Histamine intolerance occurs when you have a high level of histamine in your body. It can happen if your body can't break down histamine properly. It causes a variety of symptoms, including: Headaches or migraines.
People with mastocytosis have an increased risk of developing a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction. This is known as anaphylaxis. The increased risk of anaphylaxis is caused by the abnormally high number of mast cells and their potential to release large amounts of histamine into the blood.
An intolerance to this chemical happens when the body cannot break down enough of it in the intestines, causing histamine levels in the blood to rise. This typically results from having low levels of an enzyme called diamine oxidase (DAO), which is the primary agent that breaks down digested histamine.
Usually those with chronic IBS (Irritable Bowel Disorder) problems accompanied with autoimmune ailments tend to show their intolerance towards fermented foods, as they have histamine. This basically means those with a 'histamine intolerance' will not be able to digest them.
If your physician doesn't discover the problem of high histamine, you may suffer with migraines, clusters, Hashimoto's, anxiety, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, dermatographia, vertigo, abnormal menstrual cycles and much more.
The symptoms of histamine intolerance vary widely.
These include: Flushing, difficulty regulating body temperature, sudden excessive sweating. Hives, rashes, swelling, itchy skin, eczema.
Histamine intolerance (HIT) is assumed to be due to a deficiency of the gastrointestinal (GI) enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO) and, therefore, the food component histamine not being degraded and/or absorbed properly within the GI tract.
Histamine works with nerves to produce itching. In food allergies it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. And it constricts muscles in the lungs, making it harder to breathe. Most worrisome is when histamine causes anaphylaxis, a severe reaction that is potentially fatal.
The best way to clear histamine from the body is to start an elimination diet that involves only eating and drinking substances that contain low amounts of histamine.
Follow a low histamine diet that eliminates high histamine foods and calms your body's inflammation. Incorporate fresh foods like fruits and vegetables (avoiding high histamine ones), fresh meat and seafood, and whole grains.
High histamine symptoms
In histamine intolerant individuals, high levels of histamine are capable of producing such histamine intolerance symptoms that may seem similar to an allergic reaction. Think hives, rashes, itching and congestion.
Some people can also be “histamine intolerant” (about 1% of the population) and react to its release with physical (rash, itch, cough, etc) and psychological symptoms (eg, anxiety, depression, panic). Diet, digestive competence, and the gut microflora are crucial to eliminating histamine-related health problems.
What is the most powerful natural antihistamine? Researchers haven't yet established any natural product as the “best” or “most powerful.” Natural antihistamines with the most research backing their use include stinging nettle, vitamin C, quercetin, butterbur, bromelain, and probiotics.
That would be for example a gastroenterologist if you have stomach or bowel problems, a dermatologist if you have skin problems, an allergologist or an immunologist, because they need to make sure that you don't have any other illness.
Histamine levels are another potent downstream target. Allergic symptoms exacerbate during nighttime and plasma histamine levels exhibit nocturnal peaks. In mastocytosis patients, peak levels of plasma histamine were observed in the early morning with the lowest in the afternoon (19).
The histamine causes an allergic reaction with unpleasant symptoms including itchy, watering eyes, a running or blocked nose, sneezing and skin rashes. Antihistamines help stop this happening if you take them before you come into contact with the substance you're allergic to.
In the GI tract, histamine is believed to impact at least 3 major functions: modulation of GI motility, enhancement of gastric acid production, and alteration of mucosal ion secretion.
I have found that histamine intolerance is often caused by a gut health issue, particularly Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). In fact, SIBO was the culprit of my histamine intolerance. Other common contributors include Candida overgrowth, Leaky Gut, and gluten intolerance.
When your estrogen levels rise, you release more of your own histamine. Histamine then stimulates your ovaries to release more estrogen - thus setting off a vicious cycle. In addition, estrogen stops your DAO from working well. If you are intolerant to histamine, you will not tolerate your own estrogen very well.
In addition to immunoglobulin E, the immune system releases a substance called histamine. When both of these substances produce an inflammatory reaction in the body, you may experience a sense of tiredness alongside other, more obvious allergic symptoms.
Excess histamine can cause joint pain, musculoskeletal or connective tissue pain (fibromyalgia), chronic fatigue, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, estrogen dominance and painful menstruation, hypotension, tachycardia or rapid heart rate, dizziness, trouble regulating your body temperature, and trouble sleeping.
Severe deficiency can lead to irreversible brain and nerve damage. However, excess vitamin B12 in the body can cause histamine intolerance symptoms. Studies suggest that vitamin B12 can trigger histamine release in the body.
Sandoz issued a voluntary recall of 1,023,430 units of Zyrtec (10 mg) capsules as a result of failed impurities and a specification being reported for impurity at the 21-month stability time point, according to an FDA Enforcement Report.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C boosts the immune system. It also acts as a natural antihistamine. According to a 2018 study on vitamin C in the treatment of allergies, oxidative stress plays a key role in allergic diseases. As vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, it may act as a treatment for allergies.