p. 16 | Urticaria, or Hives

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 22, 1912

Urticaria, or Hives

“My brother has hives every fall for a period of a month or two. What is the cause? Is it curable? If so, give remedies. N. M.”

Mild forms of this disease usually respond to treatment, but severer cases which have lasted for several weeks, sometimes become most tenacious and unyielding. Toxemia, through intestinal absorption, is in most cases the cause. The treatment, therefore, is dietetics, with proper attention to the local manifestations on the skin. A good diet is one of fruit and milk only, for days or weeks, the fruit and milk to be taken at separate meals, of course. In some cases, fasting for a few days is most helpful.

For the manifestation on the skin, apply a lotion of two grains of menthol to one ounce of water, or one may use the fluid extract of Hamamelis.

FOR THE ITCHING.—The itching may be relieved by taking a warm bath, with a handful of baking-soda dissolved in the water. One may also apply the following lotion:—

Prepared calamin-powder, 15 drops; zinc oxid, 30 grains; glycerin, 45 drops; carbolic acid, 5 drops; lime-water, 1 dram; water, a sufficient quantity to make one ounce. Mix.

Plenty of fresh air, rest, pure water, and proper food will often accomplish more than any measure especially directed toward the relief of the local condition.