Hives during Detox?

[Frecs]

My mother is doing Alissa's 30-Day Challenge. She is at the end of week 3. She has been having bad breakouts of hives. We thought at first that she was allergic to the new washing powders but rewashing her clothes in something else has not affected the hives. Has anyone else experienced hives during detox? Is it possible for this to be detox? I know rashes are common, but hives????

If you did experience hives, how long did they last? Momma is miserable and I'm not sure she can hold out much longer....

[Bridle]

Dear Frecs

Would tend to get medical advice to make sure in fact your Mother has not become allergic to something (versus a detox-type reaction). For example, she may be eating more of a food than she did in the past (re - now that she is eating raw). Allergies are serious and though they may seem minor (or you may say to yourself "Oh it is just hives") -- have lost family members to allergic reactions. However, as you probably know, it is best to get a Doctor that practices Environmental Medicine for the investigation of allergies. Here's links to US and Canadian based associations that may help you find the right medical attention: http://www.aaem.com/ http://www.americanboardofenvironmentalmedicine.org/
http://www.eimed.ca/
If you're outside North America I believe these associations will help you link with practicioners around the world.

[Frecs]

Dear Frecs

Would tend to get medical advice to make sure in fact your Mother has not become allergic to something (versus a detox-type reaction).

Yeah, I told momma to call and make an appointment to see her doctor. I don't want to see her have a more serious allergic reaction. The hives are pretty bad, too which worries me.

[Nectarine]

...but not as part of any detox program. I used to get them because of the intensity and strain of my emotions (intense perennial rage or quietly simmering anger). After 16 days exlusively raw, and many many 'calls of nature', I'm as cool as an ice cube at the North Pole :cool: Lo and behold, my hives have disappeared. They never used to last long, and weren't serious (like I never used to get them in my throat or anything, like some people do). They would come and stick around 30 minutes tops, and then disappear as quickly as they had appeared. Raw seems to have taken care of that by cooling my blood or something. But I have heard, and read, of people developing hives during detox, yes:

http://www.falconblanco.com/health/crisis.htm

The healing crisis will usually bring about past conditions in whatever order the body is capable of handling at that time. People often forget the diseases or injuries they have had in the past, but are usually reminded during the crisis. There are a wide variety of reactions that may manifest during a healing crisis, the most common are:

Increased joint or muscle pain
Diarrhea
Extreme fatigue and/or its opposite, restlessness
Cramps
Headache (believed to be caused by buildup of toxins in the blood)
Aches, Pains
Arthritic flair up
Insomnia
Nausea
Sinus congestion
Fever (usually low grade) and/or chills
Frequent urination and/or urinary tract discharges
Drop in blood pressure
Skin eruptions, including: boils, hives, and rashes.
Cold or flu-like symptoms
Strong emotions: anger, despair, sadness, fear, etc.
Suppressed memories arise
Anxiety
Mood swings
New phobias develop

[Raw Mom]

I've heard many stories where physical symptons have manifested during raw or any detox program. For example; a man got a case of poison ivy. There was no plant anywhere around. He remembered another time when he got poison ivy and processed "emotions" around that time. Does your mom remember another very stressful time when she previously got the hives? Maybe there is an emotion waiting to come out? I was just at Hippocrates in WPB, FL. Many detox stories.....Good luck, stay present.....

[**jessireebob**]

I have regularly occurring hives, but only when I'm eating raw. I've never made it past a few weeks raw, so have never made it past the detox phase... During detox I notice that my face becomes much more sensitive. One day I got hives (at work) for no reason. Then the next day, my face turned bright red and hot (like I had sunburn) from using my regular facewash.

Then I went off raw and it went away. Went back on, and they're back! Not constant, but they seem to pop up whenever they feel like it. Prickly, stinging, red hives on my face. Also, I have flakey dry patches that just won't go away.

I think it must be detox. The skin is an organ, after all. It's cleansing and trying to get rid of toxins just like the rest of us.

I did buy some new facewash at WholeFoods. For very sensitive skin. That seems to be working out. And last night I used coconut oil on it. I was skeptical, but this morn my face felt moisturized and less itchy than usual.

Hope that helps!

[Revvell]

Not saying don't go to a doctor, that's your/her business yet, doctors don't really know much about nutrition. They know drugs. It just may be the day one stops doing the food program, that will be the day the detox might have stopped.

What is she doing on a regular basis food-wise? Is she keeping a journal? I use to get hives from eating/drinking citrus juice. Has she had them before in her childhood that she remembers?

See if baths in baking soda helps ease the discomfort. Vinegar baths may be helpful as well. My suggestion ~ do what it takes to make the detox process easier rather than trying to stop it.

You don't say how long she's been experiencing them. Why are you calling them "hives"?

You might check out Rawkinlocs thread about "You name it, you claim it".

Revvell

[Frecs]

What is she doing on a regular basis food-wise? Is she keeping a journal? I use to get hives from eating/drinking citrus juice. Has she had them before in her childhood that she remembers?


