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Natural Remedies for Hives - Holistic Symptom Relief

| Modified on Dec 21, 2024
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Hives, also known as urticaria, are red, itchy welts that appear on the skin due to allergic reactions, stress, or unknown triggers. While over-the-counter medications are commonly used, natural remedies provide an effective alternative to manage symptoms holistically and minimize side effects.

Top Natural Remedies for Hives

  • Apple Cider Vinegar: ACV is a popular remedy for hives. Mix 1-2 tablespoons of organic ACV with water and drink it daily or apply it diluted to the skin to reduce itching and inflammation.
  • L-Lysine: An amino acid that boosts the immune system and helps combat hives. Take L-lysine supplements as directed to support skin healing and reduce outbreaks.
  • Nettle Tea: Nettle acts as a natural antihistamine. Brew nettle tea and drink it 1-2 times daily to alleviate itching and reduce hives.
  • Baking Soda: Apply a paste with baking soda and water directly to hives for instant relief from itching and irritation.
  • Probiotics: Balancing gut health with probiotics can help reduce allergy-related hives. Include yogurt, kefir, or probiotic supplements in your routine.
  • Activated Charcoal: Known for its detoxifying properties, activated charcoal can be taken internally to flush toxins that might trigger hives.
  • Dietary Changes: Eliminate potential food triggers such as gluten, dairy, and processed foods. Opt for a clean, whole-food diet to support your immune system.
  • Coconut Oil: Apply coconut oil to hives for its soothing and anti-inflammatory effects.
  • Quercetin: A natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory, quercetin can help reduce allergic reactions that lead to hives. Quercetin is also available as a supplement for additional support in foods like apples, onions, and berries.
  • Licorice Extract: Known for its immune-boosting properties, it may help alleviate stress-related hives. Take one tablespoon daily or as directed.
  • Turmeric: With its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, turmeric can reduce the severity of hives. Incorporate it into your diet or apply a paste of turmeric and coconut oil directly to the skin.
  • Magnesium and Zinc: These essential minerals support immune function and may reduce hive occurrences. Consider supplements such as magnesium (250 mg) and zinc acetate or gluconate (50 mg).
  • Castor Oil: Applying castor oil to the affected area can provide relief. In severe cases, a teaspoonful taken internally may help control hives naturally.

Additional Tips for Managing Hives

  • Hydration: Drink plenty of water to hydrate your skin and flush out toxins.
  • Stress Management: Practice yoga, meditation, or other relaxation techniques to reduce stress-induced hives.
  • Identify Triggers: Keep a journal to track potential allergens or environmental factors that may cause hives.

*Always consult a healthcare provider before starting new supplements or treatments, especially for chronic or severe hives.

Continue reading below to learn which natural remedies helped Earth Clinic readers with hives, and please let us know what helped you!

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Activated Charcoal

1 User Review
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Posted by Lusea (Groves, Texas, Usa) on 02/09/2010
 ★★★★★

I have had severe hives several times in the last few years. The only thing (and I tried lots of big pharma remedies) that really worked was activated charcoal. I take 4 - 250 mg to start and a couple more if needed in about an hour. Must be on an empty stomach and don't take any of your regular sups because the charcoal will suck up everything. It clears my hives in one day.

Replied by Debbie
(Des Moines, Iowa)
09/05/2010

Thanks for the suggestion about using activated charcoal for hives. One thing to keep in mind is that hives can be caused by toxicity buildup. If you're not eliminating properly, make sure to take care of that issue with a natural cleanser before taking activated charcoal, as the AC can cause constipation. The whole point of taking the charcoal is to get rid of the toxins, and if you're not eliminating properly first, this could cause problems. You want to move everything toxic out of the body, which requires a free and clear pathway.

Alkalize

2 User Reviews
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Posted by Mclovin (Saint Petersburg, Fl) on 05/20/2012
 ★★★★★

I have suffered from chronic hives (daily) since 1994. I have been on every allergy med known to man!

On a fluke, my husband mentioned my pH balance. I went to the vitamin store, bought some pH testing tape and pH-basic herbal supplements. It turns out that I was DANGEROUSLY ACIDIC (5.0)! This morning, my pH levels are 5.8... Less than 24 hours after taking the pH-basic!

