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Hives, nettle rash or urticaria when
the cause is unknown
If you have found this article,
chances are you are affected or are treating someone who has this
condition. Unfortunately up to two thirds of sufferers will never get to
find out the root of the cause and half of those affected may go on to develop angiodema,
a disturbing and potentially dangerous condition where the underlying tissues
swell causing a wide range of disturbing symptoms.
Nothing is a substitute for the
treatment you may be getting from your consultant or specialist, but in the
meantime (and with their permission), you might like to look at a few
interventions that will complement the care you are receiving.
The most popular convention method of controlling hives and urticaria is with prescription anti-histamines. Therefore it makes sense to avoid excessive ingestion of natural histamines in out diet to enable the orthodox medication to work at its optimum. Foods that contain histamines or have a histamine-releasing action should be avoided and include (vasoamines) include egg whites, banana, pickled fish, shellfish, tinned tuna, chocolate, wine, cheese, citrus fruits, strawberries and tomatoes.
Histamine induced symptoms are
similar to those found with IgE mediated food allergies but may take a larger
amount of food intake to trigger symptoms (British Nutrition Foundation 1999).
Often the intake is cumulative in effect over the 2 to 3 day period it
takes for food to pass through the gut and be eliminated.
How to help yourself
Avoid foods in the vasoamine group.
Or use a 4 day rotation diet plan
that only incorporates vasoamines once every 4 days to allow them to be
eliminated before eating food from the same group again.
You may like to consider reading Jonathan Brostoff “The complete guide to food allergy and intolerance” (ISBN 0-7475-3430-6) as an introduction to taking more serious self-help measures such as an elimination diet to determine the source of your allergy. While you may not want to try something as drastic as a severe elimination diet, the advice he offers on a healthy diet and avoiding caffeine, processed foods and additives is very sensible. It may be all that is needed to reduce your symptoms to a manageable level. He also give invaluable advice on food groups with information on those which are the most likely to cause adverse symptoms.
Detoxification
Dandelion or nettle tea may help with detoxification just before or at the start of an elimination diet. Drinking plenty of water will also help flush the digestive system and help to dilute accumulating histamines and other reaction-causing allergens.
Herbal preparations
Yarrow, comfrey, ephedra and coconut can be used as herbal preparations to treat general rashes, yellow dock specifically for hives, with ginger to help address larger swellings.
Other oral antihistamines include burdock, goldenseal, juniper berry, marshmallow, lobelia, echinacea and parsley root (Bartram 1995, p308).
Oral supplements include evening primrose (Yoshimoto-Furuie et al. 1999 p151), vitamin C (Thornhill 2000 p448); and quercetin.
Caution: The above is for information only - please don't take any herbal preparations without first consulting a herbal practitioner.
Essential oils
There
are very few essential oils reported as being anti-histaminic, although Price et al.
(1999) cites studies supporting the use of Caraway, Chamomile (German) and
Everlasting (p354-355).
The essential oils of lavender (angustifolia) and chamomile (Roman or German) applied as a massage or in a bath may help with topical irritation.
Chamomile (Roman and German), Everlasting (Helichrysum), Patchouli and Rose (Damask and Cabbage) applied topically may also help with general skin irritation and itching (Lawless 1999, p200).
Massaging the affected area with calendula oil, a mild anti-inflammatory (Price et al. 1999, p230) may also help to disperse swelling if the reaction is not pressure-based.
Carrier oils applied topically can
moisturise and protect the surface layers of the skin in the same way as
prescribed emollient creams, offering similar properties and relief from itching
and inflammation. Suitable carrier
oils include Calendula with Hypericum (Price 1998, p162) Jojoba (p166), Sesame
(p169) and Rose hip (p169).
Emergency relief
Equal parts distilled witch hazel and aloe vera gel kept in a spray dispenser in the fridge – shake before use and spray on affected part when required (not to be used for cold-induced urticaria). Witch hazel (hamamelidis) provides an ideal soothing medium noted for its anti-inflammatory action (Bartram 1995, p455), Aloe vera is well documented for its anti-inflammatory and healing properties (Davis et al. 1994 p81; Graf 2000 p5; Mantle 2001 p102).
Sources of information
Bartram T (1995) Encyclopaedia of herbal medicine. Christchurch: Dorset
British Nutrition Foundation 1999 http://www.nutrition.org.uk/
Davis RH, Donato JJ, Hartman GM, Haas RC (1994) Anti-inflammatory and wound healing activity of a growth substance in Aloe vera. Journal of American Podiatric Medical Association Feb;84(2):77-81
DietNet - lots of information on nutrition and diet and their effect on health and illness
Graf J (2000) Herbal anti-inflammatory agents for skin disease. Skin Therapy 5(4):3-5
Lawless J (1999) Encyclopaedia of essential oils. Shaftsbury: Element Books Limited
Mantle D, Gok MA, Lennard TW (2001) Adverse and beneficial effects of plant extracts on skin and skin disorders. Adverse Drug Reactions Toxicology Review Jun;20(2):89-103
Price S, Price L (1999) Aromatherapy for Health Professionals. London: Churchill Livingstone
Thornhill SM, Kelly AM (2000) Natural treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis. Alternative Medicine Review Oct;5(5):448-54
Yoshimoto-Furuie K, Yoshimoto K, Tanaka T, Saima S, Kikuchi Y, Shay J, Horrobin DF, Echizen H (1999) Effects of oral supplementation with evening primrose oil for six weeks on plasma essential fatty acids and uremic skin symptoms in hemodialysis patients. Nephron Feb;81(2):151-9
Jane
Ellwood
Jan 2002