What is urticaria?
Urticaria
is a common condition characterised by wheals on the skin occuring
on any site of the body and is intensely pruritic. It is the skin’s
response to an obnoxious allergy.
What are the predisposing factors?
Taking
a look at the types of urticaria will give you an idea of the predisposing
factors.
Acute urticaria - This lasts for a few hours or days and is characterised
by the presence of small-circumscribed areas of
oedema, pink in colour, with central pallor.
Chronic urticaria - If urticaria is present for more than six weeks
it is said to be chronic.
The cause may be difficult to point out but drugs, food, inhalants,
parasitic infestations, cosmetics, or systemic diseases especially
jaundice, malaria, rheumatic fever, anaphylaxis, serum sickness, insect
bites, allergy to certain foods, excessive intake of sour, spicy,
pungent foods and drugs can cause urticaria.
What are the investigations?
The
investigations can be carried out under a professional advice.
Skin tests may confirm allergens. If other systemic diseases are the
suspected culprits then, concerned tests can be carried out.
How ayurved can help?
Following
remedies are worth trying under professional guidance:
1 tsp of turmeric powder with 1 tsp honey thrice daily is beneficial.
1/2 tsp of black pepper with 1 tsp of ghee and 1 tsp of honey is recommended.
1 tsp of dry ginger with a glass of warm water twice daily gives good
results.
Apply sour buttermilk on the affected sites.
Mix a little camphor in coconut oil and apply on the affected sites.
A glass of lemon juice mixed with honey is beneficial.
The juice of coriander with candy sugar is useful.
Fennel seeds (2 tsp) should be put into a glass of water along with
10 gm of candy sugar and kept overnight. Strain the mixture in the
morning and drink.
Kamdudha rasa, avipattikar churna can be taken only on professional
advice.
What are the preventive measures?
The
preventive measures would include the dietary restrictions and other
regimen as mentioned in the dietary recommendations.
Exposure to allergens should be avoided.
Exposure to cold air should be avoided.
Spicy, fried, pungent foods should be avoided.
The use of over the counter drugs should be avoided.
What are dietary recommendation and other regimen?
The
diet should include wheat, lentils, green gram, cow milk, ghee, grapes,
ginger, bitter gourd, serpent gourd, gourd, cucumber, lemon juice,
honey is beneficial.
Avoid black gram, sago, pineapple, oranges, peaches, custard apple,
bananas, curds, garlic, and radish.
Avoid incompatible foods (e.g. curd with fish; curd with sours), jaggery,
salt, sesame etc.
Refrain from the use of OTC (over the counter drugs).
If there is no response with the household remedies please seek professional
advice without further delay especially when you suspect drugs as
the culprits.
