Ayurvedic Treatment for Urticaria – Sheetapitta

Urticaria, known as Sheetapitta in Ayurveda, is a skin disorder characterized by raised, red patches or pimples like rash on the skin, characterised by excessive itching, pricking, and burning sensations in the affected area resulting from dosha imbalances.

Urticaria, commonly known as hives, is a skin condition marked by raised, itchy welts that can cause significant discomfort.

Understanding Sheetapitta in Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, Sheetapitta is a skin condition caused by the vitiation of all three doshas, with Pitta playing a central role due to its association with heat and inflammation, aggravated by the cold qualities (Sheeta guna) of Vata and Kapha. The term “Sheetapitta” reflects this interplay: Sheeta (cold) from Vata and Kapha, and Pitta (heat) manifesting as red, itchy patches.

शीतमारुत संस्पर्शात् पित्तं कफेन संयुतम् ।
त्वक्स्थितं कुरुते पित्तं शीतपित्तमिति स्मृतम् ॥
Due to contact with cold wind, Pitta, combined with Kapha, resides in the skin, causing the condition known as Sheetapitta.

Why is it Called Sheetapitta?

A common question arises: “If Pitta is associated with heat, why is this condition called Sheetapitta?”

According to Ayurveda:

• Vata and Kapha are aggravated due to cold (Sheeta guna).
• Pitta worsens due to internal factors (spicy food, stress, poor digestion).
• When these imbalanced doshas combine, they manifest as red, itchy patches (hives) on the skin.

Ayurvedic Shloka Reference:
“वातश्लेष्मसमुत्थानं पित्तं च स्वप्रकोपजम्।
तत्संसर्गाद्भवेत्कण्डूः शीतपित्तं तदुच्यते॥”
When Vata-Kapha combines with aggravated Pitta, it causes itching and hives, known as Sheetapitta.

Causes of Sheetapitta (Urticaria)

Ayurvedic texts outline multiple etiological factors for Sheetapitta, emphasizing dosha aggravation and lifestyle errors:

• External Triggers:
  • Sheetamaruta samsparsha – While describing the process of how this disease occurs, it is described in Ayurveda as ‘Shitmarut Samsparshat’. This means, continuous exposure of cold wind to the skin causes such discomfort. In practice, it has been found that people who work in AC, who travel continuously by train, vehicles are more prone to this problem. Exposure to cold wind aggravates Vata and Kapha, disrupting skin harmony.
  • Cold environments, such as air-conditioned spaces, cold water bath exacerbate symptoms.
  • Contact with allergens like insect bites or irritants.
• Internal Triggers:
• Dietary Errors: Consumption of Virudhahara (incompatible foods, e.g., milk with fish) or Pitta-aggravating foods like fast food, Chinese cuisine, spicy, oily, or fermented foods vitiates Pitta and Rakta dhatu.
• Lifestyle Errors: Sleeping immediately after meals, daytime napping, or suppressing natural urges (e.g., vomiting) worsens dosha imbalances.
• Digestive Issues: Agnimandya – weak digestive fire leads to Ama-toxins in body, contributing to Sheetapitta. Poor digestion, intestinal worms, or liver dysfunction can vitiate Rakta dhatu (blood tissue), manifesting as skin rashes.
• Dushi Visha: Accumulated toxins from improper metabolism or external poisons poison Rakta dhatu.
• Suppression of Natural Urges: Suppressing vomiting or other urges disrupts dosha balance.
• Psychosomatic Factors: Stress, emotional disturbances, anxiety disrupts Vata and Pitta dosha balance, contributing to hives
• Seasonal Influence: Sheetapitta is more prevalent in Shishira (winter) and Varsha (rainy) seasons due to cold and damp conditions aggravating Vata and Kapha.

• Exposure to Cold Wind: Prolonged contact with cold air, such as in air-conditioned environments or during travel, aggravates Vata and Kapha doshas.
• Allergies: Food, drug, or insect bite allergies can provoke an immune response, leading to urticaria.
• Chronic urticaria may also be linked to underlying conditions like Liver dysfunction, thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances, or autoimmune diseases, requiring a comprehensive Ayurvedic evaluation.

Symptoms of Urticaria (Sheetapitta) in Ayurveda

Sheetapitta manifests with distinct symptoms.

