9 Healing Remedies for Urticaria

Urticaria is commonly known as hives. It generally appears as ring like manifestations with red swollen patches of skin in different parts of your body. 

Urticaria symptoms are such that they keep appearing and disappearing on various locations.

This means that the symptoms are ongoing and appear even on the face which makes it difficult to conceal. People who have different kinds of allergies are susceptible to urticaria. The symptoms start appearing when the body releases histamines as a result of exposure to allergens.

Once the swelling in one part of the body recedes, it will appear elsewhere which creates a chain reaction. Symptoms associated with urticaria can be very traumatising including difficulty in breathing and swallowing, palpitations of the heart, dizziness, panic attacks etc. among others.

Urticaria can also be hereditary.Extreme weather conditions too can sometimes trigger urticaria. Even if it is not a life threatening conditions, the symptoms can be very harrowing and therefore reason enough to be treated and controlled.

People who are susceptible to urticaria attacks must try and keep away from allergens to prevent frequent attacks. Along with that, there are home remedies that you can try to reduce its severity and prevent urticaria attacks.

Natural Methods To Treat Urticaria

Eliminate The Allergen To Treat Urticaria

Identifying the allergen is the first step towards effectively controlling urticaria symptoms. However, this could be a very difficult thing to do as you could be allergic to not just one substance but many. However there would be a pattern that you can keep a watch on.

Substances that you are allergic to can immediately trigger an urticaria attack. 

So you can stop the allergen you suspect has caused the urticaria and watch your symptoms. If the symptoms recede, you have identified the allergen.

The allergen could also be a new substance that you have recently added to your diet or lifestyle. Check for such substances and see their effect on your body to see if they are the triggers. Identifying and eliminating the allergen is very essential to treat urticaria.

Soak In Apple Cider Vinegar To Treat Urticaria

An attack of urticaria can damage your skin greatly, making it red and bumpy. 

To reduce and regain your skin’s natural texture and glow, take two tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and add 1/4th teaspoon of baking soda to it. Add one cup of water to this mixture and using a cotton ball, apply this mixture on the affected skin. Leave it for 10 minutes and wipe it off with warm water.

To make a soak, add one cup of apple cider vinegar and 1/4th cup of baking soda in a tub of warm water and soak your body in it for 15 minutes. This is effective when you have red patches all over the body.

Milk Of Magnesia To Treat Urticaria

Milk of magnesia is very alkaline in nature which will help in treating urticaria symptoms.  An alkaline solution helps in soothing the skin that is irritated and also reduces inflammation associated with urticaria.

9 Healing Remedies For Urticaria

Apply the milk on the areas affected and leave it on for some time before washing it off. Repeat two times a day for relief.

Cold Compress To Treat Urticaria

For skin that is inflamed and irritated, a cold compress comes as cool relief. 

Application of an ice or an ice pack on the area affected will immediately help recede the inflammation and redness and offer relief to the patient.  Make a cold compress by soaking a towel in ice cold water and applying it on the rashes for great relief.

Calamine Lotions To Treat Urticaria

Calamine lotion can sooth the irritated skin a great deal. If you have severe itching on the area, apply calamine lotion on the surface where the rashes are and leave it on until it dries. The drying action will stop the itchy sensation on the skin and reduce the swelling as well. This being a simple treatment, you can apply it whenever the itch is not bearable anymore and you need some instant relief.

Use Aloe Vera To Treat Urticaria

Aloe vera is one of the best natural treatments available for many skin infections and disorders. Use the purest form of aloe gel for treating skin infections. The gels in the market could be chemical treated and can therefore irritate your skin. Take the stalk of aloe vera and cut it to extract the gel. Add a little water and mix to form a smoother gel.

Apply on the skin for its cooling action to offer great relief from itching and inflammation. Frequent application will relieve the symptoms completely and clears and repairs the damaged skin as well.

Baking Soda And Cornstarch Bath To Treat Urticaria

A soak prepared with baking soda and cornstarch can be used for treating urticaria. Take baking soda and cornstarch in equal proportions and add it to a tub filled with warm water.  Soak for 15 minutes two times every day to relieve the swelling and redness of the skin.

