Chronic urticaria is an allergic skin rash that lasts longer than six weeks. Also referred to as hives or a nettle rash, urticaria is most often brought on by an allergy to pets, latex, a bee or insect sting, medicine or foods. The rash is composed of round or oval bumps on the skin, sometimes red in color and often itchy. They are caused by a release of histamines in the skin which causes the small blood vessels near the skin’s surface to leak fluid. It is this fluid that causes the irritation and swelling consistent with hives.

The best way to treat chronic urticaria hives is to treat the itching, as scratching the rash will only prolong and exacerbate the hive outbreak. Calamine lotion is a proven way to soothe the skin and decrease itching. Antihistamines taken orally or applied topically are among the most widespread treatment options for such skin rashes. There is also a wide variety of herbs that can impair histamine production, speeding the recovery time and minimizing itchiness. These include Paeonia and Forsythia extract, which can be found in a variety of dietary supplements. Lotions containing green tea have shown antihistamine properties, and their application on rashes will soothe and relieve itchy skin.

Cholinergic urticaria are hives that are caused by profuse sweating, usually in response to overheating of the body because of exercise. The hives are generally small, ranging from 2 mm to 3mm and are often restricted to the upper torso and arms, although sometimes these hives have been found as low as the thighs. These urticaria hives develop quickly after a rise in body temperature, usually appearing within twenty minutes of increased internal temperature.

These hives are most often noted as a result of exercise or stress, and usually dissipate on their own within thirty minutes. The most severe incidents are sometimes accompanied by headaches, shortness of breath, lightheadedness and abdominal cramps. The best way to treat cholinergic urticaria is to cool the body down, by simply resting in a cool area, taking a cool shower, or drinking copious amounts of water.

Sometimes urticaria hives are not brought on by an allergic reaction. These can be triggered by extreme temperatures, acute stress, prolonged exposure to sunlight or a sudden increase in body temperature due to exercise or climate. By reducing daily stress and physical exertion, urticaria hives can be minimized and chronic urticaria can dissipate. Keeping the body hydrated is an important component to keeping it cool, and this can help prevent urticaria hives. Identifying and preventing the cause of urticaria is the most important step to keeping the number and intensity of chronic urticaria incidents to a minimum.

If you find yourself breaking out in hives and think that you may have chronic urticaria or cholinergic urticaria, you should call your doctor, especially if you have just started taking a new medication or were stung by a bee or other insect.

br /> Author: Scott LeRoy

Scott LeRoy has been studying prescription and OTC medications as well as natural remedies for over a dozen years. He is a regular contributor to Skin Diseases, a section of Skin Conditions dedicated to conventional and alternative treatments of various conditions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_LeRoy

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Chronic hives treatment is an audio hypnosis session which makes full use of current medical knowledge on mind-body interactions and the power of hypnosis. 

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As for chronic urticaria, it account for approximately 30% of the cases. Clinically both acute and chronic forms are indistinguishable.

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The psychology behind the hypnosis at Hypnosis Downloads.com.   

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Urticaria, especially chronic urticaria, is treated using antihistamine medicine which are conventionally prescribed for a few weeks, but the patients end up using it for years! 

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Natural homeopathic solution for hives is also available now. You can try Oxyhives, developed by homeopathy experts to help relieve multiple symptoms of hives safely.

Chronic urticaria is usually of much longer duration, and in most cases, the offending cause is not known. Standard modern medicine may not be very helpful here. It is in such patients that Ayurvedic herbal treatment may be very useful and effective. One major advantage of Ayurvedic herbal medicines in such an affliction is that medicines may be taken for long periods without any serious side-effects.

I shall now discuss the different types of urticaria, from the point of view of Ayurveda, and mention their Ayurvedic treatment in brief.

When disturbed "Vata" dosha is mainly responsible for causing urticaria, a pricking sensation is predominant, and this type of urticaria is called "Sheetapitta". When disturbed "Kapha" dosha is mainly responsible, itching is the predominant symptom, and this type of urticaria is called ""Udarda". Impurities are formed in the "Rakta" dhatu due to improperly induced emesis (vomiting) , and the resulting urticaria is termed as "Kotha". When this kotha becomes recurrent, it is termed as "Utkotha".

For the treatment of urticaria, application of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) oil and fomentation with hot water is beneficial. Induced vomiting and induced mild purgation are beneficial, where symptoms are severe, however, these procedures should be carried out by qualified and experienced physicians.

All efforts should be made to try to avoid the offending cause, if known. Soda bicarbonate powder mixed in warm water, when applied to the hives, gives immediate relief from itching. Ayurvedic medications containing Trikatu or Marich(Piper nigrum) and Turmeric (e.g. Haridrakhand Yog) are useful in controlling urticaria. Other products like Sameerpannag, Sutshekhar, Arogyavardhini, and Gandhak Rasayan are also very useful. Medicines like Kamdudha, Mukta and Gairik are useful in reducing the burning sensation associated with itching in urticaria.

Patients with chronic urticaria may not respond readily to the above mentioned treatment. A detailed history for the symptoms, and a detailed study of the constitutional framework of the patient is essential in deciding the ideal combination of medicines for each patient, so as to get maximum results. Treatment for the impurities caused in the "Rakta" Dhatu, and treatment for stress, are two important principles of treatment which contribute significantly to the success of treatment. Therefore, medicines like Sariva ( Hemidesmus indicus), Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) , Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi) and Shankhpushpi (Consecora decussata) are useful in chronic urticaria. Ultimately, treatment has to be tailor-made for each patient having chronic urticaria.

Author: Abdulmubeen Mundewadi

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