• Skin Manifestations: When aggravated vata dosha and kapha dosha mix with pitta dosha and come to the skin. Red or white raised patches (Shotha) with intense itching (Kandu), burning (Daha), or pricking pain (Toda).
• Dynamic Nature: These patches can occur alone, in groups, or connect across to form large area. Patches may appear suddenly, subside within 24 hours, and reappear elsewhere.
• When there is swelling there is a pricking pain and burning sensation. In some patients, the symptoms of itching and swelling develop suddenly and disappear suddenly, these symptoms last for a long time. Sometimes the swelling appears in one place on the skin is swollen in another place. Skin swelling subsides or disappears within 24 hours in one location but may reappear in another.
• Along with that, the important symptom of ‘intense itching’ appears. Stinging, burning sensation in that place are the main symptoms in sheetapitta.
• Apart from this, symptoms like thirst, tastelessness in the mouth, nausea and body aches are also seen. Rarely, some patients experience fever.
• Associated Symptoms:
  • Digestive disturbances like constipation or Agnimandya.
  • Itching palms. Respiratory issues such as cough, cold or bronchitis.
  • Systemic symptoms like thirst, nausea, tastelessness, or fever, stomach disorder in severe cases.
• Utkotha and Kotha: Kapha-dominant Utkotha shows circular, itchy lesions, while Pitta-dominant Kotha presents with burning sensations.

Ayurvedic Classification of Urticaria

Ashtanga Hridaya further classifies Sheetapitta alongside Utkotha – Kapha-dominant with intense itching and Kotha – Pitta-dominant with burning, highlighting the need for dosha-specific treatments. Ayurveda views Sheetapitta as a disorder of Rakta dhatu (blood tissue) vitiated by dosha imbalances, often triggered by external or internal factors.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Sheetapitta

Urtivaria-hives is not a life-threatening condition. When the problem is superficial, taking only temporary medications never cures the disease; on the contrary, it worsens over time. As a result, it is important to learn how to cure this problem based on dietary changes, proper medication, and treatment.

Although most people take medication to reduce the itch, even after this medicine, patients still have itching and get hives on alternate days.

The Ayurvedic treatment of urticaria in each type of Sheetapitta, Utkoth, Kotha, Udard is done in a different way. Typically, pitta shamak medications are used in home remedies for urticaria.

Like rubbing dry kokum on the body, drinking kokum syrup, etc. But, it is not only a disease of pitta; vata and kapha doshas are also vitiated in this condition. Although home remedies can temporarily relieve the symptoms, they are insufficient for those who experience them on a regular basis.

In addition, chronic urticaria patients require treatment for stomach ailments, chronic acidity, worm infestations, thyroid disorders, chronic stress, hormonal imbalances, etc.

Following a proper diet is as important as the medicine in completely treating the urticaria. Because there will be no disease unless we make mistakes in our diet and lifestyle.

Early treatment requires accurate diagnosis and identification of all causes. Making the right lifestyle changes and avoiding known bad diet habits are also important in preventing relapses.

Ayurveda aims to eliminate Sheetapitta by balancing doshas, purifying Rakta dhatu, and removing Ama. Treatments are tailored to the patient’s Prakriti (constitution) and dosha predominance.

1. Shodhana (Detoxification) Therapies
Panchakarma is the cornerstone of Sheetapitta management:
Vamana: Therapeutic vomiting to expel Kapha toxins, recommended for Kapha-dominant cases.
Virechana: Purgation to eliminate excess Pitta and purify Rakta dhatu.
Basti: Medicated enemas to balance Vata, especially in chronic cases.
Raktamokshana: Bloodletting to remove vitiated Rakta dhatu in severe, Pitta-dominant cases.

2. Shamana (Palliative) Therapies
Internal and external remedies pacify doshas and alleviate symptoms:
Internal Medicines: are used afer complete diagnosis of cases.
External Applications:
Abhyanga: Massage with Katu taila pungent oils to alleviate Vata and Kapha.
Swedana: Fomentation with hot water to improve circulation.
Lepa: Application of cooling pastes used according to condition to soothe Pitta.

अभ्यङ्ग: कटुतैलेन स्वेदश्चोष्णेन वारिणा ।
Massage with pungent oil and fomentation with hot water are effective for Sheetapitta.

In Sheetapitta kulthi-Horse gram soup, curry vegetables, use of hot water for bathing and drinking is recommended, besides taking cold water for bath, cold air or cold water.

Pathya-Apathya (Diet and Lifestyle)

Ayurvedic Diet for Sheetapitta

Seasonal Regimen

As integral parts of nature, humans are profoundly influenced by seasonal transitions. These natural cycles directly affect our physiology, requiring us to adapt our daily habits accordingly. Ayurveda provides a seasonal regimen (Ritucharya) designed to maintain balance between our bodily elements and the changing environment around us.