A soak at night just before you head to sleep will help you attain sound sleep. In the absence of these ingredients, a plain warm water soak too can help you control the symptoms and reduce the swelling a great deal.

Cayenne Pepper To Treat Urticaria

Cayenne pepper is very potent and can be used for controlling as well as treating a variety of ailments and allergies. Every day morning add half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper to a glass to water and consume this. This is a great remedy that can even prevent a heart attack. You can also include cayenne pepper liberally in your diet if you are susceptible to allergies.

Chamomile Tea To Treat Urticaria

Herbal teas like chamomile help in soothing the skin as well as the nerves. 

Stress can lead to outbreaks on the skin by releasing stress hormones. Take chamomile tea several times a day to prevent stress attacks and keep the symptoms under check. Chamomile tea will also ease your breathing difficulty associated with urticaria.

9 Effective Home Remedies for Poison Ivy

Poison ivy, also known as poison oak, is a plant that is native of North America. 

The plant is notorious for causing allergy and skin rashes among the North Americans. However, the skin rashes are not a cause of serious concern although they do require treatment.

Different people react differently to the chemicals present in poison ivy. The reason is that people have different degree of skin sensitivity. However, genitals, eyes and lips are the body parts that are more sensitive to the poison ivy sap than other parts.

Skin rashes typically develop within 36 hours of skin exposure to poison ivy. The skin first turns red and inflamed and then breaks out into blisters which are severely itchy. The condition normally lasts for 7-10 days if the symptoms are mild. Severe poison oak allergy in young children often causes nausea, fever and inflammation.

There are plenty of simple and effective home remedies to provide relief from the rashes. The rashes develop on the skin in response to the allergic attack by the chemicals present in the plant.

Poison Ivy Home Remedies

Home remedies provide relief from the symptoms associated with allergy caused by coming in contact with poison ivy. These remedies need to be used regularly if you want to get rid of the allergy completely.

Treatment Of Poison Ivy Using Cold Water

If you know you have been exposed to the chemicals in poison ivy then immediately wash the affected area with cold water. The symptoms might take some time to appear but you must start the treatment as soon as possible. You must also wash your clothes and any other article that came in direct contact with you or the poison oak plant.

Washing and bathing your pet in cold water is also a good idea especially if it’s your pet who might be the cause of spreading the allergy. Apply ice cubes on the skin immediately to reduce the impact of poison ivy on the skin. Ice cubes will decrease the appearance of rashes as well as reduce the inflammation of the skin.

Treatment Of Poison Ivy Using Calamine Lotion

Once the skin begins to break out in allergic reaction, the need to scratch the skin will intensify. You must resist the temptation to itch as it may damage your skin. To reduce the need to itch apply a thin layer of calamine lotion on the affected areas and let the lotion dry.

Keep up with the re-application of the calamine lotion every time you feel like scratching the skin. Calamine lotion is also useful in reducing the inflammation and redness of the skin.

Treatment Of Poison Ivy Using Boric Powder

Add cold water to bath tub and mix 2 cups of boric powder in the water. Soak your body in the boric powder bath for 15-20 minutes. This will greatly reduce the symptoms associated with poison ivy. Your skin will become soothed and the inflammation will also go down.

9 Effective Home Remedies For Poison Ivy

You can take boric powder bath any number of times during the day. However, the treatment is best done at night before going to sleep; the treatment will reduce the inflammation and itching of the skin which will help you get a peaceful sleep at night.

Treating Poison Ivy With Banana Peel

Scrape the inside white part of the banana peel. Apply the scrapped white substance on the skin affected with poison ivy. The white of the banana peel will help reduce the itching and inflammation of the skin. It will also help in healing of the blisters formed as a result of the allergic reaction.

Treating Poison Ivy With Burdock Roots

Burdock roots are very effective in treatment of allergy caused due to poison ivy. Prepare an infusion of burdock roots by steeping 250 grams of the roots in 500 ml of boiling water for 15 minutes. Strain the infusion after it cools down and then apply it on the affected areas of the skin using a cotton ball. Allow the infusion to dry. It reduces the swelling on the skin and also takes care of itching.

