APIS MELLIFICA OINTMENT- 25 GM

Urticaria or hives affect about 20% of people at some time during their lives. It is a mast cell mediated skin reaction which is characterised by pruritic pink-to-red papule and plaque typically with central pallor.

Types

• Acute Spontaneous Urticaria - Spontaneous occurrence of wheals and/or angioedema for a duration of less than 6 weeks.
• Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria - Spontaneous occurrence of wheals and/or angioedema for a duration of 6 weeks or more. This is also called Chronic Urticaria or Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria.
• Chronic Inducible Urticaria - Occurrence of wheals for a duration of 6 weeks or more, which is inducible by physical factors. Also called Physical Urticaria.

Causes

Urticaria is manifested by exposure to certain triggers, which include: Pain medication, Insects or parasites, Infection, scratching, heat or cold exposure, Sunlight, Stress, Exercise, Alcohol or food, Pressure on skin as from a tight waistband, etc.

Symptoms

Urticaria presents with pruritic or itchy pink-to-red papules and plaques typically with central pallor. These can coalesce and vary in shape and size.Pressure prone areas like waistline, axilla and groin are most commonly affected but Urticaria can occur on any part. Scratching can result in excoriations, erosions and hemorrhagic crusts. Concurrent angioedema occurs in 40% cases and may present with subcutaneous and submucosal oedema affecting non-dependent areas like lips, peri-orbital region, genitals and extremities with discomfort or pain.

Diagnosis

Urticaria can be diagnosed clinically with simple blood tests like CBC with ESR.

Management

Management aims at treatment of the symptoms in an acute attack with the identification and avoidance of the trigger.The rash can be temporary relieved with help of cold application, avoiding scratching, and wearing loose clothes.

Action of Ingredients:

Apis mellifica: It is of service in diseases of the skin when it is oedematous, and anasarca that is pale and waxy is present. Also in erysipelas, urticaria, and carbuncles, when they are attended with oedema and burning, stinging pains.The effects of a bee sting, burning, stinging, smarting, prickling, sharp pain with excessive swelling, are the leading symptoms for the selection of this remedy.

References:

1. Materia Medica by Boericke
2. Nature's Materia Medica by Robin Murphy, MD
3. A Manual Of Materia Medica, Therapeutics And Pharmacology By Blackwood, Alexander Leslie