Ayurveda highlights the influence of Ritusandhi (seasonal transitions) on Sheetapitta. Cold and damp seasons like Shishira and Varsha aggravate Vata and Kapha, necessitating warm foods, hot water, and protective clothing.

Duration of Ayurvedic Treatment

For acute Sheetapitta, improvement within 4-6 months with consistent treatment. Patients suffering from autoimmune disorders, chronic cases, especially those linked to Ama, Dushi Visha, or systemic disorders, may require long-term treatment. Early diagnosis, adherence to Pathya, and avoidance of Apathya are critical to prevent recurrence.

Benefits of Ayurvedic Treatment for Urticaria

Unlike modern medicines ayurvedic treatment offers long term relief from urticaria by treating the root cause of a diseases rather than just treating or suppressing symptoms such as itching.

Treatment can cure the symptoms of urticaria permanently by reducing inflammation in the body and clearing the mind. It can heal your body and mind by treating your whole being, not just your physical symptoms. It can help you find balance between your mind, body, and spirit.

Importance of Ayurvedic Treatment Over Allopathic Medicines in Urticaria

While allopathic treatment offers temporary relief, it does not address the root cause, often leading to recurrence. In contrast, Ayurveda focuses on the underlying dosha imbalance, detoxification, and immunity to offer long-lasting relief.
Modern medicines primarily manage symptoms by suppressing the histamine response. Commonly prescribed drugs include Antihistamines, Steroids, Immunosuppressants, Antidepressants. While these drugs offer fast relief, they often fail to prevent recurrence. Long-term reliance on such medicines can harm liver and kidney function, suppress immunity, and lead to dependency.
Ayurveda offers a holistic and personalized approach. It identifies the root cause of urticaria as an imbalance in Pitta and Vata doshas, aggravated by faulty digestion (Agni dushti), toxin accumulation (Ama), and poor lifestyle habits.
If proper medication is not taken on time, many times this problem starts to worsen. Some experience itching and swelling daily, at certain times of the day, or never. A patient who has suffered from the disease says that he is ashamed to go outside because of the rash and itching. So, it is better to take Ayurveda medicine on time.
Ayurveda stands out for its ability to offer root-cause healing in urticaria. Unlike allopathy, Ayurveda does not just mask symptoms but treats the disease at its root, ensuring sustainable healing without side effects. It also includes mental and emotional care through yoga, pranayama, and meditation.

न हि प्रज्ञा हतो रोगान् पश्यत्यौषधसेवनैः।
प्रज्ञापराधात् सर्वे रोगाः सञ्जायन्ते नरैः॥
Even if you take medicines, diseases won’t be cured if your intellect is impaired. No medicine can cure disease if one continues to violate nature through wrong lifestyle and diet.

Ayurvedic treatment offers:

• Detox therapies like Vamana (therapeutic emesis), Virechana (purgation), and Raktamokshana (bloodletting) to eliminate accumulated toxins.
• Herbal formulations such as Haridra Khanda, Khadirarishta, and Mahatiktaka Ghrita for blood purification and immunity boosting.
• Diet and lifestyle changes to pacify doshas and prevent recurrence.
• Rasayana therapy to rejuvenate and strengthen body tissues and immunity.
• Root Cause Resolution: Balances doshas and purifies Rakta dhatu for lasting relief.
• Holistic Healing: Harmonizes mind, body, and spirit.
• Natural Safety: Uses herbal formulations with minimal side effects.
• Personalized Approach: Tailors treatments to individual Prakriti and dosha predominance.

FAQ

Ayurvedic treatment for urticaria offers a safe, effective, and holistic approach to managing hives. By addressing the root cause through Panchakarma, ayurvedic medicines and a tailored diet, Ayurveda not only alleviates symptoms but also promotes long lasting healing. Incorporating Pathya-Apathya and seasonal regimens ensures prevention and long-term relief.

True disease prevention rests on our daily habits and choices. Relying solely on medications while ignoring proper diet and lifestyle is fundamentally flawed. Even the most effective prescription cannot overcome the negative effects of poor dietary habits.

The Ayurvedic approach differs significantly from allopathic medicine by addressing root causes rather than merely suppressing symptoms. This holistic methodology promotes deep, sustainable healing without unwanted side effects. Ayurveda further distinguishes itself by integrating mental and emotional well-being through practices like yoga, pranayama, and meditation—treating the whole person rather than isolated symptoms.

Always consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner to embark on your journey to clear, healthy skin and a balanced life free from urticaria