Natural Remedies for Hives - Holistic Symptom Relief

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Stacy (Dickinson, Texas) on 01/22/2009
★☆☆☆☆

Apple cider vinegar made mine worse because it boosts the immune sys and its already awake if you have hives. Its attaking yourself. Your body's antihistimines cause hives but I have found no cure. My dr. increased my thyroid med and has calmed my hives but they are still here. I take a lot of antihistimines but the hives peek through. Over the last year they have been really bad. Prednisone works but has bad side effects. When my face gets them I go to the dr. and get a steroid shot.

Warm Weather

Posted by DAVE (WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN) on 11/10/2008
★★★★★

I have had chronic intermitten hives attacks all my life and get temporary relief with atarax. however real relief occured when i vacation* in warm weather regions; the change of my environment and diet resulted ib long term relief. i conclused the hives were a result of emotional stress.

*my last vacation in mexico gave me hives relief in exchange for montezuma's revenge .......a fair exchange.

Kokam

Posted by HM (London, UK) on 09/03/2008
★★★★★

From various website, I gathered various treatment. I started with hives 6 weeks ago. I did try ACV with baking soda morning and evening but it hives was appearing every evening. Except I went on holiday. My hives are started disappearing from the skin. I did the following for a week.

1. I am taking multivitamins tablets from Holland & Barratt everyday.

2. I am also taking echinacea tablets morning and evening again from Holland and Barratt.

and finally,

3. I also use Kokam (indian spice) soft one.

In a cup, I take 5 - 6 Kokam soft one and pour with half a cup of hot water and then mix it. I use liquid to drink and rub remaining kokam from the mix on hives. I drink this mixer twice a day one in the morning and one in the evening. You can get Kokam from Indian grocery shop.

I hope this will help many of you.

Chrysanthemum Flowers

Posted by Rick (Jersey City, NJ) on 04/21/2008
★★★★★

Thank you all! Great website. I have had hives for 6 consecutives days. Every day without fail at 6.3pm. No matter how many antihistamine I take, to no avail. Steriods given by a doctor even made the hives worse. Much redder and itchier. I stumbled on this website and began taking Ted's recipe, B-12, C and E. 2 days ago. Last nite, I boiled some chrysanthemum flower. Hives was itcher than ever. Took a large cup in the middle of the nite and a lot more in the morning. Continued the vitamins and came back in the pm for more. Expecting the hives to break out any time soon....6.30pm. Nothing happened ! No hives!!! BTW, I the nite before, I took some epsom salt and lots of water and apple juice. I believe combining all these cost effective remedies beats all the OTC medication I bougght over the last few days.Did some research on chrysanthemum flower and found that it is an anti-inflamatory agent, a good stress reliever etc. Here is the link http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/chrysanthemum-flower I am chinese by origin but never knew that this herb could help.

Hope this helps someone. GOOD LUCK

Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda, Exercise

Posted by Kenny (Strathclyde, Scotland) on 02/20/2008
★★★★★

I have suffered from Cholinergic Urticaria or Hives as it's more commonly known, for the past 15 years. I have attended Dermatologists galore, tried anti-histamines and all sorts! To no avail. So... I did some research and tried a number of things, natural and herbal, like Quercetin tabs (found in red onions) which is natures anti-histamine, with mixed success. Interestingly though, my ailment appears when stressed, hot - in warm weather or artificial heat, like a sauna, sweating or excercising vigorously and is manifest with red bumps all over my arms, legs, neck and torso which can become itchy - not to mention unsightly. I found the best treatment is an Air Bath - cool or cold air outdoors, minus the clothes, not always possible though!! ;-)I've been on ACV for a while (read my last post on 2/19/08) and decided to manipulate the system I had adopted and over-and-above my two cups of ACV/water solution a day, I decided to try the ACV/bicarb of soda (2tablespns to 1/4teaspn mix in water) about half an hour before vigorous excercise. The red bumps were hardly noticeable, I was wearing a short sleeved t-shirt for the first time in ages, and when I finished, I went for my usual 'sauna, cold shower, steam bath then another cold shower' routine to finish off. Normally,I'd look like I had been stung by a thousand bees! Literally. However, on this occassion, my skin was pretty clear, not red and inflamed looking - very few small red bumps but hardly noticeable, I felt fantastic!! No skin experts, doctors or snake oil salesmen could break the code, but I think I may have. Interestingly though, I beleive wholeheartedly that part of the problem is acid/alkali PH balance in the body and crucially, when out of kilter, renders the body susceptible to all-sorts of conditions. Thanks to Ted for the tip!!!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Patricia (Eureka, NV US) on 08/05/2023
★★★★★

First Ever Case of Hives!

