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cutaneous system
Urticaria
Integrative Therapies

Home Care

Rashes and Itching are also known as Urticaria and Pruritis

Pruritis is a severe itching reaction that is often associated with urticaria, the eruption of a skin rash which may consist of red spots, scaly patches, or blisters. Common causes are skin infections, changes brought on by aging, contact with allergic substances, stress, or reaction to drugs. In the event you are taking prescribed medication, discuss the possibility of an allergic reaction with your physician.

Avoid other seemingly allergic substances such as plants, clothing, or animals. Decrease the frequency of bathing, taking showers instead, and change to a milder bathing soap as these may contribute to dry skin and make the condition worse. If the rash is raw and oozing, if there are other symptoms of infection such as fever or nausea, if it seems to get worse, or if it lasts for more than a week, consult a physician.


THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTS CAN BE TAKEN UNTIL SYMPTOMS IMPROVE:

1. Beta-carotene – 100,000 Units per day (or 5,000 Units times age per day for a child). Pregnant women or women who may become pregnant should not take more than 15,000 Units per day.

2. Vitamin E – 400 Units per day. Use the variety that has mixed tocopherols.

3. Vitamin C – 1,000 milligrams 3 times a day (or for children, 250 milligrams times age per day up to 2,000 milligrams per day).

4. Zinc – 50 milligrams per day (or for children, 2.5 milligrams times age per day). Decrease dosage as the condition clears up.

5. A non-oily zinc ointment applied to the skin as needed can help relieve pain and itching.


REGARDING THE DIET:

Consider food allergies. Certain foods seem to be more likely to cause rashes and itching. Eliminating these foods from the diet is a good way to determine if one or several of them are responsible. The main problem foods are dairy products (including milk, cheese, ice cream), eggs, wheat, corn, and sugar.

After eliminating all of those foods from the diet, and the symptoms have gone away, one food at a time can be reintroduced to see if the symptoms reoccur. A new food would be introduced each week. If you need more information, you may want to refer to the article on Food sensitivities.


HERBS USED FOR RASHES AND ITCHING:

1. Use fresh Stinging Nettle oil or ointment on the effected areas.

2. Drink 1 to 2 cups of Nettle tea daily. Add boiling water to 1 teaspoon of the dried leaves for each cup. Steep for 15 minutes.

3. Apply Burdock Root oil to the skin to help heal rashes and itching. In addition, take 50 drops of the tincture, which is a liquid herbal extract, 3 times per day by mouth.

4. Get fresh Chickweed to make a poultice. (Most yards and gardens have plenty of wild Chickweed growing during the spring, summer, and early fall.) Consult an herb book for a description. Heat two large handfuls of Chickweed in enough water to cover it. When the plants soften, remove them from the heat, let them cool and then apply directly to skin. Cover with a dry cloth and a wool cloth. Drink the leftover water as a tea. Alternatively, you can use Chickweed ointment, often available in health food stores.


PHYSICAL THERAPY MEASURES FOR RASHES AND ITCHING ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. To relieve itching, add 2 cups of apple cider vinegar to bath water. One-half cup of vinegar can also be added to the water for a cold compress. Or, the vinegar can be applied full-strength directly on the effected areas. Do not use full-strength vinegar near the eyes or genitals, as it may cause irritation. Douche with diluted vinegar to relieve vaginal itching.

Make a cold compress by dipping a cotton cloth in cold water and gently wring it out. One-half cup of apple cider vinegar per quart of water may be added. Apply the folded cloth so that it covers the itchy area and an additional two inches of skin. Cover with a dry wool cloth.

2. Add a cup of uncooked oatmeal to the bath water and soak in it for at least 15 minutes, or mix the oatmeal with a small amount of water to make a paste for itchy skin.

3. Calendula is an herb that can be used as a tea, as a rinse, or in an ointment form. As a tea, add 1 tablespoon of the herb to 1 cup of boiling water. Steep for 20 minutes. Drink 2 to 3 cups per day. As a rinse, add 3 to 4 cups of tea to 1 quart of water and rinse the itching skin 2 times a day. Ointments of Calendula are readily available in most health food stores.


HOMEOPATHY:

From the following homeopathic medicines choose the one that best matches your symptoms. Dissolve 3 pellets under the tongue 3 times per day.

• Sulphur 6c: For extreme itching and burning which feels worse with heat or a bath. The itching is so severe that it makes you want to scratch until it bleeds.

• Dolichos 6c: If there is intense itching, without eruptions or any apparent cause.

• Arsenicum 6c: For itching and burning sensations that are made better by hot compresses.

• Urtica 12c: For itching that feels like pin pricks.

Note: A wide range of homeopathic medicines can be helpful for individuals with rashes and itching, especially if chronic or recurrent. Consultation with a health care professional trained in homeopathic prescribing will usually be the best way to select the correct medicine.

ADDITIONAL MEASURES FOR RASHES AND ITCHING ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. The effects of stress need to be reduced through stress management and relaxation tech-niques such as visualizations and meditation.

Counseling may prove helpful. For more information on stress reduction, refer to the article on that topic.

2. Avoid scratching as much as possible. It will often aggravate the condition. For specific information about itching brought on by other various conditions refer to the articles on contact dermatitis, eczema, or seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff).


Clinic

Footnotes

BarShalom R, Soileau J. (eds.) Natural Health Hotline. Beaverton, OR: Integrative Medical Arts, 1991-1999.