conventional medicines should be sought, as it is a life-threatening condition and homeopathy has its own limitations.
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Top 10 Homeopathic Medicines for Urticaria
The top 10 homeopathic medicines to treat urticaria are Apis Mellifica, Natrum Muriaticum, Urtica Urens, Rhus Toxicodendron, Dulcamara, Astacus, Sulphur, Chloralum, Elaterium Officinarum and Fagopyrum Esculentum.
1. Apis Mellifica – Top Grade Medicine For Urticaria
It is a leading medicine for the treatment of urticaria. The key symptom of using this medicine is red, inflamed wheals with marked burning and stinging sensations. Itching is intense during the night. The wheals may be painful and tender to the touch. They usually appear as a result of heat. The Hives, which trigger in warm weather, are also indicative of its use. Other than that, Urticaria from an insect bite is another characteristic to use this medicine.
When to use Apis Mellifica?
The characteristic feature of using this medicine is red welts on the skin accompanied by a burning and stinging sensation.
How to use Apis Mellifica?
This medicine can be administered in 30C potency twice or thrice daily as per the severity of the symptoms.
2. Natrum Muriaticum – For Urticaria From Exercise And Heat (Cholinergic Type)
It is a very effective medicine for the treatment of hives that are triggered by too much exercise and heat. Those who need it get wheals over the whole body accompanied by excessive itching. The wheals appear like large red blotches. Burning and smarting sensations also appear in them. In many cases stinging sensation is also felt in the rash.
When to use Natrum Muriaticum?
This medicine is administered in cases of hives that are triggered by heat and excessive exercise.
How to use Natrum Muriaticum?
It is advised to take Natrum Mur 6X three to four times daily as per the intensity of the symptoms.
3. Urtica Urens – For Hives that Appear in the Same Season Every Year
Use of Urtica Urens is administered when it surfaces in the same season every year. Wheals are red with itching and a burning sensation. The patient constantly scratches the skin to get relief. There is a stinging sensation felt on the welts. Swelling of the face may appear along with the above symptoms in some cases. Nettle rash from eating shellfish is also indicative of using this medicine.
When to use Urtica Urens?
Urtica Urens can be used if there is a tendency to have hives in the same season every year.
How to use Urtica Urens?
It is recommended in a 30 C potency two to three times a day.
4. Rhus Toxicodendron– For Water-Induced/Aquagenic Type Urticaria
Rhus Tox is helpful for those who suffer from water-induced hives. Here, the patient gets wheals due to contact of the skin with water. The wheals are accompanied by itching. After one scratches, a burning sensation follows. Stitching pain is also an accompanying factor.
When to use Rhus Toxicodendron?
Rhus Tox is a wonderful medicine to treat hives triggered by contact of the skin with water.
How to use Rhus Toxicodendron?
This medicine can be administered in 30C potency two to three times a day.
5. Dulcamara – For Hives from Cold Air Exposure (Cold-Induced Type)
Dulcamara is suitable for cases of urticaria that is cold-induced. Those who need it get hives due to exposure to the cold air. They get red wheals on the whole body. It is accompanied by excessive itching. Needle-like pricking sensation is also felt on the wheals.
When to use Dulcamara?
Dulcamara should be administered to treat urticaria triggered by exposure to cold air.
How to use Dulcamara?
Use Dulcamara in 30C potency once or twice a day for the best possible results.
6. Astacus – For Urticaria Accompanied By Liver Complaints
Astacus is administered if urticaria is accompanied by liver complaints. The wheals appear over the entire body. They result in itching and stinging pain. It is mainly indicated in long-standing (chronic) cases.
When to use Astacus?
This medicine is an ideal prescription for hives accompanied by some liver complaints.
How to use Astacus?
One may use Astacus 30C once a day.
7. Sulphur – To Manage Itching In Eruptions
Sulphur is prominently administered to manage itching in the wheals on the skin. Most of the time itching gets better by scratching. The wheals may appear over the entire body. This is accompanied by an intense burning sensation, besides itching. In addition to this, stitching like prickling sensation on the skin is also felt. Formication sensation, as if an insect is crawling on the skin, is another accompanying symptom.