I have no idea what triggered this. Dowsing with a pendulum tells me nothing! I came on about 3 hours ago. I took 2 Benadryl about an hour ago. Then I took a spray bottle with ACV into the shower. Rinsed it off with fairly hot water. But coconut oil on after the shower. I don't know what stopped the itching. But it's 95% better. Still red and welty. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions!

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Sunshine (Montreal) on 07/19/2019
★★★★★

Have had problems with chronic Urticaria for 4 years mainly because at first I was fermenting and eating A LOT of veggies, yogurt and whatever I felt like fermenting (had a period!) Alcohol was also part of it for often, summer equals COLD BEER!

After all this time my face was pretty messed up, had the hives all over, to a point where it looked scary!. So of course I started reading about it and wanted a permanent solution, one that was SIMPLE, SHORT and EFFICIENT. I tried many things, all I could find really but without satisfaction. Then I started reading about the enzyme "diamine oxidase" which digests histamines and looked it up on amazon, but living in Canada I found it absolutely unaffordable! So I turned to the one thing that always got me out of trouble, I focused on the body's wisdom to fabricate the enzyme itself. So to shorten a long story here is what I did: I eat 3 bites of food at a time and wait till the stomach gargles again before I eat another 3 bites (about two to three hours). I try to avoid the high histamine foods without being too strict about it for it takes a little histamines for the metabolism to kick in and produce the enzyme. I eat a bit of Olive Oil (two to three tsp/day) to stimulate the production of Diamine Oxidase. Taking “BIO K” yogourt, just a small tea spoon two to three times/day (keep a minute underneath the tong.) as well as: Histaminum 30 ch to desensitize histamines. Apis Mellifica 9 ch for itches and Allium Cepa for nose leaks from histamines outside. STOP all supplements for three days. Much better after 3 days though always a bit worst at night. Started taking D, K 2, Iodine, Calcium and Magnesium again, eating small meals for a while and adding lemon juice or apple cider vinegar (two TBSP) with 1/8 tsp of Bicarbonate in a glass of water.

UPDATE

A month now after this small effort, I have no more hives... GONE! I can have a drink here and there but for as long as I keep my electrolytes balanced and I don't exaggerate on the fun, skin remains clear. I also eat all I want, no more diet. If you want to try it and need help, just ask it will be my pleasure ! :)

Take care Sunshine

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Charity (Faithville, Us) on 08/13/2019

Dr. Batmanghelidj wrote in his books that histamine is a dehydration signal . Dehydration is a mineral /water imbalance. Histamine can cause hives . So if one mineral or water is out of balance you can have many things happen, Hives, runny nose ,itchy skin or eyes, headaches, nausea, digestion issues, brain fog, fatigue , vomiting. Stress makes the body produce cortisol and that further dehydrates the body. Swimming or bathing takes water out of the body. Mineral salts hold water in place. Bile is slowed or stopped by cortisol and also by low fat diets. Take ox bile supplements to restart bile flow. Bile is needed to absorb nutrients when you eat or drink. I am still trying to learn how to be well. Blessings, Charity

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Pat (Nashville, TN) on 01/05/2022

What exactly do you do with Apple cider vinegar? Drink or bathe with it?

EC: Poster from 2016 probably drank it.

Pectin

Posted by Barbara (San Marcos, Texas) on 12/27/2015
★★★★★

In 2013 we did a second and probably not final downsizing of our lives and household good...part of that was leaving our good mattress in South Carolina before moving to Texas....

We up-sized household goods and purchased a very comfortable Therapedic Memory Foam Mattress....three months later I woke up with what I knew was hives (never had allergic breakouts in life-69 yrs of age) on entire torso...I called my husband, and he began to ask what I had eaten different from him and if we had change detergents....I told him nothing had changed.

After immediately researching hives and changing our diet to low histamine...I visited my doctor and dermatologist to be told I had hives...My husband and I constantly went over our lifestyle...

