Urticaria and Homeopathy

                                               

Urticaria and Homeopathy

by DrSamir Chaukkar‎

Hives are frequently caused by allergic reactions; however, there are many non-allergic causes. For example, most cases of hives lasting less than six weeks (acute urticaria) are the result of an allergic trigger. Chronic urticaria (hives lasting longer than six weeks) are rarely due to an allergy. The majority of patients with chronic hives have an unknown cause. Perhaps as many as 30-40% of patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria will, in fact, have an autoimmune cause. Acute viral infection is another common cause of acute urticaria (viral exanthem). Less common causes of hives include friction, pressure, temperature extremes, exercise, and sunlight. It may be true that hives are more common in those with fair skin.

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. Individual hives usually last two to 24 hours.

Homeopathic remedies

APIS MEL

The characteristic of urticaria is the stinging & itching as if from bee stings. The itching is always worse at night. The urticaria may consist of isolated elevations which are quite painful & tender to touch; these later become purple or livid. There is slight fever & heat of skin, accompanying urticaria. There is burning pain.
Generalized anasarca as a strong concomitant to the urticaria. Change of weather, warmth, & exercise cause troublesome itching & burning urticaria. The urticaria is worse during both chill as well as fever. The urticaria sometimes accompanies asthmatic troubles.

ARSENIC ALBUM

Arsenic causes urticaria with burning and restlessness. It is also useful for persistence of complaints during recession of the urticaria. The urticaria may occur after eating shellfish. Urticaria gets worse at the sea-shore and due to sea bathing.

BOVISTA

The urticaria of bovista covers nearly the whole body. There is burning, itching of a type which is not relieved by scratching and comes on more at night. Urticaria which is caused by tar: the itching is worse on getting warm. Urticaria with a disposition to diarrhea.

CHLORAL HYDRATE

The urticaria of chloral hydrate is characterised by its periodicity. It disappears by day and comes on by night with such intense itching as to prevent sleep.

DULCAMARA

Hives come on at night, especially when the nights are cool, with heavy dew, after a hot day or when weather changes from warm to cool and damp; urticaria with violent cough and oedema of glands; feverish urticaria, obliging one to scratch and burning after scratching, every eruption being preceded by sensation of pricking over whole body; eruption of white, irregular blotches raised upon the skin, surrounded with red areola, appearing in warmth, and disappearing in cold and extremities, face, chest and back, violently itching and burning after scratching,

NAT. MUR.

The skin of nat-mur is characteristically dirty, unhealthy and greasy, with a yellowish colour. There is great rawness and soreness of the skin, beginning at the feet and gradually ascending. Urticaria around joints with great itching, especially above the ankles. Eruptions itch, smart and burn after exposure to cold damp air, near the seashore and in intermitent fever. Itching is particularly worse from physical exercise. Urticaria may even be over the whole body with large red intensely itching blotches.

PULSATILLA

Hives of gastric or uterine origin. Urticaria from pastries or pork or delayed menses. Urticaria with diarrhea, itching is worse night. Patient is chilly all the time, even in a warm room.

RHUS-TOX

Vesicular urticaria from getting wet, during rheumatism, with chills and fever, worse in cold air. Patient has itching all over; worse on hairy parts with burning after scratching.

SEPIA

Chronic urticaria with burning, stitching and itching which gets worse on exposure to open air. The urticaria first appears on face, neck and forearms and then gradually spreads over the whole body. The attacks are preceded by nausea and pressing headache with face swollen as in erysipelas. Urticaria on upper body breaks out in cold air and disappears in a warm room. Eruption in the form of wheals as if due to blows with a whip or rod.

SULPHUR

The urticaria of sulphur is found on the face, arms, on back of hands, neck and lower extremities. Urticaria with fever. Itching urticaria over the whole body, hands and feet. Eruptions alternate with other complaints. There is voluptuous itching which is worse at night, worse when in bed and worse after scratching and washing. Scratching is followed by burning.

URTICA URENS

Itching and burning of the skin as if scorched; raised red blotches; fine stinging points; pale rash requiring constant rubbing; consequences of suppressed urticaria; eruption and itching disappears as soon as she lies down and reappear immediately afterrising. There is oedema of the face, chest and limbs without inflammation. Urticaria affects patient every year in the same season. Site of urticaria is face, arms, shoulders, scalp. Vomitting and diarrhea from suppression of urticaria.