When to use Sulphur?
Sulphur can be considered to manage itching in the welts in cases of hives.
How to use Sulphur?
It is advised to limit the use of Sulphur 30C to just once a day.
8. Chloralum – For Urticaria From Scratching Skin (Dermatographic Type)
Chloralum is mainly recommended for dermatographic type of urticaria. Those who need it get welts on the skin if the skin is scratched. The patient complains of severe irritation, itching, and a stinging feeling. This medicine also helps those cases of hives that appear at night and get better during the day. In such cases, wheals are large and red, and sometimes accompanied by swelling of the face and the eyelid. The wheals have itching that compels a person to scratch until it bleeds. Apart from this, this medicine is also indicated when a complaint appears due to alcohol intake.
When to use Chloralum?
Use this medicine for urticaria if the disease is a result of scratching of the skin.
How to use Chloralum?
Chloralum 30 C can be taken once or twice a day.
9. Elaterium Officinarum – For Sudden Oedematous Urticaria with Violent Burning
Elaterium is indicated for very severe urticaria associated with sudden oedematous swellings, especially when the skin eruptions are accompanied by marked swelling of the face, eyelids, or lips. The wheals are large, raised, and may be associated with burning and stinging sensations. This medicine is useful when urticaria appears suddenly and spreads rapidly. The eruptions are often large, puffy, and accompanied by marked burning and stinging. It is especially useful when hives appear after exposure to damp weather or suppressed discharges.
When to Use Elaterium officinarum?
It can be used when urticaria is acute, and there is rapid swelling of skin or mucous membranes, especially after cold, damp exposure or gastric disturbance.
How to use Elaterium officinarum?
It is commonly prescribed in 30C potency, 2–3 times daily in acute cases.
10. Fagopyrum Esculentum- For Sun-Aggravated Itching with Erythema
Fagopyrum is one of the best remedies administered when there is marked itching of the skin, especially after exposure to sunlight. Skin becomes intensely itchy, red, and excoriated from scratching. It is often associated with gastrointestinal disturbances. The skin becomes hypersensitive, and there may be marked redness. It is especially useful when one suffers from urticaria due to exposure to sunlight or certain food items.
When to use Fagopyrum Esculentum?
It is administered in urticaria triggered by sunlight or heat, and when itching is a prominent complaint and there is nervous irritability.
How to use Fagopyrum Esculentum?
It is usually administered in 30C potency, one to two times daily, depending on the intensity of the problem. In recurrent cases, weekly dosing may be prescribed but under supervision.
What Are Its Causes?
The reason behind hives is usually an allergic reaction due to an overactive immune system. This reaction may occur from the consumption of certain food items or touching something to which a person is allergic. Hives are a result of the release of histamine (a chemical produced by the immune system during an allergic reaction to get rid of an allergen) from mast cells and basophils under the skin’s surface. This results in dilatation of blood vessels under the skin and inflammation. Following this, these vessels become leaky and cause fluid to accumulate under the skin, causing wheal formation and swelling. People who have allergic tendencies are at risk of hives. Other than allergies, hives may also result from other non-allergic conditions like stress, tight clothes and infections. Many a time, in over half of the cases, the exact causes and trigger factors cannot be ascertained.
What Triggers Urticaria?
The main triggers include consumption of foods such as eggs, nuts, and shellfish. Also, certain medications like some antibiotics, NSAIDs, even exercises, scratching, alcohol, and insect bites may also trigger it. Other triggers include sun exposure, stress, extremes of heat or cold, some intestinal parasites, animal dander, pressure on skin, dust mites, water application, and certain plants, such as poison ivy. In some cases, viral infections (like common cold, mononucleosis, hepatitis), and bacterial infections (urinary tract-infection, strep throat) may trigger it. Sometimes it can arise in patients who have thyroid and Celiac’s disease (a gastric disorder in which an immune response in the small intestine is triggered from eating gluten that damages the small intestine).
