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Hives or urticaria is an acute allergic reaction on the part of the entire body that manifests itself at skin level. The factors that cause it are various: aside from food, pharmaceuticals, some bacteria and viruses, insect stings, contact with chemical substances and also physical agents such as heat, cold or sunlight.
It's always important to realize that, like every allergy, hives is an important signal of imbalance that the body sends to the outside. As a matter of fact, in many cases the origin of the outbreak can be traced to a moment of intense vital change, whether on a physical or on an emotional level.
Practically speaking, when the body reacts to one of the possible stimuli it releases histamine at skin level resulting in inflammation with the dilation of blood vessels and the discharge of liquids that create swelling.
Hives manifests itself in the form various types of rashes on the skin, in localized areas or all over the body: they can be red or pink blotches, slightly raised in the center with a white depression, or bumps like mosquito stings or small red pimples like those caused by poison ivy.
It is almost always accompanied by itching or burning. Most of the time it is caused by a food that, directly or indirectly, increases allergic reactivity and encourages the outbreak of the hives reaction.
In the course of any treatment, caution should be taken before suspending the classic antihistamine therapy in order to avoid rebound effects. Pay close attention to the information given in the related topics area, in the right hand column of the article.
Suggested links
If you wish to find additional information, consult the pages from the list of diseases compiled by the Karoliska Istitutet of Stockholm and refer to Acute and chronic urticaria and Chronic urticaria.
The Manuale Merk (in Italian) presents pharmaceutical-induced dermatitis and vasoactive reactions produced by the activation of the immune system (Dermatiti da farmaci e Disordini dei mediatori vasoattivi).
Food intolerances
In recent years, there has been increasing emphasis on the role that food intolerances play in hives. It's not simply a question of possible contact with additives or preservatives (often responsible for the problem) but of the diffused inflammation that develops in the body and reduces its ability for adaptation. Hives breaks out when the body comes very close its threshold and sometimes it takes very little to go beyond it.
Once the responsible food intolerances are identified (for example with a DRIA Hives), a dietary therapy is prescribed, but low-dose hyposensitizers are also very useful in therapy as they often allow for more permissive dietary regimes.
For additional information, see Allergy and Food intolerances.
Trace elements, Minerals, Vitamins
The allergic reaction can often be controlled with the supplement of certain minerals. The most important minerals for contrasting allergies are Manganese, Copper, Zinc and Lithium.
Lithium in particular (as a trace element, not as an anti-depressant drug) performs a very important role in reducing the reactivity of the cells that release histamine (the mast cells) and is sometimes able to stop the reaction even after one round of therapy.
Vitamin C (general anti-allergic action), Coenzyme Q10 (skin protection), Vitamin B6 (anti-stress action) and Inositol (strong depurative action) are among the supplements that are most effective in accompanying the healing process.
Homeopathy
All of the remedies are to be used at 5 CH or 7 CH dilution (except for Orthohistaminum, which is to be used at 9 CH), in dosages of 2-3 granules at the onset of the symptoms every 5-10 minutes if necessary until the patient feels better.
Apis mellifica: intense burning on the site of the lesions, accompanied by a prickly sensation; the itching is soothed by cold or ice compresses; the lesions are hot and pink.
Urtica urens: Symptoms are similar to those of Apis, but cold water worsens the localized pain and burning sensation.
Ledum palustre: provokes a desire for cold applications like Apis, but the lesions are pale and cold, sometimes with red borders (like mosquito stings).
Orthohistaminum 9 CH: acts as a natural antihistamine; to be taken along with the other remedies as described below in the “instructions”.
Arsenicum album: a remedy with an important detoxifying action that has an effect on symptoms such as burning sensations at skin level, improvement with applied heat, and a state of general fatigue.
For further information on food-induced hives, see also Food intoxication and the relative remedies mentioned above.
Phytotherapy and drainage
Ribes nigrum (Blackcurrant) 1D glycerite extract may be taken for extended periods in dosages of 30-40 drops 5 or 6 times per day during the acute phase. Reduce the dosage gradually as the patient’s conditions improve.
The extract may also be substituted by Blackcurrant Oil in capsule form (dosage: 4-6 capsules per day).
Popular medicine
Vinegar and cold water (or tepid, if preferred) applied locally with a sponge help to alleviate the itching.
Doctor Attilio Speciani
Clinical Allergist and Immunologist
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