If you have been to the doctor to treat hives, and nothing seems to work, you should try a hives alternative treatment. There are many types of alternative treatments that you can try and most treatments are completely safe. However, as with anything else, take caution when trying new things and consult your physician before beginning any hives alternative treatment.

One of the main alternative treatments for hives that people are turning to is acupuncture. This form of treatment works well on hives because it attempts to treat the underlying cause, and not just the symptoms. People who practice traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believe that energy flows in and out of the body by ‘meridians’, or channels. When a person’s energy flow becomes unbalanced, the result is illness or discomfort. In acupuncture, specific points are associated with different ailments. Slender needles are placed into the patient’s skin along these points in order to rebalance the person’s energy, allowing them to recover (Livestrong.com, 2011).

Medical literature on Oriental medicine, such as acupuncture, can be found dating back to 3AD. Aside from acupunctures, TCM practitioners may also recommend oriental herbs, herbal medicines, and lifestyle or dietary changes to the sufferer. Diet is especially important when trying to cure the body.

Home Remedies

Home remedies are often used in conjunction with conventional medicine to cure hives. There are some very effective home treatments that you can try which alleviate irritation and heal the skin. Many of them involve herbs that have been used to heal the skin for centuries.

Hives-treatment.com suggests using parsley because it contains natural antihistamines and it help to stop itching. In this remedy, take 3 teaspoons of fresh parsley, or 1 teaspoon if it’s dry. Add it to one cup of water and boil for 5-10 minutes. Strain it and drink up three cups everyday. Amaranth seeds also have antihistamine compounds and are beneficial to treating hives. In this remedy, just boil 2 teaspoons of amaranth seeds in 3 cups of water for 15 minutes. Strain and dab it over your hives with a cotton cloth for relief.

Aloe Vera has natural soothing and skin healing properties. It is one of the best remedies for any type of skin conditions, and it will immediately subside itching that is caused by hives. Some people use the gel straight from inside the plant, but the Aloe Vera gel that you find on the shelf at the store work well too.

Hives acupuncture is one of the leading treatments available. Urticaria acupuncture works because it treats the whole body instead of just the symptoms of the disease. Not only can acupuncture heal the symptoms of hives, in many cases they do not reoccur and you are cured of them altogether. This is why acupuncture for hives is gaining in popularity year to year.

Chinese medicine has a more holistic understanding than that of the Western world. So, Chinese medicine treatment starts with an analysis of the entire system. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) it is believed that energy flows through the body in channels known as ‘meridians’. When this energy flow becomes unbalanced, sickness or physical and emotional discomfort will result.

Hives are considered to be a wind rash.  Furthermore, they are diagnosed as being warm or cold. Normally, those that are red are associated with heat and those that are pink are white are said to be wind-cold. This diagnosis will help determine treatment.

The treatments that are to be received are decided after considering both the root (cause) and the branch (symptoms). Immediate relief is given to relieve itching and swelling so that underlying imbalances, or causes, can be addressed.

Acupuncture and Hives Treatment

In acupuncture, slender metal needle are inserted into the patients skin, at traditional locations along the meridians. By stimulating theses points, which are associated with different types of ailments, it is believed that the body’s energy can be rebalanced.  Once rebalance, the person can recover. Depending on the state of your overall health, many different acupuncture points could be used. Acupuncture for urtricaria is usually tailored to each person individually. However, according to Acufinder.com, the two most commonly used points in hives acupuncture is Spleen 10 (SP 10) and Large Intestine 11 (LI 11).

SP 10 is located above the inner corner of the kneecap when the knee is slightly bent; it is one of the major points used to treat skin conditions. LI 11 is found in the depression at the outer part of the elbow creases. This point is meant to help expel wind and heat from the body and to reduce inflammation.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine states that hives acupuncture treatment is not risk free. Although few adverse effects have been reported, if it is practiced incorrectly you could suffer serious injury or infection. Make sure the practitioner is correctly licensed and has conventional medical training as well. You should also continue to see and communicate with your family doctor regularly.