What Are The Signs And Symptoms?
1. Wheals: It is the major sign of urticaria.It refers to raised, elevated, smooth-surfaced, itchy bumps on the skin with clearly defined edges. They are itchy. Also, burning and stinging sensations may be felt.
2. Location of wheals: They may appear on the surface of the skin on any of the body parts. They may be localized, confined to one body part, or many, or may be present on the entire body.
3. Color of wheals: It may be pink, red, pale or skin-colored. On being pressed, they may turn white (blanching).
4. Size of wheals: They can be small, like a pinpoint or may be several inches big. They may also join and form larger ones known as plaques.
5. Shape of wheals:They may be round, oval or ring-shaped.
6. Duration: They usually disappear within a few hours and will not remain present beyond one full day.
7. Angiodema:In some cases, angioedema arises. This means swelling appears under the skin, mainly around the eyes, lips, mouth, and sometimes around the genitals, hands, and feet.
8. Anaphylaxis:Very rarely, hives may appear from a severe allergic reaction, and lead to anaphylaxis in which intense swelling of lips, tongue, and throat arises along with troubled breathing, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and sometimes it may lead to fainting. Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening condition and thus it should be treated urgently.
What are the Various Types Of Urticaria?
There are two classifications of urticaria, based on the duration and based on the cause that induces it.
1. Based on Duration:
(a). Acute Urticaria – It lasts less than 6 weeks and its common causes include food allergies, drugs like NSAIDs and antibiotics.
(b). Chronic Urticaria – It may occur intermittently or even daily and it lasts more than 6 weeks.
2. Based on Cause (Inducible Types):
(a). Dermatographic – Urticaria arising after scratching the skin
(b). Cold Induced – Wheals triggered by exposure to cold air
(c). Heat-induced – Urticaria due to exposure to heat
(d). Cholinergic – Urticaria triggered by exercise, stress or hot bath
(e). Solar – Eruptions after exposure to sunlight
(f). Pressure Induced – Urticaria that is induced by pressure
(g). Aquagenic- Wheals triggered by water contact
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is urticaria contagious?
No, urticaria is not contagious. It does not spread from one person to another.
2. How long does urticaria last?
Acute urticaria lasts for a few days to weeks (less than 6 weeks). Chronic urticaria persists for more than 6 weeks and may continue for months or even years with recurrent episodes.
3. What are the common symptoms of urticaria?
The main symptoms include intense itching, red or skin-colored raised patches (wheals), burning sensation, and sometimes swelling of lips, eyelids, or face (angioedema).
4. Can stress cause urticaria?
Yes, emotional stress can trigger or worsen urticaria in some people. Managing stress can help reduce flare-ups.
5. What should I avoid if I have urticaria?
It is advisable to avoid known triggers such as spicy food, seafood, packaged food with preservatives, extreme temperatures, tight clothing, alcohol, and unnecessary medications without medical advice.
6. Is urticaria dangerous?
Most cases are mild and manageable. However, if there is difficulty in breathing, swelling of the throat, dizziness, or fainting, it may be a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention.
7. Can urticaria be treated with homeopathy?
Homeopathy aims to treat urticaria by addressing the underlying cause and individual symptoms. Remedies are selected based on the patient’s constitution, triggers, and nature of eruptions.
8. Can urticaria come back again?
Yes, especially in chronic cases, urticaria can recur. Proper treatment, trigger avoidance, and lifestyle management can help reduce recurrence.
9. What lifestyle changes can help manage urticaria?
Drinking enough water, avoiding trigger foods, maintaining a stress-free routine, regular sleep, wearing loose cotton clothes, and keeping the skin cool can help manage symptoms.
10. What is the role of Vitamin D in managing urticaria?
Vitamin D helps regulate the immune system. Low levels of Vitamin D are commonly seen in patients with chronic urticaria and may increase the frequency or severity of hives. Removing the deficiency may help reduce symptoms in some cases. However, supplements should be taken only after proper medical advice.