Hello all! Hopefully, my quick facts and remedy for the symptoms can help you. Thank you Ben, for starting and continuing this website.
First, I’ll start with my quick facts:
– It started on me in 2001. I just found this website about 10 days ago.
– I live in Las Vegas and it only hits me in the cold weather- usually end October to late February.
– I hate cold! I keep my house very warm (yes, it gets a little cold in Vegas, not for long though).
– I’ve worked out my whole life. I keep low body fat year round.
– The first 20 minutes of my workout is excruciatingly painful in this cholinergic urticaria timeframe. After each workout set, I want to scratch my skin off. After that, my skin still feels sensitive, but not nearly as bad.
– It has also hit me when I’ve been on the phone with clients who are driving me mad. I assumed it was linked to my blood pressure, haha.
– I’ve woken up in the middle of the night in itchy, scratchy madness.
– I’m affected on my hands, arms, scalp, chest, back. Usually in that order.
– My skin doesn’t show signs of it unless I make it red by scratching. However, it feels like it’s fire red.
– It has taken full years off. I didn’t have it for the last 2 years.
– I thought it was the “Beta Alanine Tingles”, which happens to some people taking bodybuilding supplements with beta alanine in it. I thought I won when I cut all of those supplements out… until it hit again this year and hit hard.
On a scale of 1 – 10, with 10 being the worst, I’ve been an 8-9 this year.
** The cure for my symptoms **
I’m not one to take prescription drugs, so when Ben mentioned the histamine blocker, I searched for natural antihistamine and found “Stinging Nettle.” I bought: “Now Foods Stinging Nettle Root Extract” for $8 on Amazon and I’m thrilled to say, I went from an 8-9 on the pain scale to a 2 within a day. Today was my 5th day on it and my pain scale was a 1.
I can feel exactly when it’s coming on, but it feels like it gets shut down quickly (histamine being blocked, I guess), then it stays away the rest of the workout.
I’ve also noticed that my skin doesn’t feel nearly as sensitive throughout the rest of the day.
I haven’t woken up in the middle of the night this week either.
I take:
1 at night, and 2 in the morning before my workout.
1 and 1 on my days off from the gym.
Thank you Ben, for breaking down exactly what it is, because it helped me tremendously. This may have been the best $8 I’ve ever spent.
– Will
Hivesguy says
Thanks for taking the time to share that, Will. I’m glad your hives are improving!
John says
Plant remedies are the best!! Your experience with this plant is very noteworthy as is your observation about it. I guess it takes the “sting” out of the CU which is just what we want! Thanks!
Diana says
Hi 🙂
I´m new here and I just found out your post about stinging nettle which seems to be helping you.
I´m curious about your progress. Is it still working for you?
Thanks for your sharing 🙂
Will says
Hey Diana,
Yes. This year on the pain scale, I’ve been about an 8-9 on a scale of 1-10.
I’ve been on a the Singing Nettle for 1 week and it’s been a 1-2 pain scale.
Today was a real test, because it’s been raining (yes, it rains in Las Vegas once in a while), so I knew my body wanted to sweat more. Even with that, I’d say I hit about a 4 on the pain scale.
It’s important to know that once it’s a bad winter for me, it never abates like it has.
It can’t be a placebo, because I’ve tries TONS of things since 2001 and none have worked at all. Zero. Nada. It was only this site that let me know it was the histamine that was the causing the pain and led me to a solution.
I’m pretty sure I have NOT adapted because this past Saturday (day 5) was the lowest pain I’ve felt this year.
However, even if I did adapt, I’d try another natural antihistamine.
John says
I used to use niacin in the same way, and it had an effect. The stinging became muted, and instead of the more swollen wheals there were just little red dots Instead of the all out itch and burn it was sort of an icy burn but much milder. Some days i thought i had it licked with very few symptoms, esp in the summer, but of course the higher doses of niacin i was doing can’t be take for too long. They damage the liver, which maybe was the actual source of the antigens that were getting mopped up by the immune system during a hive attack..more about that theory later. I developed a sensitivity to niacin and after that I didn’t even take vitamin pills or eat enriched products because they gave me a worrisome cramp in the gut. So don’t use niacin megadoses, but I had a little luck I thought with certain homeopathic remedies, and i think that the stinging nettle acts on the same principle..similar to the way a niacin “flush” would alleviate or preempt a regular full blown hive attack.