She is not keeping a journal. She is eating fruits (bananas, berries in smoothies; grapefruit; grapes; apples); salads and veggies (tomatoes, romaine lettuce, mushrooms, avocados, onions, carrots, bell peppers); flax crackers; guac on portabello mushroom or with veggies/crackers.


You don't say how long she's been experiencing them. Why are you calling them "hives"?

Because they look like hives -- raised red welps of different sizes all over her body. They go away when she takes Benedryl.

[Apasaraw]

If the hives go away after taking an antihistamine it's probably an allergen. Whether or not it is like Raw Mom's poison ivy scenario is yet to be seen...that's wild.

I get maddeningly itchy shins and red welt hives from sunflower seeds and just found this out very recently. I was wondering if it was a nut/seed she ate

If she is up for a Dr. visit a pin test takes 5 minutes to find out if she has any allergies. A girlfriend of mine is allergic to carrots and peas of all things...you never know.

I sure hope she is feeling better soon...I found cold water really helps my hives...compress or a quick rinse might help.

[Revvell]

How much grapefruit? Strawberries included in the "fruits"? If so, try cutting them out.

You also don't say how long she's been experiencing this ~ 3 weeks? every other day?

Keep a food journal and see when they are most "active"... that way she may be able to eliminate what's causing the problem and eventually add in those foods again. I can now eat citrus and strawberries (forgot about those). Yayyyyyy!!!!

It's quite difficult to ascertain the cause when one uses drugs. I use to work on someone who'd have muscle spasms and would take drugs then, 3 days later call me. Didn't make sense to me yet, there it was!

Ummm, you're welcome.

[Frecs]

How much grapefruit? Strawberries included in the "fruits"? If so, try cutting them out.

You also don't say how long she's been experiencing this ~ 3 weeks? every other day?

Keep a food journal and see when they are most "active"... that way she may be able to eliminate what's causing the problem and eventually add in those foods again. I can now eat citrus and strawberries (forgot about those). Yayyyyyy!!!!

It's quite difficult to ascertain the cause when one uses drugs. I use to work on someone who'd have muscle spasms and would take drugs then, 3 days later call me. Didn't make sense to me yet, there it was!

Ummm, you're welcome.

She may eat 2 grapefruit, not necessarily everyday. She's not been having problems with strawberries before going raw (prior she was eating a mostly vegetarian diet but cooked). I am wondering if being raw is highlighting a previously unknown allergy. I think the allergy test would be a good thing.

I tried to get her to go without the Benedryl to see if they'd go away on their own and we could determine what might be causing it but she was so miserable that she just couldn't stand it -- and it did look horrible...I don't know that I would have been any stronger.

Oh, and it's been happening for less than a week...first two weeks of raw was great...no detox symptoms, no cravings, she was a star raw-newbie. Then, the hives started. They happen daily...she woke up with them this morning after taking a benedryl last night...which makes me wonder about food connection now that I think of it...she obviously didn't eat during the night! We tried washing her clothes in a different detergent...didn't help. I told her to use a different body soap when she showered just in case it could be that.

Thanks for taking the time to help me brainstorm this!

[Revvell]

Sooo, it's not an everyday thing? Off and on? She's washing with the same soap everyday then they'd come up every day. She woke up this a.m. AFTER taking Ben last night? How weird!

Has she tried the baths I suggested? I'd really like to see her get through this without the drugs since her body will have to detox the drugs as well.

[RawSun]

Last summer a couple months after beginning raw foods, I went on an orange juice fast - 2 weeks, nothing but Orange juice. My hands broke out in an awful rash - hives with puss coming out. Throughout my life I had eczema which I always thought was allergies to something or other. I used to think it was chocolate - but now I know I'm good with raw Cacao - maybe it was dairy? Anyways, I stayed on the Orange juice fast, I used raw coconut oil on my hands to ease the pain... and after a few unbearable days my rash cleared up. I think your mom's hives are likely a sign of detox.

[Frecs]

Sooo, it's not an everyday thing? Off and on? She's washing with the same soap everyday then they'd come up every day. She woke up this a.m. AFTER taking Ben last night? How weird!

Has she tried the baths I suggested? I'd really like to see her get through this without the drugs since her body will have to detox the drugs as well.

UM, sorry, I think you misread my answer...the hives are happening everyday. It's the grapefruit she isn't eating daily.

She has not tried any baths. I'll let her know about that tonight when we both get home from work and see if she's game to try it. Personally, I think it is detox but she can't/won't go much longer with it....she doesn't deal well with itching or pain...and believe me...she isn't quiet about it either!

[Revvell]

She has not tried any baths. I'll let her know about that tonight when we both get home from work and see if she's game to try it. Personally, I think it is detox but she can't/won't go much longer with it....she doesn't deal well with itching or pain...and believe me...she isn't quiet about it either!

Well, I understand. I often wonder how folk live with the pain they are in... AND are quiet about it. Tough on those around them as well.

Well, I'm just hoping she chooses to go for it and gets it done. Maybe other answers here will assist. We're most often afraid of things we don't understand and that alone will make the sensation worse then it otherwise might be.

I wish you and your mom well ~

Revvell