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Hives also known as urticaria, are itchy, raised welts found on the skin. Welts may be red but can also be the same color as your skin. They can be small and round, ring-shaped, or large, random shape. Hives tend to appear in batches on the affected part of the body. They can grow larger, change shape, and spread.

 

Hives may sting or hurt. It is believed that hives occur as an allergic. But they may sometimes happen because of an underlying health issue.

 

People tending to have allergies are more likely to get hives.

 

A hives outbreak can last anywhere from several hours to up to a week or two.

 

Alternative Relief Treatment for Hives: Acupuncture

There’s evidence to suggest that acupuncture is an effective treatment for hives.

In a 2016 review of 6 studies with 406 participants, researchers found acupuncture can significantly improve hive symptoms, both when compared to medication and when done as a complementary treatment. Though, they mentioned that the overall risk of bias in the studies was high due to limitations, including a lack of control groups.

Common acupuncture points for hives

According to 2018 research, the most common acu-points for hives include:

The spleen meridian: SP10

The stomach meridian: ST36, ST44

Three Burner meridian: TB3

The “governor vessel”: GV14,

The “conception vessel:”  CV12,CV8

The large intestine meridian: LI4,

The Liver meridian: liv3

Is acupuncture safe for treating hives?

According to current evidence, acupuncture is safe for treating urticaria.

So, even if more studies are needed, there’s minimal risk in trying the alternative therapy.

 

 

 

Reference:

1. ”Can Acupuncture Treat Hives?”, Alysa Hullett, https://www.healthline.com/health/acupuncture-for-hives#acupuncture-for-hives

2. “Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Allergic Diseases”, Helen H L Chan, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32875353/;

3. “Acupuncture as a Treatment Modality in Dermatology: A Systematic Review”, Chelsea Ma, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26115180/