Your Guide to Ayurvedic Treatment for Urticaria

Urticaria is a common skin condition that causes the skin to become itchy and raised. There are many treatments for urticaria, but Ayurveda is one of the most effective. In this article, we'll discuss the benefits of Ayurvedic treatment for urticaria. We'll also provide you with instructions on how to treat urticaria using Ayurvedic methods. So if you're looking for an effective treatment for your urticaria, keep reading!

The history of urticaria dates back to 1000-2000 BC with its reference as a wind-type concealed rash in the book ‘The yellow emperor’s inner classic’. In the 4th century, Hippocrates first described urticaria as “knidosis” after the Greek word ‘knido’ for nettle. The term urticaria is derived from the Latin word ‘urtica’ which means stinging hair or nettle (a wild plant with hairy leaves), as a classical presentation follows the contact with a perennial plant Urtica dioica. The term urticaria was first used by the Scottish physician William Cullen in the year 1769. Urticaria can be comprehensively brought under the allergic conditions.¹

What is urticaria?

Urticaria, commonly known as hives, is a kind of skin rash with red, raised, itchy bumps. It may appear on one part of the body or spread across large areas and ranges in size from a few millimeters to the size of a hand. The rashes may appear with a variable duration from minutes to days and do not leave any long-lasting skin change. The condition frequently recurs. Less than 5% of cases last for more than six weeks. Approximately 20% of the population will get hives once a lifetime while 1% to 3% of the population has chronic hives. Medications include antihistamines, oral corticosteroids, etc.^1,2

Signs and symptoms of urticaria²

• Red and raised rashes on the skin
• Blanching
• Itching
• Swelling over the affected area

What causes urticaria?

Urticaria develops as a reaction to some allergens. The allergens are airborne allergens like tree and grass pollen, mold spores, and pet dander; food allergens such as milk, tree nuts, egg, fish, and shellfish; medication allergies such as NSAIDs, ACE inhibitors, and certain allergens like latex and detergent. Urticaria can also be caused due to bacterial and viral infections.²

Types of urticaria^2,3

There are 3 types of Urticaria:- Acute, Chronic, and Physical.

Acute Urticaria – This type of urticaria is caused by food and medication allergies and lasts for less than six weeks.

Chronic Urticaria– This type of urticaria is auto-immune with unknown etiology. It lasts for more than six weeks.

Physical Urticaria– urticarial rashes develop on exposure to cold, heat, or sun. Also due to heavy exercise and sweating. These rashes usually develop within an hour of exposure.

Urticaria Tests

Physical examination:

Skin prick or scratch test– During this test, different allergens substances are used to test on the skin. If the skin turns red or gets swollen it shows an allergy to that allergen.²

Lab tests

• Blood tests – Complete blood count, Erythrocyte Sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein.
• Skin biopsy – may be helpful in chronic cases.⁴

Urticaria and Ayurveda

Sheetapitta, udarda, kotha and utkotha are the four diseases that can be correlated with urticaria according to Ayurveda. These are mentioned as twak vikaras in the classical texts of Ayurveda.^5,6

The etiology described in Ayurveda for urticaria is as follows:

Excessive intake of food items possessing salty and pungent taste. Also, a heavy intake of mustard and sour gruel also can lead to this condition. Indulging in excessive day sleep, exposure to cold wind and cold substances, contact with poisonous insects, and improper administration of emesis therapy cause urticaria.⁵

Ayurveda explains the symptoms of urticaria under two headings as purvarupa and rupa

Purvarupa which means premonitory symptoms are as follows pipasa or thirst, aruchi or tastelessness, hrullasa or nausea, dehasada or fatigue, raktalochanata or redness of the sclera in the eyes.⁵

Rupa which are the main symptoms of urticaria are as follows:  varati damstravata shotha is a condition that can be explained that the skin becoming reddish and discolored and swollen which can be compared with the bite of a nettle sting, kandu or itching, daha or burning sensation and toda or pricking pain.^5,7

Ayurvedic treatment for urticaria

Ayurvedic treatment for urticaria can be classified into three modalities.

