Hives are raised, itchy welts on the surface of the skin caused by hypersensitivity to a substance. When the body encounters a substance that it is allergic or sensitive to, it releases histamines and other chemicals into the bloodstream. As a result, the capillaries and tiny veins leak. The leaking fluid gets trapped in the skin and lining membranes, which causes the localized swelling seen with hives. The welts,which are also called wheals, may remain small, or may spread large enough to join together. With hives,the center of the welt blanches, or turns white, when pressed.

   When hives occur around the face, particularly around the lips and eyes, they are called angioedema. Angioedema may also occur on the hands, feet and throat. Hives can come and go suddenly, often without any apparent cause. It is estimated that up to 70% of hives go undiagnosed as to the cause, because they can appear hours after exposure to the irritant.

Symptoms of Hives:

Swelling, itchy and sometimes painful:
    Your skin swells which is covered by small or sometimes large red colored rings or patches. Wheals or welts appear all over your body which is very itchy. Their shapes vary and keep disappearing and reappearing within minutes or hours. You can see raised pink lesions too all over your body in different sizes.

Difficulty in routine activity:
    You may find difficulty in breathing and swallowing. Your level of anxiety increases which causes rapid and irregular heart beat. You may even suffer from loss of consciousness, dizziness or faintness.

Causes of Hives:
 
Allergy:
    Being allergic to medications, nuts, eggs, berries, insect bites, jelly fish, can release the batch of
hives. If you are exposed to animal dander it may also cause an allergic reaction. Wearing tight clothes and jewelry which does not suit you can also be another reason for hives.

Exposure to extreme weather:
    If you are being exposed to extreme temperatures you may suffer from this condition. Presence in extreme heat and extreme cold can create such problems.

Sweat:
    Hives may start developing once you come in contact with sweat or water.

Home Remedies:

Hives treatment by using calamine lotion:
    By applying this lotion it can grant you relief from the itchy feeling.

Hives treatment by using milk of magnesia:
    By dabbing milk of magnesia on the lesions, provides some relief. As milk of magnesia is an alkaline solution it helps in removing the irritating itchy sensation.

Hives treatment by using herbal tea:
    Calming our nerves is one of the important things to do, as stress makes the matter worse. Drinking peppermint or passionflower tea is very good. You can also try chamomile, valerian and catnip which also soothe your nerves.

Hives treatment by using cornstarch:
    To stop the itching get 1/2 a tub filled with warm water, add 1/2 cup cornstarch and 1/2 cup baking soda.Soaking yourself at least once a day can make a lot of difference.

Hives treatment by using cayenne pepper:
    Consume cayenne pepper capsules to help the healing procedure. You can also have vitamin C, vitamin E or zinc for quick relief.

Diet for Hives:

Avoid allergen triggering food:
    Avoid food like eggs, strawberries, berries, peanuts, nuts, chocolates, cheese, tomatoes, soy products, shellfish and many more. Find out the food that is allergic to you and avoid having it.

Other treatment for Hives:

Use of Acupressure:
    By massaging the trapezius points, you can find some relief. This trapezius muscle is found between the neck and the shoulder. By giving the vital pressure it may help you clear the red and white ringed patches of your body.

Reference: <a href=”http://www.healthonclick.com“> HealthOnclick</a>

devika
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/symptoms-and-treatment-for-hives-721398.html

For sufferers of candidiasis avoidance of carbohydrates is of prime importance. Yeasts ferment fats and proteins poorly, but thrive on carbohydrates, particularly sugars. A rigid abstinence from refined carbohydrates should be observed to prevent Candida increase in the body. The types of foods to avoid are sugars, breads, cakes and pastries etc., mushrooms, aged cheeses, dried fruits and alcoholic beverages. If possible these foods should be discarded completely on a regular basis until the candidiasis is under control. Occasional ingestion does not seem to matter but, when eaten continuously they will feed Candida albicans and constantly aggravate and worsen, a candidiasis condition. The result is ongoing allergy illness.

High protein foods, including fish, seafoods, lean meats, nuts and eggs, should take preference, combined with low carbohydrate vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, broccoli, squash, cauliflower, cucumbers and asparagus. Additional benefits may be gained by restricting cereal grains, as many people will find themselves intolerant to these because of the candidiasis. Obviously, it is not desirable to stay on a protein oriented diet for too long. However, supplementation with plenty of low carbohydrate vegetables does not only help overcome the Candida problem but will also provide an excellent diet for the maintenance of general good health.

