List of Causes and Cures for Hives

I have trawled the net for hundreds of hours listing all the causes and cures for hives (chronic urticaria or Cholinergic Urticaria) that people and studies have reported and I list them below along with my opinion formed from all that I have read. I would like you to imagine a seesaw, which represents your immune system. When your seesaw is straight, your immune system is balanced and you have good health. But your seesaw has been tipped into ill health by some of the Causes in the list below. What you have to do now is find out which of these are the major items causing your urticaria and remove them so that you can balance your seesaw again. To give yourself the best chance of strengthening your immune system, you should start piling some Cures on to the other end of the seesaw to help get the balance right, because you can’t always find or remove all of the Causes.

People wrote that one or more of the following were Causes of their Hives:

Allergy/sensitivity to any prescription drug or interaction of drugs, Aspirin & salicylates (also in food, spices, herbs, toothpaste, teething gels), penicillin (also in milk and beef), Stress induced hives (Adrenergic Urticaria has white halos round the wheals) herbal remedies and supplements (often their additives), insect bites, diet drinks, sugar substitutes, artificial colourings and chemicals in food, cleaning chemicals, aroma sticks, hair dye, latex, food colourings, preservatives, MSG, Autoimmune Thyroid Disease Helicobacter Pylori (H.Pylori) Yeast (Candida albicans) or other fungal infections Unknown Bacterial infections, such as sinus, tooth abscesses Parasites (even if never abroad) Celiac disease – may not show symptoms Heavy metal poisoning, especially mercury (in fillings) and nickel in all jewelry

Physical Urticaria – weals last no more than two hours, except for delayed pressure urticaria. Known triggers: cold, heat, exercise, sweating, water, sunlight, rubbing, pressure, delayed pressure, vibration, dermographia (skin writing). Sometimes two of these must be present to trigger hives, such as exercise in the cold, but not in the heat.
People wrote that one or more of the following were Cures for their Hives:
Reduce Stress (way bigger cause than anyone imagined) Relaxation techniques, Hypnosis tapes, Meditation, Yoga, Prayer, 20 minutes of sweat exercise per day, Adequate rest, Elimination diet (to determine allergies, then avoid them), H.Pylori (definitely be tested for this), Parasites (another definitely be tested, especially Blastocystis hominis and any other related to the area you live in. Human Toxocariasus has been found, and Anisakis simplex (avoid eating fish for 3 months to see if Cholinergic Urticaria improves.), Thyroid (another definitely be tested even if no symptoms), Gluten free diet (easy to try, often Celiac Disease has no symptoms), Failsafe Salicylate free diet (will relieve symptoms if sensitive to aspirin, but keep looking for other Cures), Yeast free diet (Yeast, Candida albicans, or other fungal infections were a common Cause with no symptoms), Histamine free diet Probiotics, fermented foods Removal of chemicals from home (use vinegar, bi carb, pure soap instead) Acupuncture, Giving up fast food and eating whole foods (avoid food with added chemicals), Yellow Dock and other herbs, (use only if definitely not salicylate sensitive) Drinking lots of filtered water (fluoride and dehydration suspected), pH balance, apple cider vinegar, Homeopathy, Fish oil supplements, vitamins (free from additives), Removal of infected tooth, Sinus infection treated.

Some of these Cures seem minor and not worth bothering about, such as, how can a walk in the park cure my chronic hives? It won’t, but if you add enough of these Cures on to the seesaw at one end, and take away enough of the Causes at the other end, you will tip the balance back into your favour. This is the main point of this post, just help your immune system enough to get it back on track, and it will start looking after you again. You will also start heading towards better health, not away from it.

Where do drugs fit into all this? Hives are a symptom of something else going on, and you may be lucky that antihistamines (or a combination) will mask the symptoms, but they will not cure you. So by all means, give them a go, but you will still have to rebalance your immune system. You should be aware that in some people antihistamines have severe side effects such as mood changes and the terrible itch of withdrawal. Steroids short term can help some people but seem to have a rebound effect, and immunotherapy seems to be useful for some people, although it is very new in the treatment of urticaria.

Hives are also present in a large number of other conditions (some very rare) which are usually diagnosed due to other symptoms, and are especially suspect if anyone else is the family has had the condition. Some are:

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (APD) especially, but not always, if your Cholinergic Urticaria seems related to pregnancy or menstruation. Cholestasis, this can also occur with pregnancy. Sarcoidosis Lupus Urticarial vasculitis (wheals last longer than 24 hours and leave bruises) Lyme disease Henoch-Schonlein
This is my opinion and all that I know, so I really am unable to answer your questions. If you wish to know more, use the words above to search the net for answers. The very best of luck and let us know of your success.

