Natural Treatments for Hives

Hives, urticaria, affects thousands of people every year. If you’re itchy and trying hard to not to scratch your hives as you read this, you’re not alone. Nearly 20 percent of the population has been affected with hives at one point or another. One hallmark of hives is their tendency to change size rapidly and to move around, disappearing in one place and reappearing in other places, often in a matter of hours.

Hives are raised areas of itchy, red skin that appear in multiple shapes and sizes. They range in size from a few millimeters to several inches in diameter. Hives can be round, or they can form rings or large patches. Hives can also manifest as welts, red lesions with a red flare at the borders. Hives can occur anyplace on the body, such as the face, arms, and legs.

If you’re like some individuals, you may not care to rely on antihistamines to relieve your case of the hives. This may be especially true if the hives tend to reoccur frequently. Many people say that histamine is a natural reaction of the body, and as such, we shouldn’t try to artificially block it with medications. These persons instead prefer to alleviate the symptoms through natural means.

You should also consult with a professional herbalist prior to starting any supplementation program. She’ll be able to help you tailor a plan suited to your specific needs. A professional will let you know if the combination of natural products you might be considering are effective and can be safely used together.

Here are just a few of the herbs that professional herbalists recommend. Before starting any program of herbal supplementation, check with your personal health care provider. She’ll be able to advise you if any of the medications you’re taking will interfere with any of the herbs you intend to take.

The first herb that many find helpful in alleviating hives is jewelweed. This herb contains a substance called lawsone, which is said to have a near instant affect on the irritating itch of the hives.

If you’re going to use this, fresh jewelweed is the best. Actually, many say it’s best to grow your own –- that’s how fresh it should be! You can crush it and then gently rub it on the area. You should feel the effects almost immediately!

Make yourself a cup of tea with amaranth seeds. Many individuals swear by this remedy. They say it is a tremendous benefit to their hives. Amaranth tea is easy to make –- and the herb is fairly common to find. To make the tea, simply add two to three tablespoons of the tea to about three cups of boiling water. Allow this to steep for about twenty minutes. Then enjoy! The next thing you know, you’ll be enjoying hive-free living again!

You might want to consider adding a small amount of jewelweed to this tea. And if you’re in real discomfort, think about using the tea in a poultice. That’s right. Apply it directly to your skin. And if you have a very large area of your body that’s being affected by hives, mix this tea with your bathwater!

Ginger is a common herb and many may not even think about using it for a case of the hives. But it’s said to help alleviate the symptoms. In this instance, you’ll want to use about a half a pound of ginger, simmer it in a gallon of boiling water and then put in with your bathwater. After you soak in this for a while, then you can even add a little chamomile tea towards the end of the treatment.

Sandalwood has been used by the Native Americans and is said to have a calming effect on itchy, fiery hives. It can be bought as an oil just about anywhere and should be applied directly to the skin for maximum effectiveness.