It is important for allergy sufferers to remember to test each food before including it in a yeast free diet. Due to the candidiasis, allergies may have already developed to some of the suggested foods such as fish, nuts and eggs.

Antibiotics should not be taken, unless absolutely unavoidable. In particular, the ‘broad-spectrum’ drugs, that destroy the protective bacteria in the intestinal and vaginal tracts, should not be taken over a long term. When this is unavoidable, an antifungal drug, such as nystatin, should also be taken to counteract stimulation of yeast growth by the antibiotic.

Of particular danger is the long-term treatment of acne by the use of tetracycline. This is a common mistake made by skin specialists. One of their standard procedures is to prescribe a broad spectrum antibiotic for months at a time. Whilst this can help acne in the short term, it rarely works long term. The antibiotic causes further increase in the yeast infection which was often the root cause of the acne infection. In other words, like most skin disorders, acne is usually the sign of a deep-seated allergy disorder. Any long-term treatment by antibiotics will breakdown the immune system, promote candidiasis and result in further allergy illness.

Another condition arising from candidiasis, for which antibiotics are commonly prescribed, is urethritis. This is often diagnosed by doctors as the more serious and deeper-seated disease of cystitis of the bladder, because they do not understand candidiasis or its symptoms. As a result, antibiotics may be prescribed for weeks or even months. They do very little good and can actually harm the patient by aggravating the yeast infection which is causing the urethritis.

A further misuse of antibiotics is in their prescription for viral infections. They are not effective for this purpose, yet doctors continue to prescribe them, knowing this to be the case. General practitioners simply cannot grasp, or do not want to grasp, the simple possibility that viruses can cause infections by gaining access to the body through mucous membranes already irritated by allergic reactions to foods and chemicals. Candidiasis is considered a prime cause of this condition and antibiotics will only serve to aggravate the situation further.

Immunosuppressant drugs, such as cortisone and steroids should be avoided as they contribute to the breakdown of the immune system. These drugs will enhance the growth of yeast by their function which is designed to suppress the immune system in order to give relief of symptoms. This is a classic example of treating the symptom and not the cause. In this case the prescription of immunosuppressant drugs is actually harmful because, although in the short term symptoms will be relieved, ultimately the increased growth of yeast caused by suppressing the normal immune mechanisms will result in the deterioration of the patient’s condition. More intolerances and more debilitating symptoms will then occur.

K Bakhru
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/treatment-for-chronic-candidiasis-312362.html

Hives are raised, itchy welts on the surface of the skin caused by hypersensitivity to a substance. When the body encounters a substance that it is allergic or sensitive to, it releases histamines and other chemicals into the bloodstream. As a result, the capillaries and tiny veins leak. The leaking fluid gets trapped in the skin and lining membranes, which causes the localized swelling seen with hives. The welts,which are also called wheals, may remain small, or may spread large enough to join together. With hives,the center of the welt blanches, or turns white, when pressed.

   When hives occur around the face, particularly around the lips and eyes, they are called angioedema. Angioedema may also occur on the hands, feet and throat. Hives can come and go suddenly, often without any apparent cause. It is estimated that up to 70% of hives go undiagnosed as to the cause, because they can appear hours after exposure to the irritant.

Symptoms of Hives:

Swelling, itchy and sometimes painful:
    Your skin swells which is covered by small or sometimes large red colored rings or patches. Wheals or welts appear all over your body which is very itchy. Their shapes vary and keep disappearing and reappearing within minutes or hours. You can see raised pink lesions too all over your body in different sizes.

Difficulty in routine activity:
    You may find difficulty in breathing and swallowing. Your level of anxiety increases which causes rapid and irregular heart beat. You may even suffer from loss of consciousness, dizziness or faintness.

Causes of Hives:
 
Allergy:
    Being allergic to medications, nuts, eggs, berries, insect bites, jelly fish, can release the batch of
hives. If you are exposed to animal dander it may also cause an allergic reaction. Wearing tight clothes and jewelry which does not suit you can also be another reason for hives.

Exposure to extreme weather:
    If you are being exposed to extreme temperatures you may suffer from this condition. Presence in extreme heat and extreme cold can create such problems.

Sweat:
    Hives may start developing once you come in contact with sweat or water.

Home Remedies:

Hives treatment by using calamine lotion:
    By applying this lotion it can grant you relief from the itchy feeling.