Doctors don't want to tell you that a majority of people's problems are pH balance related! They just want to get the pharmaceutical companies money! I really hopes this helps. As someone who has suffered from severe daily hives for 18 years, and popped 250mg of allergy meds every 6 hours, I know what I'm talking about!

Alkalize
Posted by Ruben (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 10/31/2011
 ★★★★★

hi There

I'm having hives every morning for the last 3 weeks

I did some research and after 2 days 90% hives are gone.

1) Checked Body PH balance by testing urine, if acidic PH

If PH

Then you need to do the followoing to bring your balance to 7. 0 and hoping the hives will improve.

a) Take ACV 2tbsp and 1/4 tsp in 8oz/ 1 cup of warn water in the morning and night for 5-7 days.

b) Take Antacid Alkaline Salts 3 tablets in the morning and night. (pH Balance Pascoe)

You should see an improvement after 2 days.

In addition, I'm taking grape seeds 2 capsules in the morning and night instead reactine or benadryl.

Hope this helps..

Ruben

Almond, Lavender and Tea Tree Oils

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Posted by Ainhi (Buena Park, Ca) on 09/11/2009
 ★★★★★

I have hives on and off most of my life, but the last month I have breakout a couple time a day and my regular med doesn't seem to work anymore. I usually breakout during the night and wake up with wheal all over my body and face. The eyes and the lips are the worst area because it takes almost a whole day for it to go down. I read somewhere that baby oil help. I don't have baby oil so I mix what I have. Almond oil, lavender oil and tea tree oil together. This really work for me. It stop the crawling itching and it seems to stop the wheals from getting bigger. As soon as I feel the tingling in my lip or eyes I rub on this oil and it calm down right away. I like to pass on what work hopefully it will help someone too. I'm currently on ACV baking soda with honey 3 times a day. I can't tell if this is helping but will keep trying for a few months.

Apple Cider Vinegar

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Posted by C95060 (Santa Cruz, CA) on 06/05/2024
 ★★★★★

On my way home from dinner tonight I broke out in hives all over my torso. So terribly itchy. This has never happened before. I have no allergies, however I did get a gut feeling that I couldn't eat the fish tacos and I ate them anyways.

Anyhow, I knew ACV stopped the burn from Sunburns right away (much experience with this) and helps with soo many other things, so it was my go to. I stopped by the store and grabbed a bottle and some Benadryl just incase it didn't work.

I folded up a wet wipe from the glove box. Soaked it in ACV, opened it up and laid it on my stomach, then repeated for my sides and back.
The unbearable itching stopped within a minute. I kept driving home and never had to take the Benadryl. Thank God! I did fold the soaked wet wipe and place it on my skin where the seat belt was pressing because that was causing itching. As soon as I did soo the itching stopped there as well. On my way home I took a couple swigs of the ACV and water for good measure.

I'm at home now (25 min later) and they still don't itch and are definitely fading.

I'm soo grateful for ACV!!

Replied by C95060
(Santa Cruz, CA)
06/05/2024
★★★★★

This is an addendum to the post I just submitted. I had stopped on my drive home to cover the hives on my torso with apple cider vinegar (ACV) within 30 minutes of the hives appearing.

  • By the time I unloaded the car and got settled at home, all of the hives on my torso, which I had treated with ACV were gone.
  • I then discovered a few hives on my thighs, which of course persisted because I did not treat them with ACV, as I was wearing pants on my drive home.
  • I wish I could post before and after pictures. There are no more Hives anywhere but the untreated area on my thighs!
  • ACV not only stopped the itching right away, but cleared the hives up within a cpl hours!

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!

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 01/27/2023
 ★★★★★

My story about using ACV to treat hives. A female friend came over to my house to visit me and while she was sitting on my couch, she started to scratch her back as if something was biting her. She then started to itch on her thighs, legs, torso, all over her body. She thought maybe a spider was crawling on her. I got up to go look at her to see if I could see a spider. Instead, I saw welts and raise bumps appearing on the skin as I was looking at it (craziest thing I've ever seen). I recognize it immediately as hives. I told her she was having a hives outbreak and for her to go too my bathroom and strip off all of her clothing and stand in the shower. She looked at me like I was crazy but I guess the itching and the raised welts appearing all over her body took priority over getting naked at my house. I ran into the kitchen and grabbed the bottle of windex window cleaner from under the sink, opened it up and poured the windex solution out into a container. Gave it a quick rinse inside the bottle under the faucet and re-filled it up with apple cider vinegar. I ran to the bathroom and directed her to stand in the shower with her hands up in the air above her head. I proceeded to spray her all over with 100% ACV. She complained about how awful the ACV smelled. I told her the worse was yet to come. She had to stand in the shower soaked in ACV for 10 minutes. She started yelling at me at this point. Once I was done spraying her down with ACV, I started the bath tub so she could soak in it with 2 cups of ACV added to the bath water for another 25 minutes. After the bath soak, she dried and got dressed. We took pictures of the welts to show her doctor for an emergency office visit she schedule. I asked her if the itching and symptoms were gone and she agreed. The hives never came back and she showed her doctor the pictures of her skin. She told him what I had done to her and the doctor said: Your friend saved your life!