Treating Poison Ivy With Potato

Potato has plenty of beneficial effects on the skin and is often used in treating various skin infections and allergies. Potato is also used as a home remedy for treating allergy caused on exposure to poison ivy. Take a potato and peel it. 

Grind the potato in an electric mixer till you get a fine paste of potato.

Apply the potato paste on the skin affected with rashes. Leave for 20 minutes and then wash off using cold water. The treatment should be done at least three times a day to get relief from the symptoms of the allergy.

Treating Poison Ivy With Oatmeal

Prepare oatmeal bath soak by adding two cups of oatmeal powder to a tub of cold water. Soak your skin in the oatmeal bath for 20 minutes. Oatmeal will provide you immediate relief from the itching and rashes caused due to poison ivy. The treatment should be done at least 4 times a day. You could also use baking soda or Epsom salt in place of oatmeal powder.

Treating Poison Ivy With Aloe Vera

Take an aloe vera leaf and remove its green covering. You will get a transparent gel-like substance. Mash the substance to a fine paste form using a little water. 

Refrigerate the aloe vera paste for a couple of hours.

Take out the paste from the fridge and immediately apply on the affected areas. 

Aloe vera is very useful in treating inflammation, itching and blisters caused due to allergic reaction to poison ivy plant. Aloe vera treatment should be done at least four times a day to fasten the healing process.

Treating Poison Ivy With Goldenseal

Goldenseal is an herb that is found mainly in North America. Since centuries the herb is being used to ward off infections and allergies of the skin. It can also be used for treating poison ivy allergy effectively. The herb comes in capsule form and two capsules taken daily for a period of 10 days will help fight the allergy.

When treating poison ivy allergy it is important to increase the intake of vitamin C in the diet. Vitamin C is helpful in fastening the process of healing in damaged skin tissues. Vitamin C also boosts the immune system which fights the chemicals causing the allergy.

8 Natural Treatments for Removing Stretch Marks

Smooth and glowing skin is a luxury that many of us are not blessed with. A majority of us are left with skin that is blemished, scarred and flawed with stretch marks. Stretch marks are caused when our skin stretches beyond the point of its elasticity and as a result lead to breakages in the collages fibres, leading to long, silvery streaks of line on the skin surface.

Definitely not a disturbing skin problem that requires immediate attention. But considering the mental trauma and the social impact that a stretch marked skin can cause you, they are surely a serious issue. Women especially are very sensitive to the problem of stretch marks as they prevent them from wearing clothes that they would otherwise love to wear.

How Are Stretch Marks Formed?

Stretch marks initially appear as red or purple streaks of lines on the skin surface, mainly on the thighs, breasts, buttocks, stomach etc. These shades appear when the tissues stretch over their limit and bleeding occurs on the dermal layer of the skin. As time passes, the redness disappears and silvery streaks appear which never fade away completely.

Why Do Stretch Marks Appear?

The reasons for developing stretch marks could be many. The most common reasons however are being overweight and the expansion of skin due to pregnancy in women. Deficiencies of certain vitamins too can cause stretch marks. Sometimes, certain medications that you take for various ailments could lead to damage of skin tissues, leading to stretch marks.

Adolescence is the time when many youngsters develop hormonal imbalances in their body and resultant stretch marks. Finally, stretch marks can be caused simply because you are genetically disposed too.

Natural Remedies For Stretch Marks

Home remedies can sometimes be the best treatment option for stretch marks, especially when the stretch marks are new. They can be repaired at this stage with results which are very satisfactory and irreversible.

Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is known to be one of the best home remedies available for the treatment and prevention of stretch marks. Most of the creams for stretch marks that are available in the market contain cocoa butter as the main ingredient. Massaging pure cocoa butter right on to the skin will help in preventing the formation of stretch marks, especially when you are pregnant.