Hives treatment by using milk of magnesia:
    By dabbing milk of magnesia on the lesions, provides some relief. As milk of magnesia is an alkaline solution it helps in removing the irritating itchy sensation.

Hives treatment by using herbal tea:
    Calming our nerves is one of the important things to do, as stress makes the matter worse. Drinking peppermint or passionflower tea is very good. You can also try chamomile, valerian and catnip which also soothe your nerves.

Hives treatment by using cornstarch:
    To stop the itching get 1/2 a tub filled with warm water, add 1/2 cup cornstarch and 1/2 cup baking soda.Soaking yourself at least once a day can make a lot of difference.

Hives treatment by using cayenne pepper:
    Consume cayenne pepper capsules to help the healing procedure. You can also have vitamin C, vitamin E or zinc for quick relief.

Diet for Hives:

Avoid allergen triggering food:
    Avoid food like eggs, strawberries, berries, peanuts, nuts, chocolates, cheese, tomatoes, soy products, shellfish and many more. Find out the food that is allergic to you and avoid having it.

Other treatment for Hives:

Use of Acupressure:
    By massaging the trapezius points, you can find some relief. This trapezius muscle is found between the neck and the shoulder. By giving the vital pressure it may help you clear the red and white ringed patches of your body.

Reference: <a href=”http://www.healthonclick.com“> HealthOnclick</a>

devika
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/symptoms-and-treatment-for-hives-721398.html

Neem needs no introduction in today’s world. A very famous herb of India with worldwide fame and having magical properties known for its miraculous medicinal values from past 5000 years. Neem is known as free tree of India as it is found almost everywhere in India. It is considered as a magic tree, which has properties that not only relieves but also cures from illness. Neem tree is commonly known as margosa tree in English language and Azadirachta indica in biological terms. It is part of every Indian home due to its great application and hence is considered as a place of worship.

Margosa tree attains a maximum height of 40 to 50 fts. It is an evergreen tree whose branches spread all over. It is a very densely crowned tree, which may reach to a diameter of 30 to 40 fts. The trunk is relatively straight. Bark is thick and rough with whitish to reddish brown in appearance. A fluid called neera excrudes out of the bark. Leaves are pinnate 12 to 15 inch long with about 20 to 31 green colored leaflets, which are about 3 to 5 cm in length. Flowers are small and white in colour that blossom in spring i.e. February to march. Fruits are oval in appearance green in colour, when in raw form and turns pale yellow when it ripes. Every fruit contains one seed, which contain oil. Neem tree fruits in summers i.e. in May to July. Neem has been used as pesticide since early ages because of its remarkable property of fighting away with pest and microorganism, that are supposed to be harmful for agricultural and homely purpose and hence makes neem the most wonderful partner of human in his evolution.

Margosa tree possesses the sheet (cold) virya potency. It contains tickt and kashaya rasa, it possesses the laghu (light) gunna (property). Combination of these makes neem a unique herb. Due to tickt rasa it suppresses kapha and due to sheet virya potency it suppresses pitta dosha. Chemically neem contains complex compounds called triterpenes, limonoids, nonterpenoids, hexanortriterpenoids, and pentattriterpenoids. The most important active ingredient of neem is azadirachitin, which makes neem possess the power, what it projects in its usage. Every part of the plant is used i.e. flower, leaves, bark, seed, oil, branches and the excludant called neera, which flows out of the bark

Neem is a multipurpose herb, which is recommended in every type of ailment. Following are the wonders of neem, which ayurveda has to offer to this world and modern life style of living.

Local action:

· Neem act as anti bacterial, anti parasitic, anti fungal, anti protozoal and anti viral thus helps in protection from all the microorganisms, which are always ready to invade in our body causing serious ailments.

· Local application of neem powder or neem oil has miraculous results. As it is a famous anti microbial herb, it renders all the microorganisms inactive therefore helping in proper healing of wound without causing any infections and septic conditions.

· Taking bath of neem leaves water is a very common sight in Indian homes that helps our body to counter mild infections, which our body might get in day-to-day activity.

· Its tropical application makes us relieved from acne, eczema and even ringworms

· In skin related diseases, neem works as blessing of God on mankind. It has an action on almost every kind of skin disease thus making its indication in eradicating every kind of itch, rash, infection and allergy.

· Neem water is extensively used in burn injuries, thus to protect them from any kind of infection and also promote healing.

