Home Remedies For Urticaria

What is Urticaria?

Urticaria is a dermatological disorder characterized by localized, itchy reddish wheals or swellings on the skin. Chronic Urticaria lasting for a period of more than six weeks is more frustrating and troublesome as compared to acute Urticaria. It is not a contagious disease.

It can be categorized as Contact Urticaria, Physical Urticaria, Allergic Urticaria, Drug Induced Non Immunoligical Urticaria, Cholinergic Urticaria and Idiopathic Urticaria depending on the underlying cause. It is also known as nettle rash as it is similar to the sting of nettle in appearance. The disease is referred to as Idiopathic Urticaria when the underlying cause is not clear.

Normally, Urticaria affects the upper layer of dermis. But, when the Idiopathic Urticaria wheals penetrate deeper in the dermis up to the subcutaneous tissues then the condition is referred to as Angioedema. Angioedema is a serious condition which may lead to airway obstruction due to swelling. At times, individuals tend to suffer from both Urticaria as well as Angioedema.

Therefore, the patient should try to cure this disease with the help of safe and natural home remedies for Urticaria in order to avoid further complications or side effects of conventional immune suppressants and steroids. Plus, the patient should identify the underlying cause and remove it from the environment in case it is caused by allergy.

Causes and Symptoms of Urticaria

Urticaria can be caused by allergic as well as non allergic factors. More often than not, acute Urticaria is caused by certain foods, drugs, or environmental irritants like house dust, pollen, animal dander, chemicals, nettle etc. Moreover, the use of synthetic products like perfumes, talcum powder, cosmetic products and animal derivatives increase the risk of developing this disease.

Extreme temperatures, sunlight, friction, pressure, water on the skin or insect bites and stings may also trigger the symptoms of Urticaria. Frequent bacterial, viral infections or intestinal parasites may also result in the same. Besides, intake of non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, the ones used to reduce pain, contraceptive pills, antibiotics or high blood pressure controlling drugs etc may contribute in causing this disease.

Systematic or internal diseases like reticuloses, hyperthyroidism, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), polycythaemia and other related diseases may also cause the same. Other factors include stress, exercise, and other immune related or hereditary factors. Although, the fact that exact cause remains unknown in almost half the cases, can not be ignored.

The most important symptom of Urticaria is the appearance of rash-like wheals on the skin accompanied by a burning or stinging sensation. They are extremely itchy and often leave the patient frustrated due to discomfort. These red or pink colored raised patches may be round or irregular in shape.

The wheals may appear individually or in groups and tend to appear and disappear randomly in a few hours. The swelling, when penetrates deeper increases the chances of airway obstruction resulting in suffocation. Such Angioedema swellings are more painful and usually affect the eyelids, lips or the mouth.

Natural Home Remedies for Urticaria

• Applying a mixture of rose water (35 ml) and vinegar (25 ml) on the affected area is one of the most effective natural home remedies for Urticaria itching.

• Aloe vera gel also helps to relieve itchiness caused by this disease.

• Regularly drinking a cup of water mixed with two teaspoons of turmeric powder is a highly beneficial natural remedy used to cure Urticaria. Alternatively, the mixture can also be taken in doses of two teaspoon, three times in a day.

• Therapeutic herbs basil, henna, sandalwood, cassia etc are excellent home remedies for Urticaria prevention and treatment. The application of a combination of these herbs helps to reduce swelling and irritation.

• Mashed papaya has a soothing and cooling effect on rashes caused by this disease. So, apply this home remedy on Urticaria rashes to reduce the discomfort and facilitate the process of healing.

• Take a teaspoon of olive oil and add some grapefruit seed extract to it. The application of this remdy has been proved to be one of the most successful home remedies for Urticaria rash.

• Take approximately 175 ml of water and add 7 g mint and 25 g brown sugar in it. Boil the mixture and drink it to get rid of intense itching.

• Rubbing a mixture of alum and red ochre in powdered form has a soothing effect on the wheals.

• A combination of juice extracted from Indian Plum and soda is regarded as a good home remedy for Urticaria treatment.

• Herbal teas like that of chamomile, peppermint, valerian, nettle, catnip etc serve as efficient home remedies for Urticaria by calming the nerves and preventing stress.

• Add half a cup of cornstarch and the same amount of baking soda in a tub filled with warm bath water. Daily soak in this bath water for some time. It helps to control itchiness thereby aiding in the home treatment of Urticaria rash. Oatmeal baths are also beneficial.

• Simply applying cold compresses also helps to ease the symptoms.

Diet for Urticaria

A healthy diet rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc is useful when dealing with Urticaria. Vitamin C, in particular, builds resistance against allergic reactions causing such problems. Hence, fruits like apples, grapes, pineapples, oranges, papayas etc should be taken regularly.

Bitter vegetables, especially drumsticks are also useful in curing Urticaria. Onion, ginger and garlic should be positively included in the diet because they act as natural anti inflammatory agents. Consumption of lukewarm water mixed with lemon juice helps cleansing and detoxification.

Apart from this, restrict the consumption of salty and sour foods, even curd, until the disease gets cured. Besides, packaged and processed foods and meats are difficult to digest. Therefore, such items should be strictly avoided to decreases the chances of aggravation. Shellfish, eggs tomato, strawberry, peanuts, milk, berries, cheese, soy products or any other allergy causing foods should also be avoided.