Hives (urticaria)
Introduction
Hives, also called urticaria or hives, are a skin condition in which suddenly itchy, elevated spots occur. The hives can be red, pink, skin colored or pale and vary greatly in size and shape. Sometimes different spots flow together into larger areas.
Characteristic is that individual hives can appear quickly and usually disappear within a few hours, while in other places new spots arise. After disappearing, usually no scars remain.
In acute urticaria, the symptoms last for less than six weeks. If the hives persists or recurs regularly for six weeks, chronic urticaria is mentioned.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be tailored to the way the hives presents to you. These include color, itching, heat or cold sensitivity, possible triggers and other physical complaints.
Common symptoms
Hives can be found on almost any part of the body. Common features are:
- itchy, elevated hives;
- red, pink, skin-coloured or pale spots;
- Bulbs of different size and shape;
- places that may be converging;
- hives disappearing within a few hours while new ones emerge elsewhere;
- burning or irritating sensations;
- sometimes deeper swelling of eyelids or lips, for example.
The itching can vary greatly in intensity. In some people the symptoms are provoked or aggravated by, for example, heat, cold, pressure on the skin or physical exercise.
Possible causes
In the case of hives, mast cells are activated in the skin. Among other things, histamine and other substances are released. This causes small blood vessels to dilate and leak moisture into the surrounding tissue, causing typical hives.
Acute urticaria may be associated, inter alia, with an infection, drug, food or allergic reaction. In addition, there are forms that are provoked by physical stimuli such as cold, heat, pressure or exercise.
In chronic urticaria, it is often not easy to identify an external cause. Different mechanisms may play a role.
A distinction is also made between different causes within Chinese medicine. Sudden complaints often lead to external factors such as Wind, Heat or Cold. In long-term or regular hives, more attention is paid to underlying disturbances, for example of Qi and Blood, Spleen and Stomach or the defensive Qi.
How can acupuncture help with hives?
Acupuncture treatment is tailored to both skin complaints and the underlying TCM pattern. For example, a sudden outbreak with bright red, warm hives is assessed differently within Chinese medicine than pale spots that are mostly provoked by cold.
In the case of chronic hives, factors which may be associated with the continued recurrence of symptoms are also considered.
Depending on your symptoms, treatment may be directed at:
- reduce skin itching and discomfort;
- reduce redness and heat;
- reduce sensitivity to cold, heat or other triggering factors;
- support digestion when it is involved;
- support general resistance and capacity for activity in the case of recurrent complaints;
- treat additional complaints that are part of the same pattern of complaints.
How can Chinese herbal medicine help with hives?
Chinese herbs are also chosen based on the individual grievance picture. Therefore, there is no single standard herbal formula for hives.
The choice of herbs includes the colour and character of the hives, heat or cold sensitivity, the intensity of the itching, possible triggers and how long the symptoms have existed. Additional complaints such as digestion, energy or menstruation may also be important.
Depending on the grievance picture, herbal treatment may be aimed at:
- to reduce itching and skin reactions;
- reduce redness and heat;
- reduce cold complaints;
- support digestion when involved in the picture of complaints;
- support the skin in the event of prolonged or recurrent complaints;
- reduce the susceptibility to new outbreaks.
Chinese herbs can be used daily between acupuncture treatments. The composition is adjusted when the complaint image changes.
TCM vision on hives
Within traditional Chinese Medicine, hives are often associated with Wind. This does not literally mean wind from outside. Wind describes complaints within TCM that occur suddenly, quickly change and, as it were, move over the body. That is consistent with hives that appear suddenly, disappear and then arise elsewhere.
Wind can be associated with Heat or Cold. This can manifest itself in red, warm hives that get worse due to heat, or pale hives that are clearly provoked by cold.
In case of chronic hives, an underlying deficiency may be present alongside Wind. TCM says that insufficient Qi and Blood can cause less skin to be nourished and protected. Spleen and Stomach may also be involved, especially if the skin symptoms are associated with digestive problems.
Another important concept is Wei Qi, the defending Qi. Within TCM, Wei Qi is seen as a functional system involved in protecting the outside of the body and regulating sweating and temperature reactions.
What is a TCM organ system?
A TCM organ system describes a group of related body functions and is wider than just the anatomical organ with the same name. Read more at TCM basics .
What is a TCM pattern?
A TCM pattern is a recognizable combination of complaints and physical characteristics that indicates which imbalance is likely to contribute to the complaints. Read more at TCM basics .
Below are only the most common and relevant patterns discussed for this complaint. Other patterns are possible and multiple patterns can occur at the same time. This allows you to recognize yourself in different descriptions. Also, someone with a certain pattern does not have to have all the symptoms mentioned. The pattern is determined on the basis of the overall picture of complaints.
Most common TCM patterns
Wind-Heat
Brief explanation
Wind-Heat is especially suitable for hives that suddenly occurs and where redness and heat are clearly at the forefront. According to TCM, the combination of Wind and Heat causes rapidly changing skin reactions and strong itching.