· Neem oil is extensively used in hair fall and early graying of hairs with very satisfying results. It also find its application in dandruff and in lice growth

· Its local application on arthritic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, Osteoarthritis, lower back pain, and musculo skeletal pains is highly recommended with good results

Internal action:

· Due to presence of tickt rasa it is beneficial in indigestion, constipation and restoring taste of mouth.

· It helps in fighting with the intestinal worms there by act as a deworming agent

· It is highly recommended in hyperacidity and epigastric pain as it suppresses pitta that is the main culprit in the aggravation of such illness.

· Good results have also been seen in gastritis

· Widely and extensively used as blood purifier as it possess the properties like tickt rasa which helps in detoxifying any toxins floating in our blood stream which may lead to illness.

· It gives wonderful results in diabetes incipidus and diabetes mellitus due to presence of tickt rasa.

· It is very helpful in curing urinary tract infection

· It stimulates liver for proper functioning therefore helps in maintaining proper secretions of liver

· It acts on all kinds of skin disorders and provides great relief.

· It works as an anti inflammatory and pain relieving agent

· It also helps in suppressing extra heat generated in body due to any reason thus helps in maintaing normal condition in hyperthermia. Very useful in suppressing fever.

· Anti malarial action of neem has also been seen

· Since old times neem leaves have been used as an agent that helps in increasing vision as it helps in suppressing kapha disorders thus releasing congestion on eyeballs caused due to mucus accumulation in sinuses.

· Coughing is relieved by use of neem water

· It helps in reducing excess micturation

· It has given very good results in diseases like gonorrhea and syphilis

· It works as an immunoboosting agent therefore making our immune system very strong and efficient to fight against any foreign invasion making our body strong and disease free

Dr John Anne
http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/neem-uses-and-benefits-74423.html

The woman who divorced her noisy partner told her friends that she was allergic to his snoring. What she didn’t realize is that his snoring was due to allergies.

The trumpeting noise associated with snoring is generated by airflow trying to push its way through an obstructed airway. While snoring is not an illness, it can be symptomatic of other health conditions, even an allergic reaction.

Allergic rhinitis is a health condition in which the membrane lining the throat and nose become inflamed. The inflamed membrane lining creates an obstruction in the airway, which in turn causes snoring. This condition is usually triggered by an allergic reaction to an inhaled substance. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is also known as hay fever.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis is usually due to trees, grass and other plant pollens, and occurs mainly in spring and summer when pollen counts are high. Perennial allergic rhinitis lasts yearlong, and is generally caused by an allergy to mold spores, animal fur, feathers, dust mites or house dust.

The symptoms of allergic rhinitis are quite clear:

* Sneezing

* Blocked or runny nose

* Red, watery, itchy eyes

* Itchy, irritated nose

* Headache

* Nosebleeds (not common)

* Snoring

If you believe that you are suffering from an allergic reaction, but you’re not sure of the cause, your doctor can perform a skin prick allergy test. However, such tests are not fully conclusive, as some allergens will avoid identification.

In the event that you’ve pinpointed the cause of your reaction and taken steps to avoid it, your symptoms should subside very rapidly without further treatment. Some allergens, like pollen, are virtually impossible to avoid. In this case it may be necessary to take an anti-allergy drug to find relief.

Anti-allergy drugs in the form of nasal spray often contain sodium cromoglicate, a substance that blocks the allergy. Nasal sprays can be used as decongestants, but long-term use is not recommended. Corticosteroid drugs are often prescribed for hay fever, although their effectiveness is not instantaneous. Oral antihistamines may be used along with a decongestant to relieve inflammation and itching.

If allergic rhinitis is a persistent problem, your doctor might suggest immunotherapy, a procedure that desensitizes the immune system. Immunotherapy patients are injected with a series of gradually increasing doses of the allergen, to encourage the body to accept the substance without reacting. While immunotherapy can be an effective treatment for some allergy sufferers, it can take as many as four years for the treatment to be completed, and it is not always successful.

If you feel your snoring problem is caused by allergic rhinitis, there are several treatments available to help alleviate the problem. Try avoiding obvious allergens like furry animals. Use pillows and quilts with synthetic stuffing rather than feathers or down. Cover your mattress with a mite proof membrane. Remove soft furnishings and clean regularly to prevent dust collecting. Avoid visiting areas with long or newly cut grass. Purchase a pollen filter for your car and a HEPA filter for your home.

By avoiding the causes, you allergic reactions should diminish, and your allergy-induced snoring can disappear altogether.

Michael Brown
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/allergies-and-snoring-87291.html