Hello Dial999,

Thanks for the incredible post, and welcome to the forum! There are lots of great information in your post, and I really appreciate you taking the time to post all of that information.
I totally agree that people with cholinergic urticaria (or any type of hives condition) should be very proactive in trying to make sure they get as many tests run with their doctor as possible, and trying to eliminate possible allergens, etc.
I have done many of the things on your list, and so far they have not helped. However, I am planning to do much more over the next year or so, and hopefully I will know much more.

What I have Done So Far: H. Pylori test- It was a blood test by a doctor, came back negative (no infection) Gluten free diet- Did for about 2 months on 2 separate occastions- No results I take no medicines/drugs- so no issues there Stress- I don’t really have all that much stress, and I think it can worsen my hives, but is not the cause. No known insect bites I have avoided cleaning chemicals/detergents/soaps and no results No latex issues (not that I use it much anyways) I have ate relatively organic for a period- hives didn’t seem as intense, but didn’t go away either Avoided diet drinks/chemicals on the diet mentioned above Yeast- I did also avoid excessive yeast/sugar for a while as well- no results Celiac disease- again, I did do gluten free, without much results

Some things on your list I haven’t Tried Yet- but hope to try soon:
Thyroid- I have no history or known issues, but would like to have my thryoid hormone levels tested Parasites- I have no known parasite infection, but I would be interested in a stool examination or other parasite test to rule it out. Heavy Metal Poisoning/Mercury- Seems interesting, I do have those amalgam (mercury) fillings that I have had for several years. I will likely get them removed eventually. Filtered water- I used to drink only filtered water from Walmart, with no flouride in it. So I don’t think this is an issue with me. Unless of course the flouride upsets my skin from the shower. I do plan on some filtering/water softeners to see if that helps within the next year. I don’t have any infections (such as a tooth) that I know about. I do have a “stuffy nose” almost every day, and I do not have a very good sense of smell at all any more.
To my knowledge, I do not have any other autoimmune disease, cancer, or any other issues. I suppose I could have something without my knowledge, but if so I don’t have any other noticeable symptoms other than Cholinergic Urticaria, my skin gets a little dry and itchy, and I do suspect milk allergy/lactose intolerance.
Again, that was an AWESOME post, filled with lots of great information. I will definitely try some of those things in the months to come that I haven’t already tried. I think it is a great starting point, and everyone should find a doctor willing to run tests and see if anything is wrong (such as thyroid, allergies, etc.).
Thanks again!

HivesGuy, you said about having a stuffy nose almost every day. I do too!
I’m constantly blowing my nose, it gets blocked up sometimes, and sometime runny. People find it funny because I blow my nose very loudly! I also clear it in the shower using the heat (which oddly doesn’t set off my Cholinergic Urticaria anymore).

HivesGuy, you said about having a stuffy nose almost every day. I do too!
I’m constantly blowing my nose, it gets blocked up sometimes, and sometime runny. People find it funny because I blow my nose very loudly! I also clear it in the shower using the heat (which oddly doesn’t set off my Cholinergic Urticaria anymore).

Hello billysielu,

Yes, my nose is constantly stuffy and congested year round. I have a very weak sense of smell, and I cannot smell most things unless I really get close to it and sniff. Occasionally my sinuses will clear up a little for a few hours, but usually it is constantly stuffy.

It is also runny sometimes, especially when it starts getting cold. I have to breathe mostly out of my mouth because it is so stuffy all of the time.
In fact, I actually remember reading on the web like 1 year ago on this site where a guy had Cholinergic Urticaria, and he had sinus problems. The doctors thought he had a fungal infection in his sinuses, and he had nasal surgery and I think medicine to help. He only posted another update or so, but he still had Cholinergic Urticaria after he healed from the surgery.

It could just be chronic inflammation of the sinuses or something. I have no idea. In some way it could be related to Cholinergic Urticaria, or it could be something different. But that is interesting that you have it to. I may post a survey today or tomorrow to see if anyone else has the stuffy nose issue with Cholinergic Urticaria.

In relation to that…I can’t say that I really had a stuffy nose.
It’s one of the symptoms I can tell when I’m about to get sick though, which is also rare of course in itself. Also just before bed, I can notice that it seems a lot more blocked than normally…
But beyond, my sinus’ are normal I believe.
-One thing I have wondered though, does anyone have and/or get Saliva duct stones?

Nope, I have never had a Saliva duct stone. I get the occasional canker sore in my mouth (ouch), but that is about it.
Also, I haven’t had to take any antibiotics due to illness since I first got Cholinergic Urticaria. I have had a couple of minor colds, but nothing serious. I find it strange how I hardly ever get sick.

just a suggestion to you stuffy nosed people: have you ever tried a neti pot? it’s been a life saver for me! my chronic sinus infections went bye bye!