The Best Natural Treatments for Hives
Unfortunately what makes treating hives so difficult is the fact that for every sufferer there are different triggers, as a result what helps one hives sufferer might not do anything for another. That's why if you do a quick search on the internet you can see so many different treatments that some people think of as their "life savers" and responses from other people who have had no reprieve using the exact same methods.
I'm a big believer in natural is best (do not get me wrong there is definitely a time and a place for Western medicine) – but I believe in giving the body everything it needs to heal itself. Because basically hives is an imbalance in the body, whether it be to stress, an allergy or a build up of toxins, the best way to rid yourself of hives is to work with the bodies natural abilities and discover the imbalance.
So here I've collected some of the best NATURAL treatment solutions I've found and put them in one place – the best thing is they're all natural and they will not cost a fortune. So if you suffer from hives, give them a go and hopefully you'll find one that works for you.
Some treatments are topical and some are diet related; sometimes it might take a mixture of a few to get results:
1. Coconut and Oregano Body Oil –
Mix 2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil and 10-15 drops of Oil of Oregano. Completely smooth over effected area.
This treatment aims to heal hives through the amazing natural properties of both oils. Oil of Oregano has anti-inflammatory action and is a natural anaesthetic, it's also a powerful antioxidant. Both coconut oil and oregano oil are known as Nature's most powerful and best antiseptics – they're both anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic and anti-bacterial.
2. Oatmeal and Cornstarch Paste –
Make a paste with 2 cups of oatmeal and 3 tablespoons of cornstarch. Add a little water to make it into a paste. Apply to affected area for 15-30 minutes. It dries the hives up within a couple of hours. If your hives cover a large portion of your body then try having a cool bath with oatmeal and at least a box of cornstarch.
Cornstarch acts as a soothing agent with antibiotic properties and oatmeal has great healing properties. You may need to do this daily before you start seeing results.
3. Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar –
Make a tea with 1 teaspoon of Aluminum FREE baking soda and 2 tablespoons of organic apple cider vinegar and drink twice daily. This tea is great detoxifying the body of allergens and histamine that cause inflammation whilst also returning the body to its natural state.
4. Soothing Mint Ice Cubes –
for some quick relief from the symptoms of hives, make some mint ice cubes by steeping 2 teaspoons of freshly crushed organic mint leaves (if you can not buy organic make sure you wash the leaves very well so there's no pesticide residue in your ice cubes ) in boiling water and allow to cool. Strain the tea into ice cube trays and place in the freezer.
Mint is known for its cooling effects; place the ice cubes directly onto the effected area to instantly relieve inflamed or irritated skin. Once they have frozen you can place these directly on the skin.
5. Healing Vitamins –
Take cayenne pepper in capsule form, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc to help the healing process.
6. Repair the acid / alkaline balance in your body –
The foods we eat and our environment can greatly effect the body's natural pH state, which can be a leading factor in the development of many diseases. The basic idea is about ensuring the body is in its optimal natural state to give it the ability to heal itself.
There is heaps of information on the internet if you do a quick search about the acid / alkaline balance and what the best foods are to consume and avoid to allow the body to repair itself.
If you would like to test the acidity of your body you can do a quick saliva test with litmus paper – be careful not to touch the litmus paper though because the skin is usually slightly acidic, and will vary the results.
7. Quercetin –
Quercetin is a plant pigment that acts as a natural antihistamine, which can help reduce and even completely cure some people of hives, as it acts as a natural balance to the allergen effect which creates hives. Quercetin is most commonly found in leafy green vegetables, onions and apples. Naturopathic doctors generally recommend taking 500 milligrams of this natural herbal remedy twice a day.
8. OxyHives Homeopathic Remedy –
OxyHives is a natural oral remedy that uses the principals of homeopathy to heal the source of hives and prevent them from reoccurring. There have been many people who have had great success with this treatment and have even reported no reoccurred since taking OxyHives.
9. Sandalwood essential oil –
This essential oil is well known for its calming and cooling effects. Consequently, many herbalists refer to Sandalwood as a sedative for the skin. Simply add several drops of this essential oil to a cotton ball and then apply it to the infected area every three hours. You should be careful when apply essential oils directly to the skin – if you notice any irritation simply add a couple of drops of oil to coconut oil.
The Best Natural Treatments for Hives by Sarah Jane Willis