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Samantha (Santa Monica ) on 03/19/2016
 ★★★★★

Hives:

I am peri menopausal and read about estrogen dominance, where the liver is too taxed to process other enzymes, namely sugar, and so it pushes it out through the skin resulting in hives. What a nightmare, indeed. I have been on a no sugar diet (including natural sugars in fruit) & avoiding high histamine foods and after having a recent cheat and break out, Apple Cider Vinegar has certainly been a lifesaver.

Replied by Pat
(Nashville, TN)
01/05/2022

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

EC: Poster from 2016 probably drank it.

Forge On!
(Midwest Of Usa)
01/06/2022
★★★★★

Yes, drinking ACV (ALWAYS diluted! ) helps. However, my 2-cents here......I had shingles on my face & eye over 10 years ago. Using DILUTED ACV in a spray bottle (or gently dabbed) helped relieve / reduce itch. Probably also prevented scarring......

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Toni (Winnipeg, Canada) on 07/06/2014
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I too have been suffering with chronic urticaria. Doctors couldn't help except to suggest I try one prescription after another and I needed to find another way to treat these symptoms. Thank you for this site!! I read about drinking water. I figured, what could it hurt to try? I found that a combination of ACV twice daily coupled with drinking LOTS of water (10X8 oz glasses) every day has reduced my hives to almost none within two weeks!! I still take an antihistamine occasionally but hope to wean myself off those in time.

I was never able to find the trigger. I am 62 and I believe that my body must have built up toxins over time. It's possible that the water, along with the ACV is flushing them out. I've read that your skin is like a second liver. If I find my skin getting itchy, I just drink another glass of water. I've also found that wiping myself down with a wet washcloth also takes the itch away. I hope that this is not a forever solution, but if it is, I can live with that. It's WATER! It's just amazing to sleep through the night without scratching my skin off and to wake up without hives all over my body and face. All this water has also been great for my complexion and digestion. I hope this helps someone.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jay (Boca Raton, Fl) on 02/16/2014
 ★★★★★

I have AIPD autoimmune progesterone dermatitis, aka, allergic to my hormones and it seems the only relief I get is from ACV my outbreaks are so bad that I can move... Try it... I use organic with the mother just 2 tsp in about 6-8 oz of H2O horrible taste but by morning it's 80% better!! Good luck

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Blossom1464 (Birmingham, Al) on 06/23/2013
 ★☆☆☆☆

I've been using ACV with mother for over a year 2x a day. My body ph is 6.75, slightly acidic. I was taking kelp pills once a day, and apparently had an allergic reaction. I have raised white hives all over, from head to toes. They don't itch except on my neck. So obviously ACV isn't working. I tried ACV on skin yesterday, on white raised hives it didn't hurt, but didn't do anything. On neck where red and itchy it made it worse. I've been into herbs and natural healing for years.

I decided to not take benadryl after yest. morning, and instead took 1/2 tsp of baking soda twice yesterday in 8oz water. I also showered with pine tar soap, and pine tar shampoo. It felt better after shower, but today I'm just as covered up as I was. They are like huge white welts, some red bumps in pores. I think the only thing I can do is just let it work it's way out of my system.

I've had red itchy rashes before, but not sure what the trigger is, other than maybe stress and antibiotics. I'm going to start taking benadryl, I see no other way around this.

I also oil pull with virgin coconut oil everyday, have for a couple years. Stopped last night so it wouldn't get worse. I still think it's the kelp, it upset my stomach horribly. I can't take activated charcoal because I'm on pills I need to take.

Any idea anyone? I love this site, come here often.

