Histamine 2 blockers – famotidine (Pepcid, Pepcid AC), cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB), ranitidine (Zantac). Famotidine is chosen most often as it has fewer drug interactions than Tagamet). Mast cell stabilizers – cromolyn, ketotifen (both a mast cell stabilizer and an H1 blocker), hydroxyurea, quercetin.
Managing a histamine intolerance tends to involve making dietary changes, taking antihistamines or enzyme supplements, and avoiding or limiting the use of medications that trigger the release of histamine.
Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine, which means it can lower histamine levels and mitigate allergic reactions and symptoms. Consume plenty of Vitamin C rich foods, like tropical fruits, citrus fruits, broccoli and cauliflower, and berries.
You might be familiar with histamine in relation to your immune system. If you have seasonal or food allergies, you may notice that antihistamine medications including ZYRTEC®, Allegra®, or Benadryl® provide quick relief for your symptoms. Histamine's role in the body is to cause an immediate inflammatory response.
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.
There is also interest around vitamin co-factors which aid the DAO enzyme in degrading histamine, such as the B complex vitamins. Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C, in particular, have been shown to reduce symptoms of seasickness and histamine intolerance.
Seasonal allergies are often the cause of histamine production in the body, but foods can also contain this chemical.
Magnesium is key mineral that can help with histamine intolerance and mast cell activation and most people find that upping their magnesium intake can help with oral and gastric tolerance and reduce symptoms.
Summary. Natural antihistamines may help you control your seasonal allergies. Common ones are stinging nettle, vitamin C, quercetin, butterbur, bromelain, and probiotics. Some alternative practices—such as acupuncture, nasal irrigation, and exercise—may also help you manage symptoms.
The symptoms of histamine intolerance vary widely.
These include: Flushing, difficulty regulating body temperature, sudden excessive sweating. Hives, rashes, swelling, itchy skin, eczema. Racing heart, palpitations, arrhythmia.
There is currently no cure for histamine intolerance. The key to success is for the patient to learn to adjust to a low-histamine diet and manage the condition(s) until it either goes away, or for life. The patient needs to avoid stress.
A single application of vitamin D3 to the skin decreased the immediate skin response to an IgE allergen. It decreased production of leukotrienes and histamine.
Medications, such as certain painkillers (ibuprofen and morphine, among others), antibiotics and drugs for high blood pressure, can also release histamine. A vitamin B12 injection also releases (a lot of) histamine from the mast cells.
Block and reduce nighttime histamine release
You can block nighttime histamine release and get a better night's sleep by taking 0.25 -1 mg of ketotifen or zaditen at night.
MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome) You often hear histamine intolerance and mast cell activation syndrome or MCAS used together or even interchangeably.
High blood histamine levels will cause chronic health conditions, which could be lifelong. In contrast a true food "allergy" results in symptoms within a few minutes like lip swelling, itchiness, sneezing, hives, diarrhea and possibly anaphylaxis.
Vitamin C acts as a natural antihistamine by reducing the amount of histamine your body produces in response to an allergen. It might help reduce mild symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, congestion, and watery eyes due to allergic rhinitis.
Nettles. Nettle leaf is a natural antihistamine that naturally blocks histamine production. It can be made in to a tincture or tea, but for allergy relief, capsules made from dried nettle leaves are the most effective option.
Because dehydration can influence the body's natural histamine response, making sure you drink enough water can be an effective way to help keep your histamine response in check.
Caffeine Intolerance: Symptoms of Coffee Allergies
Coffee is high in histamine which can set off what looks like an allergic reaction but it doesn't occur through the typical allergy mechanism. Instead, the histamine from the coffee causes an inflammatory reaction that can be quite severe in some people.
Bananas are not directly high in histamine, but many people have reported that bananas are still a trigger for their histamine intolerance symptoms. Such a food is known as a “histamine liberator,” and should therefore be treated like a high histamine food.