Common symptoms
- Red or bright red hives;
- severe itching;
- burning or warm skin sensation;
- symptoms worse due to heat and better by cooling;
- hives may merge into larger red spots;
- feeling thirsty, irritability or mild fever.
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Wind-Cold
Brief explanation
With Wind-Cold, the hives are usually paler and there is a clear relationship with cold. The symptoms may arise or worsen due to cold air, cold water or sudden temperature decrease.
Common symptoms
- pale, pale pink or almost white hives;
- itching;
- Clearly worse due to cold;
- heat improvement;
- aversion to cold or cold feeling;
- Mostly not very thirsty.
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Dampness-Heat / disharmony of Spleen and Stomach
Brief explanation
Within TCM, the Spleen and Stomach are important for the processing of food and moisture. When these functions are disturbed, Dampness can occur. When Dampness merges with Heat, according to TCM this can contribute to itchy skin reactions. In other people, weakness of Spleen and Stomach is more prominent.
Common symptoms
- recurrent hives and itching;
- dietary-related complaints;
- bloating or discomfort in the abdomen;
- nausea;
- decreased appetite;
- loose stools or diarrhoea;
- at Dampness-Heat rather redness and a warm feeling.
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Wei-Qi-deficiency
Brief explanation
Wei Qi is seen within TCM as the defensive Qi on the outside of the body. If this function is not strong enough, according to TCM, the skin can react more sensitively to external influences. This image plays a role especially in recurrent or chronic complaints.
Common symptoms
- recurrent hives;
- itching changing in intensity;
- sensitivity to wind or temperature changes;
- spontaneous or easy sweating;
- fatigue;
- pale skin;
- can be easily susceptible to colds.
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Blood- and Yin-deficiency with Wind
Brief explanation
According to TCM, long-term hives may cause or already present a shortage of nourishing and moistening substances. Blood and Yin deficiency can help to insufficiently nourish the skin. This can cause so-called internal Wind, which causes itching and recurrent skin reactions.
Common symptoms
- chronic or recurrent hives;
- hives often pale red or skin colored;
- itching that may persist for a long time;
- dry skin;
- fatigue;
- dizziness;
- pale facial colour;
- sometimes worse sleep;
- symptoms may become stronger in case of fatigue.
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Disharmony of Chong Mai and Ren Mai
Brief explanation
The Chong Mai and Ren Mai are closely linked to the menstrual cycle within TCM. In some women hives show a clear cyclic pattern. For example, hives can become stronger before menstruation and then gradually decrease again.
Common symptoms
- hives clearly associated with the menstrual cycle;
- symptoms especially before menstruation;
- for example, hives on abdomen, lower back or upper legs;
- menstrual problems or an irregular cycle;
- abdominal pain during menstruation.
What can you do for yourself?
If you notice that certain conditions cause an outbreak, it may be useful to keep up with them. For example, think of heat, cold, physical exertion, pressure or friction on the skin, certain foods, alcohol, medicines or stress.
In a physically induced form of urticaria, limiting the stimulation may help. In cold-urticaria caution with strong exposure to cold is important. In people with severe cold-urticaria, swimming in cold water can cause an extensive reaction.
It is not wise to remove more and more foods from your diet without obvious cause. If a food allergy is suspected, targeted medical diagnosis can be more useful.
Outlook
The course varies widely between acute and chronic hives. An acute episode can disappear relatively quickly when the triggering factor disappears. In chronic or recurrent urticaria, the image is usually more persistent and within TCM more emphasis is placed on both the skin response and the underlying pattern.
In the initial phase, one acupuncture treatment per week is a common guideline. In case of acute or severe complaints can be treated temporarily two to three times a week. When the symptoms decrease and become more stable, the frequency can be reduced. Chinese herbs can be used daily between treatments if appropriate.
The treatment duration depends, among other things, on how long the hives exists, how often the complaints occur, possible triggers and the underlying TCM pattern.
Medical safety
Hives are usually not dangerous, but can be part of a serious allergic reaction.
Call 112 immediately if hives are accompanied by symptoms such as:
- swelling of tongue or throat;
- difficulty breathing or swallowing;
- hoarseness or a suddenly altered voice;
- severe breathlessness;
- dizziness, fainting or other signs of a serious allergic reaction.
In the case of recurrent or prolonged hives, it is also advisable to have a medical assessment of the cause, especially if symptoms persist for more than six weeks or if angioedema occurs regularly.
If you are taking antihistamines or other anti-urticaria medication, do not change or stop it on your own but discuss this with your treating doctor.
Contact
Do you suffer from hives regularly and want to know if acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine can match your symptoms? During a first consultation, we discuss when the hives develop, what they look like, possible triggering factors, heat and cold sensitivity, your digestion and other relevant complaints.
On the basis of the overall complaint picture, it is considered which TCM pattern is likely to be at the forefront and which treatment fits in with it.