Hives prevention is not an easy task. Urticaria prevention takes a lot of lifestyle changes to accomplish, but it can be done. The main thing to remember is that if you treat your body well, you can help it to react right. This article will provide you with tips and tactics that help in the prevention of hives.

Ehow.com suggests that if you want to cure hives, you should do so with an elimination diet. Although, allergies are truly not the cause of hives sometimes food can trigger an outbreak. This diet simply excludes foods that trigger outbreaks of hives in people and list foods that are safe to consume.

The foods to be excluded are peanut products, shellfish, dairy, and food made from soybeans. Mushrooms, eggplant, and peppers should also be eliminated. On the other hand, water and herbal teas are permitted. So are meats such as wild game, saltwater fish, organic chicken, and much more. Don’t hesitate to visit Ehow.com for more information on the elimination diet for hives prevention.

Tactics of Prevention

There are other known hives triggers that should be avoided as well. These include extremes in hot or cold temperatures, over exertion or heavy exercise, clothes that are too tight or fabrics that don’t breathe, medications that contain aspirin and situations that may cause stress or anxiety.

Of course, not all things can be avoided. So, let’s turn it around. Know that if you have to be exposed to extreme temperatures it has the potential to trigger your hives. By the same token over exertion that causes sweat or a raised body temperature may do the same. Wear clothes that are made of cotton or other breathable fabrics. Pepto-Bismol, penicillin, and drugs that contain aspirin may trigger hives. Finally, if you are stressed, talk to your doctor about upping your dosage of antihistamine.

If you really want to work on hives prevention, you have to understand that it is not caused by an allergic reaction. At the core, it is caused by an immune system dysfunction that makes your body to react wrong when exposed to certain substances.

For hives prevention, be sure to drink a lot of water to get rid of excess toxins and intake a lot of vitamin C to help your immune system. Foods rich in quercetin such as apples, onions, and leafy greens are rich in natural antihistamines and antioxidants. This of course will keep your histamine levels down and help in your urticaria prevention.

Herbs and acupuncture are the most popular forms of Chinese medicine hives treatment. In fact, both types of Chinese medicine urticaria treatment have been used to treat hives for centuries. With either treatment, it usually takes between two and six months to heal, but these Chinese medicine hives treatment often put people in remission.

One must understand that traditional Chinese medical practices such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, exercise, and dietary treatments are still practiced in the East. Treatment is put together on a person by person basis. In the Western world these practices seem taboo, and are considered alternative medicine.

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), a healthy person is at harmony with the world around him. A disease is considered a disharmony between the body’s functional entities (breathing, digestion, aging, etc.) and the outside world. Therefore TCM works to trace symptoms to the underlying cause of this disharmony (Wikipedia.org, 2011). Because they treat the ‘source’ not the symptoms, in TCM two people with similar symptoms may be treated in two different ways.

Chinese Medicine & Hives Treatment

Schisandra is one of the best Chinese herbs that can be used in urticaria treatment. It is said that this herb alleviates hives, eczema, and swollen tissues. In addition, it increases the body’s ability to deal with chemical stress. Finally, it also protects the body from various toxins and helps with liver functioning.

Mint is another herb that has been used in the east for centuries. You can boil the leaves and flavor to make your own tea, or add it to your diet. One herbal remedy people use is making a tea out of mint, draining the leaves, and then making ice cubes out of the remaining solution. Putting these ice cubes on the skin is said to relieve both inflammation and itch. Other herbs that may be used in a Chinese medicine hives treatment are:

• Mushrooms (Reishi or Shiitake) – for the immune system
• Dangue – for the liver or blood
• Astragalus – for the immune system
• Atractylodes – for digestive disorders
• Bupleurum – for liver problems and skin ailments
• Peony – for liver problems
• Salvia – for liver disfunction and cooling effects

Nowadays, Chinese herbal formulas are normally patented and sold over the counter in an easy convenient form. Of course that means that they are no longer put together on a person-to-person basis. If you would like to take a look at Chinese patented herbal medicines, you may wish to visit Chineseherbdirect.com or Holisticchineseherbs.com.

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
• Urticariahivestreatment.com
• 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.