Replied by Mama To Many
(Middle, Tennessee, Usa)
06/23/2013

Dear Blossom, So sorry to hear about your hives! My son, when he was only 3 or 4, had terrible hives that we cured with Nettle Tea. Nettle tea is very safe. You could buy the tea bags and drink 3-4 or even more a day. Or you could take nettle leaf powder in capsules - 4 of them 4 times a day.

Turmeric is also a great anti-inflammatory and I have seen it help a number of inflammatory skin conditions in my children. Try 2 in capsules several times a day. Safe to take with the nettles. Works best with a little pepper and a little fat. Some like to mix a teaspoon of it in milk. Personally, I can't bear it that way. :) Be sure to take plenty of water with turmeric, it can be constipating.

An epsom salt bath may also be helpful. 1-2 cups epsom salt in a bath. This can be done with the turmeric and the nettles.

Let us know what helps you!

~Mama to Many~

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by V. (Orlando, Fl) on 10/02/2011
 ★★★★★

I have had hives for over a year and a half now. I got it a month after the passing of my grandmother who raised me. Many doctors discard the fact that emotional changes can trigger hives, yet there are some that do not discard that. In my case, I have been diagnosed with chronic urticaria. I have experienced it all, swelling of tongue and throat, and huge welts on my skin and even my face! I was so desperate because I have been to 2 specialists, and all they do is keep prescribing different anthihistamines and steroids like prediscone, which I hate because the relief is temporary, yet the side effects are horrible and more permanent. In my desperation, I said to myself there has to be a natural way to cure this.

So, here is what I have done, and have been doing for a week now, and let me tell you, even though I cannot say yet that the hives are permanently gone, the difference is pretty much close to it. So I really hope this will help some of you: First, ACV does work. You have to however, get the organic ACV! That is very important! I started drinking ACV and it has tremendously improved my breakouts! I no longer get big welts, and I do get a few small breakouts on my legs, but they dissppear quick. Haven't had swelling since I started drinking ACV. The other thing I found really helps with the itching besides the good o'l aloe vera plant, is oatmeal body lotion! It's miraculous! Oatmeal is an anti itching agent. I rub it on my skin everyday and night, and the itching is gone almost instantly! I also use castor oil to rub on my skin! Yes, the combo of castor oil and oatmeal lotion really helps. There is something about the castor oil, that helps diminish the welts and stop them from coming out and spreading. They sell the castor oil you can rub on your body at the beauty section of any health food grocery store. It's amazing! So you may want to try this to see if this brings as much instant relief as it has done for me. Good luck and God bless!

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Maicalani (Minneapolis, Mn, Usa) on 07/28/2011
 ★★★★★

Yes! Finally something natural that helped with my chronic hives!! I started getting hives in Feburary of this year, was put on a few different antihistamines; prednisone was the only thing that would suppress my daily, out of control hives. I gained 25 lbs in 2 months, moonface, etc. I tried H202 therapy for a month, mangosteen juice, Vit B... I came across this site and saw that some people had luck with ACV. I went out and bought some with the mother. I took 5mg of Prednisone last on July 8th, started ACV (2tsp 2x day) on the 10th. I've only had very mild hives since then. 90% of the time since the 10th (18 days now), I haven't had any hives!! I am so thankful. Thank you Earth Clinic!!

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Cyncla (La Mesa, Ca, San Diego) on 08/26/2010
 ★☆☆☆☆

Hello! I have been suffering from hives for almost a month. I recently found your website and started drinking the ACV, it's been five days since I started and I haven't seen any change. I'm desperate and don't know if I should continue with the ACV, and if so, for how long? Can anyone out there help. It will be deeply appreciated.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Dodge (Lincoln, Ne/usa) on 12/11/2009
 ★★★★☆

I have been dealing with chronic urticaria of around 20 years. Each year they get a little worse. For the past 5 years of so I have been dealing with them with Cimetidine and Cetirizine. During warmer weather I can get by with very little but when it gets colder I need more. When winter hit this year it got really bad and I was taking a lot of Cimetidine trying to slow it down. Was not working and I was getting concerned. I found the information about using ACV and gave it a try taking it three times a day. Within 2 days the wheals where gone just a little iching or tingle left. I have even been able to cut back the meds to more normal summer levels. I have not played with different amounts of ACV yet but pleased so far.


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