For making a cream with cocoa butter, fill half a cup with cocoa butter. Add a tablespoon of wheat germ oil and one teaspoon each of apricot kernel paste and vitamin E. Take two teaspoons of bees wax and melt it. Add this to the mixture and mix well. This nourishing cream can be used every day for massaging into your body.

Aloe Vera And Olive Oil

Olive oil is a great remedy for removing stretch marks. But if you are looking at something which is stronger, aloe vera is here to serve you as well. Take half a cup of pure olive oil and add a quarter cup of freshly extracted aloe vera gel to it. Mix to form a smooth paste.

8 Natural Treatments For Removing Stretch Marks

Take 4 vitamin E capsules and two vitamin A capsules and add it to the mixture by bursting the capsules. Mix the contents well and use it for massaging on the stretch marks every day. Store this cream in air tight jars to retain its freshness.

Almond, Chamomile And Lavender

Massaging the stretch marked skin with any oil will in fact do a lot of good by reducing the severity of the damage. The improved blood circulation and the plumping up of skin will eventually lighten the stretch marks to a great deal with a massage every day.

For preparing a massage oil, take equivalent amounts of lavender and almond oil and add a teaspoon of chamomile oil to it. This can be massaged into the skin in gentle circular strokes. Do it every day and see the stretch marks getting flattened and lightened with time.

Wheat Germ Oil And Calendula

Wheat germ oil is a common ingredient in cosmetic creams as wheat germ is rich in vitamin A and E which are necessary for beautiful skin. Wheat germ helps in repairing and regenerating the skin. Calendula has great healing properties and help in reviving scarred skin. Mix calendula and wheat germ in equal proportions and massage every day for 15-20 minutes. With every passing day, your stretch marks will reduce considerably.

Vitamin E

The application of vitamin E must be started immediately after the arrival of red streaks of lines on your skin. This is the time when the stretch marks can be completely removed with great care. Massage the skin thoroughly with vitamin E for twenty minutes. Massaging vitamin E before the appearance of stretch marks will prevent its occurrence greatly.

Jojoba, Sweet Almond And Avocado

Mix jojoba, avocado and sweet almond and add 2-3 drops of chamomile and lavender oil to it. Work it into a smooth paste and apply on the stretch marks every day. Avocado is a natural moisturiser as it has natural oils present in it. 

With constant application of this mixture, the skin will be smoother and lighter in days.

Coffee

Freshly ground coffee has to be made to form a paste with a cream or lotion of your choice. This can be rubbed on the skin for 10 minutes every day. The slightly abrasive nature of coffee will act as an exfoliant and help in flattening the stretch marks greatly. Rub twice a day for 15 minutes.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K creams are known to remove stretch marks. Massage onto the skin every day for its action to heal stretch marks. Food rich in vitamin K should also be consumed while you treat stretch marks to maximise the gains.

With all these treatment methods, one must be aware of the limitations. Stretch marks are difficult to fade or remove completely once they are silvery grey in colour. The best treatment therefore is to prevent the stretch marks from appearing on your skin. All the treatment methods mentioned above are good for preventing the occurrence of stretch marks as well.

8 Home Treatment for Ingrown Toenail

Many people have the habit of cutting their nails way too close to the skin, sometimes damaging the underlying skin as well. Before you know, you are faced with a painful and distressing situation called ingrown toenails.

As the name suggests, the toenail that has been trimmed off rather too close to the skin starts growing right through your skin and causes dense pain and creates all kinds of infections of the toenail.

Dust and grime start accumulating in this area and you will have difficulty cleaning the nail as well. Before it turns to a severe case of infection and loss of the toenail itself, let’s explore the wonder remedies that are available naturally.

Alcohol

Before you take any treatment for the infection, the toenail has to be successfully evacuated from the flesh which is not an easy task, considering the pain and the thickness of your nails. To make the nails soft, take a cotton ball and soak in alcohol. Apply on the nails and leave it for a few minutes. Once it is soft, it is easy to pull it up from the skin and trim it into an adequate length, not too close this time please!