We were renting an apartment with my computer station in our bedroom...my mind was going over my problem...I kept asking myself what was new and different....We had purchased all new furniture and household goods....Suddenly I looked around at the bed and googled "Can your mattress make you sick?" WOW!!!!

i tried many of the suggestions on this site and others....an associate that was into "New Age, Organic..etc" told me to do a Pectin Cleanse...I did not comprehend at first...I asked, "Do you mean the Pectin that is used in canning?" Answer was yes.....

MY CURE.... RECOMMENDED DAILY DOSAGE OF PECTIN (POWDER) FOR YOUR BODY.... THIS CAN BE FOUND BY GOOGLING... I USED APPROXIMATELY A TBSP... I IMMEDIATELY SAW CHANGE AND HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM SINCE... OVER TWO YEARS LATER.

If you take medications and or supplements you should take your Pectin dose at what you consider a safe time of day so that your meds/supplements are not removed from body.

Colloidal Silver

Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 05/19/2015

I've heard of this a number of times in the past few months...

In most recent case a male, aged 30 reports a rash breaks out intermittently on torso, legs, arms. Very itchy and with small welts. It goes away in a few weeks but a month later reappears in a different location.

This has been going on for about a year and a half. He has been to three doctors and given antibiotics. The rashes continue.

I asked him, if prior to onset, he had had any significant viral infections. Yes, he reported; a very bad and long lasting sinus infection plus some serious dental work that produced a long lasting infection on one side of his face.

With that I wondered if he had a blood born virus infection and discounted a fungal infection. However, I asked a long shot question....have you had any problem with mold in some damp area, at house or work, and ... one more...any problem with infection where dirt might have been involved. No mold...but yes to the dirt! He'd been playing softball and slid into a base and severely tore off skin while sliding into the dirt. Leg became infected and swollen for weeks.

So my thought is a possible double issue...virus plus fungi.

He is now on doses of colloidal silver three times daily. If his energy levels begin returning within 2 weeks, the infection theory might have some validity and he'd continue taking the CS for a considerable length of time.

If anyone else on EC has any other ideas please post.

Oh, also in the past 3 weeks he had begun having intestinal problems...digestion difficulty. My fear...perhaps the infection is not just in the blood but is invading other systems. So now he is also taking Apple Cider Vinegar in the evening...a tablespoon in glass of water.

Chickweed Tea

Posted by Aneta (Chicago, IL) on 02/22/2015
★★★★★

I am pregnant and got hives. I was reluctant to use any steroids and looked into alternatives. I tried calamine lotion, zinc oxide, comfrey lotion but one thing helped me and I was able to sleep the first night without itching that would wake me up every hour- chickweed. I bought tea bags, had a tea and applied tea bag to my hives. It is only day 2 but my hives are almost gone. Also, I drink tremendous amounts of water too. I plan on planting it in my backyard this spring.

Hives Triggers

Posted by Timh (KY) on 02/20/2015 2042 posts

K: In addition to other good replies, in an effort to reduce the inflammatory response, increase Cold Water Fish in the diet or supplement Fish Oil and/or Flax Seed Oil. Brazil Nuts or supplemental Selenium is a very important antioxidant that insures protection of the sensitive Omega 3 Fatty Acids. Also be sure to take a Vit-C that has additional Citrus Bioflavonoids. Turmeric and Pineapple are good anti-inflammatory foods.

Water and Baking Soda

Posted by Joyce (Easley, Sc) on 07/21/2014
★★★★★

I have battled with uticaria (hives) for 25 years.

They come on sudden and once they start I have in my youth battled with them daily for years at a time...miserable teen years...UNTIL

in my 20's I started a rotation diet to find out what I was most sensitive to. Plus began eating perservative/additive free. Good home cooking with NO MSG! And all its little counter parts. That process helped tremendously.

Then when I was 30, I was using a lot of bleach and started using a laundry soap that was not natural and hives hit me hard again. After 9 months of torture, I read a book called the water cure and increased my water intake by an extra quart a day. In a few days they had stopped. I have always been a low water drinker.

I am 47 now, and a few weeks I was into bleach and staining and other paint chemicals and they came on with vengence again. This time I stopped them in their tracks by drinking a huge glass of water with a tsp of baking soda mixed in it, (on an empty stomach) when I would wake up at night.

I am thrilled...so thrilled to have control of them so quickly.

Joyce

P.S. 27 years of studying health and helping my family naturally. If your really sick...start juicing veges and get off ALL premade food. It will blow your mind how many things your body can heal/correct that the doc says "It's inherited". Yea right. My Father was healed from heart disease/diabetes/ gout/ arthritis and tons of other issues. I was healed from ganglia cysts, trigger thumb, stomach ulcers, and other female issues. Your body was created to HEAL itself when given the right tools.