The bottom line is to find the antigen that is triggering the immune response. Ben wisely suggested the elimination diet. He had great success with it. I don’t recall seeing a newcomer to this forum mention the understanding of this point and accept the thesis that the author gives that “diet is 95% of the problem.” The idea is somewhat daunting although actually not that hard to accomplish if we are determined. Our exposure to antigens in the environment IS the greatest with what we ingest. So the elimination diet is your first line of defense, and if you want to make it easy on yourself first cut out all dairy and wheat, then you can go deeper til you get down to eating only rice and vegetables and fruit and maybe some legumes…all very low on the list of food allergy causes. Supplements, refined sugars, processed foods, drugs, caffeine and alcohol should also be discontinued immediately. i would even eliminate all animal products of any kind at first because they stimulate certain hormones that may be causing problems, and in those with less than perfect digestion they may introduce proteins into your circulation that are seen as foreign. If you have never fasted then consider giving the body a rest for a few days with water only. It is an age old prescription. It won’t kill you to lose a few pounds. For a short fast it is mostly water anyway. Of course, you will often see disclaimers telling you to consult your doctor. Use common sense and take responsibility for your own health and mental well being. But take action in a wise way. Watch the video and read the book and take the advice seriously. Learn the simple art of meditation too so you can be in touch with the sensations in our body and how they relate to your thinking and the environment you are in, and it will help you accept the manifestations of this benign disease and ease your suffering and worry. Best of luck in your search for the cause and cure.
Chelsey says
My 14 year old son was diagnosed with this and after a series of allergy tests, which really went nowhere, and steroids, Claratin and many other things I went holistic. This was my version of hell! They told him he may never be ajle to play sports again, and hewas on the school and a travel team, and every time he got sweaty he would flare up and even his habds, feet, eyes and lips would swell at one time or another. And we live in Florida so he was HOT all the time. My husband being a Chiropractor tired we searched and searched, and found in a book some remedies for this. Cold shower (which he hated), stinging nettle as a mother poster said, and my son swore by it, quercetin, krill oil, probiotics, and apple cider vinegar applied to rash (try on one spot first and make sure it’s refrigerated) it went away after a few eels but got better pretty quickly. It came back one time and I did the same regimen and it hasn’t been back since, 2 years. Hope this helps someone else, this is awful for anyone going thru it and I wish you all well.
John says
Looks like you have found a way to take the sting out of it! Going to try it although mine have behaved pretty well if I keep to my diet. Winter is challenging though! Chelsyey, glad your young man has found some relief! Stinging nettle reminds one of the approach of homeopathy and immunotherapy combined..somewhere in the middle. Great..esp. compared to anticholinergics and other things with horrid side effects. Thanks for sharing.
Will says
Hey Guys,
Just wanted to update this thread on “my cure”.
It’s been about a month of taking Singing Nettle and I have to say, it is still helping me just as much as when I first started. Like I mentioned previously, I was worried I would adjust to the it. I haven’t. I’ve actually backed off of it a bit so I would be able to jump up the dose if I did adjust. Even backing off of it, I’m still fine.
Again, I feel it coming on when I start my workout, but it’s very, very minimal, and after one or two sets at the gym, I’m perfectly fine. Keeping in mind, regarding the CU, this Winter was one of the worst I can remember.
It’s actually getting warmer here in Vegas, so I’ll probably be backing the dose down of even more… however, I’ll defnitely have some stocked for next Winter!!
Thanks for having this site Ben!
-Will
John says
Can you guys share the brand and type of the stinging nettle you use. Amazon link? Root? Thanks much.
Diana says
Firstable thanks all of you who share your experience here!!
I started really thinking about getting the stinging nettle… so I´m joining John with his question 🙂
John says
Diana, looking back I found a recommendation for this one on Amazon…but there were bulk products used to make tea, and I am thinking about getting some seed to grow it if this works ok…some say it is a great “green” to eat…traditionally eaten by some people
Black Sheep says
Yes. It’s “Now Foods”:
Now Foods Nettle Root Extractract (they spelled “Extract” wrong on the listing) 250mg, Veg-capsules
-Will
Diana says
Oh thank bot of you!
John, if you try it before I do, post here if your situation is getting better or not 🙂 hope it will work!!
John says
I am doing much better lately with no wheat and all plant based, but I will get some and try it anyway. Best of luck to you too! Will let you know. I would like to grow it in my garden as it is reputed to be a great green food. I had some sardines in water today too. Will I react? We’ll see.