Water

Water that is hot may also be used for making the nails soft and removing the inflammation and bacterial action. Soak your toes in a high temperature that your skin can withstand. After 20 minutes, extract the soft nail out from the flesh and trim it off. It is now ready for treatment.

Salt

Epsom salt is a remedy for softening the toenail as well as healing and busting the infection on the toenail.  Take a shallow basin and fill it with warm water. 

Soak your leg for 15 minutes for the softening and healing action to take place. 

Wipe with a dry towel and remove the nail edge from the flesh for trimming. 

Continue soaking every day until the infection subsides and your nails grow back naturally.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent and is used for removing the infection from the skin. After trimming the ingrown toenail, wash legs well and pat dry before applying hydrogen peroxide solution. Using a cotton swab, apply hydrogen peroxide on the nail. Continue until the infection starts retracting and your nails are removed from the inflammation as well.

A Slice of Lemon

Lemon is another way to remove the infection and inflammation from your toenail. This too has to be done after you soften the toenail and trim it to prevent further growth into the skin. Now cut a lemon into two pieces and rub one piece on the toenail.

Squeeze the juice out and allow it to flow on the infected toenail. Allow the lemon juice to dry. Apply frequently throughout the day and every day until the toenail is completely cured and the infection no longer leaves you with pain and inflammation.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Using a cotton ball, apply apple cider vinegar for the healing action to take place and also remove the infection and leave the skin clear and well taken care of.

6 Natural Treatments for Curing All Kinds of Allergies

Allergic manifestations affect millions every year.  The most common types of allergies are those which are caused due to certain types of food or allergies that are cause by airborne substances like dust, dust mites, pollen grains etc. 

Allergies can form on the skin or affect the respiratory organs like an asthma attack. It can also affect other parts of the body.

Thankfully, you need not treat all allergic manifestations with antibiotics and antihistamines.  There are quite a few natural methods and natural antihistamines that can be used for treating and curing allergies of various types. Here are a few natural ways to cure various allergies.

1. Saline Spray

Most airborne allergies affect the respiratory tract and cause difficulty in breathing. In most cases, a runny or blocked nose is due to the mucous that is produced when an allergen irritates the body. A saline or nasal spray can be used for clearing the respiratory tract and removing the mucous effectively.

For making a saline spray, take a cup of warm water and add a quarter teaspoon of salt to it. Using a netti pot, drop the water through one nostril and remove the mucous and water through the other. Repeat until the nostrils are cleared and allergy symptoms dealt with.

2. Golden Seal

Golden seal is a herb which helps in treating sinus infections and infections of the upper respiratory tract. Golden seal powder capsules are available in herbal shops. You can take this with water for a few days with the help of a herbalist. 

Remember not to take goldenseal for more than 2-3 days at a time as it can cause more harm than good.

3. Turmeric

Turmeric can heal a host of allergies and can be used for reducing inflammation in the body. Apply turmeric paste with aloe vera gel for external skin allergies. 

Turmeric can be consumed internally as well to treat a number of internal problems and allergies. Take a quarter teaspoon of turmeric and add it with a glass of warm milk or warm water or even a teaspoon of honey and consume every day to keep away as well as treat allergies.

4. Grape Seed

Vitamin C is a great immune booster and can help in treating allergies and preventing allergies in your body. This is why grape seed extract is a wonderful remedy for allergies. Grape seed extract is rich in vitamin C and it also contains quercetin which is a compound that helps treat and bust allergy symptoms.

5. Echinacea

Known as an immune booster and blood purifier, Echinacea can be used for treating almost all kinds of allergies and infections. Echinacea can be consumed as a tea or its extract which is much more concentrated can be taken every day after seeking guidance from a herbalist.  Echinacea stimulates killer T- cell function of the body which is important for removal of organisms that invade the body.

6. Nettle

Stinging nettle is a natural medication used for allergies, especially sinus problems. Nettle tea can be prepared with dried stinging nettle.  Take a tablespoon of dried nettle and add to boiling water. This can be steeped overnight or for 5-8 hours when it turns dark green. Take it along with ice cold water or fruit juices or even warm water.