1. Alpadosha avastha – where langhana or fasting therapy is advised.⁷
2. Madhyama dosha avastha – langhana or fasting therapy and pachana therapy can be explained as a therapy in which drugs administered get assimilated in the gastrointestinal tract and show their attributed actions.⁷

1. Prabhoota dosha avastha – shodhana or detoxification therapy- vamana or emesis therapy is done with the decoction of patola (Tricosanthes dioica) and arishtaka (Sapindus laurifolius) according to the classic Bhaishajya Ratnavali. Virechana or purgation therapy with the decoction of triphala (Fruits of Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica and Embelica officinalis), guggulu (Commiphora mukul) and pippali (Piper longum) also according to the same classic.⁷

Ayurvedic Medicine for Urticaria

Depending on doshas involvement and patients status suitable ayurvedic medicine for urticaria is selected. When the disease is mild it can be treated with medications only but when the disease is chronic and severe one may need to undergo panchakarma treatments to eliminate the morbid doshas. Various forms of ayurvedic preparations are used to treat urticaria. Below are few

Kashyam or Decoctions⁵

• Amrutarajanyadi Kashayam
• Guduchyadi kashayam
• Patolakaturohinyadi kashayam
• Khadiradi kashayam
• Yashtyadi kwatham⁷
• Udarda prashamana mahakashayam⁷

Choornas or Powders

• Avipatti choorna
• Triphala choorna
• Mustadi choorna⁷
• Pranarakshaka choorna (patent medication of Planet Ayurveda)⁸

Granules or Khandam

• Haridra khandam
• Amalaki ardraka khandam⁷

Vatis or guggulus or tablets^5,6

• Gandhaka rasayana
• Triphala guggulu
• Navakarshika guggulu
• Sheetapitta bhanjana rasa
• Siddha makaradhwaja
• Rasadi gutika
• Vatapittantaka rasa
• Shleshma pittala rasa
• Laghu sootashekhara rasa
• Sootashekhara rasa
• Arogyavardhini vati

Bhasmas⁶

• Pravala bhasma
• Swarna bhasma

Ghrita or medicated ghee preparations

• Tiktaka ghrita
• Mahatiktaka ghrita
• Indukanta ghrita

Taila or oil preparations for external application

• Himasagara taila
• Chandanadi taila
• Katu taila⁷

• Yogaratnakara advises Vardhamana Pippali and Vardhamana Lashuna prayoga.⁷

Capsules (patent preparations of Planet Ayurveda)⁸

• Aller-G Care Capsule
• Curcumin Capsule
• Tulsi Capsule

Diet and Lifestyle to be followed

The dietary regimen to be followed includes jeerna shali or well-matured grains, yoosha or soups prepared of mudga or green gram, kulattha or horse gram and moolaka or radish, vegetables like karavellaka or bitter gourd.⁷

Lifestyle modifications to be done are avoiding exposure to cold air and cold substances, avoiding excessive intake of salt and pungent food items, should not suppress natural urges, avoiding day sleep immediately after meals, and using chemical-free products.⁵

Home remedies for Urticaria

• Neem leaves – Neem leaves are made into a paste which is then mixed with aloe vera pulp and consumed in the dosage of 5 grams to 7 grams.⁹

• Guduchi or giloy leaves are crushed to a paste and treated with aloe vera paste. This combination should be taken in a dose of 5 to 7 grams.⁹

• Black pepper powder – take ½ to 1 teaspoon of this powder and ½ teaspoon of cow’s ghee mix it thoroughly and administer it on an empty stomach every morning for a duration of three months.⁹

• Turmeric powder– one teaspoon of this powder with a glass of lukewarm water or milk two to three times a day.⁹

• Mustard oil– massaging with mustard oil for 15 minutes before taking a lukewarm water bath helps in reducing urticaria.⁹

When to see a doctor?²

• Seek a Doctor’s advice when there is swelling of the tongue, lips, mouth, throat, and eyes.
• If there is breathing difficulty.
• Severe itching.
• Recurring hives.
• When symptoms persist for more than a few days.

Conclusion

Urticaria is one of the allergic skin conditions which occur due to exposure to certain food items, medications, poisonous insect bites, and also due to overexposure to cold wind and cold items. Avoidance of all the above-mentioned factors is beneficial for the prevention of recurrence. Ayurveda mentions urticaria under the skin diseases called Sheetapitta, udarda, kotha, and utkotha. Treatment is done according to the protocol of these diseases mentioned in the classics.

NOTE:
“This article does not provide medical advice. It is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on this website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call or visit your doctor.”
For more information about Ayurvedic Treatment for Urticaria and for consultation call +919945850945
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References and citations

1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wki/Hives
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8630-hives
3. https://www.webmd.com/allergies/hives-urticaria-angioedema
4. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hives-urticaria-beyond-the-basics#!
5. https://www.iafaforallergy.com/allergies-a-to-z/urticaria/
6. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335828526_URTICARIA_A_REVIEW
7. https://www.journalijdr.com/sites/default/files/issue-pdf/21847.pdf
8. https://www.planetayurveda.com/natural-treatment-for-urticaria/
9. https://www.credihealth.com/blog/urticaria-sheetapitta-ayurveda-remedies/