Castor Oil

Posted by Bev (Fort Lauderdale) on 09/14/2013

Have you tried Sudafed or Benedryl? I went into anaphylactic shock in the doctor's office from hives and could have died. To avoid this, all I had to do was take Sudafed or Benedryl which I then did for about a week. You may need to take it for more or less time. Hives can be very dangerous so don't mess with them.

I'm into natural remedies, too, or I wouldn't be on this site but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Also, since you have had hives for so long, I'm wondering about something in your diet. You can become suddenly allergic to foods you've been eating all your life or to a new food or a new brand from the supermarket. Eliminating grains might be a good place to start.

Since stress can also be a factor, you might want to try L-Theanine, tryptophan, 5-HTP or any one of several other stress reducers. Unfortunately, what works well for most people may not work at all for you. It's kind of hit or miss.

The site below has some info about hives.

http://www.symptomfind.com/diseases-conditions/hives/

Good luck to you.

Dry Brushing

Posted by Sarah (Leicester, Uk) on 01/03/2013
★★★★★

Hi, I've suffered with cronic urticaria for 6 months... I've been allergy tested for everything to no avail and am taking constant high doses of certirizine. When very severe I have taken steroids which clear it up for about 2 weeks. After another week of swelling from top to toe (literally! ) I found this website the night before another trip to the Dr for more steroids... Wow... I dry brushed my entire body, had a tepid shower and smothered myself with bio oil (the only thing I had made from mineral oil) before going to bed. My rash is always worse in the morning so I didn't know what to expect but I woke up so the tiniest rash and jumped for joy! As recommended I have also invested in some oil of oregano (capsules for ingesting) and charcoal to try and alkalise my body, reducing toxins and acidity. I thing the suggestion is to apply the oil at night, dry brush in the morning then shower. I hope this helps someone. This is a horrible condition with no medical answers so finger crossed and good luck to you all.

Beer

Posted by Viji (Princeton, Nj) on 07/26/2016

Please beer could cause severe hives. Please any fermented drink or food can aggravate hives. Please don't say it is a solution.

Beer

Posted by Amie (Florida) on 10/26/2024

Perhaps it is the Vitamin b's found in Malt and hops? I will start taking a vitamin B complex and see if that helps.

Cool Baths With Starch

Posted by Rsw (Uniontown, Oh) on 07/31/2012
★★★★★

When I used to get hives for many years, I took 50 mg of Benedryl several times a day, as directed. They seemed to come out more at night, probably from the heat of the bed covers, especially on my hands on feet which would swell and felt like I was walking on big rocks. To get some sleep, I would fill the bathtub with cool water and pour some blue liquid starch into the water until it felt "starchy. ". A nurse told me to do this and it helps, at least temporarily. Sometimes you need almost a whole bottle of starch but it is inexpensive. If you wake up and don't want to do the bath, just fill the sink with cold water and some starch and put your hands or feet in for a while until your skin isn't hot and you can feel the hives stop itching. Let them air dry. Good luck! By the way, the stress and excitement of the trip may be a contributing factor. I would get them if I was worried and under stress and also when I was very happy and excited.

OTC

Posted by Michael (Tucson, Az) on 07/05/2012
★★★★★

I was suffering from total body hives for a year, and taking heavy prescription antihistamines which put me to sleep and tired all day. I went to an allergist and he put me on over the counter Zyrtec and Pepcid. (which by the way are both antihistamines.) I buy the generic form of each to save money, and I haven't had a single outbreak in over 60 days.

Hydrochloric Acid

Posted by Blueplanet (Yuen Long, Nt, Hong Kong) on 06/24/2012
★★★★★

I contracted severe hives on my palms after applying a deet based mosquito repellent on mosquito bites. I have already stopped using the repellents, but the hives persist. I have tried many things but to no avail. I have finally found some relief by soaking my hands in a solution of diluted hydrochloric acid. The itching sensation has gone, but I am not sure if the hives will come back later. I will post back.

Hydrochloric Acid

Posted by Blueplanet (Hong Kong) on 06/25/2012
★★★★★

I confirm that soaking the affected areas in diluted hydrochloric acid works. All the blisters either dry up, burst or become scabs. I have no more itching sensation.