Urticaria(Allergy)

Urticaria (ur-ti-kair-ee-uh), or hives, are raised bumps on the skin that form because of an allergic reaction. These bumps are also called welts or wheals. A person may get hives after eating a food they’re allergic to. The bumps are a result of histamine that the body releases in response to the allergen. Things besides allergies can cause hives as well, such as a bug bite.

As per Ayurveda, Urticaria is referred to as Sheetapitta – comprising of two words sheeta (cold) and pitta (eruptions). This is a condition caused due to dominance of sheeta (cold) over pitta dosha. Sheetapitta is a condition resulted due to excited kapha and vata

Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is defined as the occurrence of daily or almost daily, wheals and itching for at least 6 weeks, with no obvious cause. It is a major affliction causing severe disability.

Causes of Sheetapitta( Urticaria)

• Excess intake of salty and pungent food

• Eating large amounts of sour gruels

• Excessive intake of mustard

• Exposure to cold wind

• Contact of cold substances

• Day sleep

• Improper emesis

• Altered features in rainy and winter season

• Insect bite

• Contact of poisonous insects/bugs

Symptoms of Sheetapitta

• In hives rashes occur on face, arms, trunk and legs.

• Headache, Red rashes, Itching, Congestion of eyes is also a symptom of Sheetapitta.

• There is a condition called as angioedema which occurs in urticaria. Angioedema results in the burning or pain around the areas like eyes, cheeks, lips, hands, genitals and feet may occur in the cases of urticaria.

Treatment in Ayurveda

• Elimination of dosha & Purification of the body toxins with Ayurvedic medicines & Panchkarma procedures is essential to cure urticaria.

• Ayurvedic Medicine made from Haridra (Curcuma longa), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Shirish (Albezzia lebbock), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shirish (Albezzia lebbock), etc are works better on Sittapitta. So they can be used to treat Urticaria.