Holistically Stopping A Histamine Reaction

Histamine reactions are common in people who have a compromised microbiome. The worse the damage in the gut the more prevalent the issue.

The amino acid L-histidine responds into histamine with intestinal damage affecting those with severe imbalances the most. Illnesses such as FPIES, PANDAS, autism, schizophrenia, fibromyalgia, ME and chronic fatigue syndrome must step lightly, progressing slowly with healing non-inflammatory foods while rebuilding with proper probiotcs while walking out of the imbalance, rebuilding.

Histidine is a semi-essential amino acid which plays a part in the formation of proteins and influences metabolic

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reactions. Stress, poor diet or improper absorption of nutrients can cause nutritional deficiencies. This can deplete your histidine levels, depleted levels can cause susceptibility to reactors. 

Histidine transforms into histamine, glutamate and haemoglobin according to the body’s need.

Allergies are the body’s normal response, the body is doing what it is designed to do – create an inflammatory response as protection from the offender. This inflammation is sourced from the mast cells and basophils (white blood cells) which both contain histamine. 

When a person is dehydrated the process is exasperated. This means if you are dehydrated you may experience worse histamine issues.

Water Cures says with dehydration, “Your histamine levels are elevated. This results in suppressed white blood cell production, the very things that help you eliminate allergy responses.” When the body is dehydrated it will release more histamine as a method of guarding the body to prevent further dehydration. 

The histamine issue is not a simple process as it functions on different levels from different sources and can even enter your system on food that has been cooked too long or is not fresh. Eating food that has been in the refrigerator too long can cause what is referred to as a histamine reaction however this area is under debate among professionals. Some say it is not necessarily a histamine reaction but instead a response to the pathogens growing on the food when it is not fresh. The older food is, the less nutrition it contains. Cooked food grows pathogens the longer it stays around. This is not necessarily a histamine reaction but is a reaction to the pathogens growing on older food.

Dr. Amy Myers describes histamine as, “A chemical involved in your immune system, proper digestion, and your central nervous system. As a neurotransmitter, it communicates important messages from your body to your brain. It is also a component of stomach acid, which is what helps you break down food in your stomach.”

Myers is an MD who practices Functional Medicine. She says, “Histamine causes your blood vessels to swell, or dilate, so that your white blood cells can quickly find and attack the infection or problem. If you don’t break down histamine properly, you could develop what we call histamine intolerance.”

In her book The Autoimmune Solution she explains the process further. 

Histamine is released by the body to ward off an offender, inflammation is there acting like bubble wrap protecting what’s underneath. The job of histamine is to inflame the system, waving a flag to the immune system, screaming Attackers are here! Fight! Fight to the death!

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Amino Acid Studies says, “Histidine regulates the immune defense in the body, allergic reactions and inflammatory processes, so a deficiency of L-histidine can lead to an increased tendency towards infection and the aggravation of symptoms of allergies.”

Histidine is known to be ambiguous. It prefers a comfortable secure location, like burrowed deep in a protein core. It also functions as a solvent out and about in the body. The body releases histamine to do exactly that, work as a solvent against offenders. When the solvent is released and the bubble wrap coating is in place the body is doing its job. However, when there is too much, and the body is in overdrive, more is released than the body can handle – this is an allergic reaction. This histamine response comes in the form of itchy eyes, runny nose, cold symptoms, flu symptoms, tightness in the chest, hives, rash, stomach upset, gas and bloating as well as others. 

Histamine reactions are the same type of responses a person gets from die off of pathogens. Determining which is happening to your body at that time can only be done by you. Histamine responses will follow food, die off will follow probiotics or probiotic foods. Some foods give die off responses but carry histamine causing confusion. Kraut juice and sauerkraut follow this pattern and are the biggest offenders for most people.

This is a good sign and is evidence that you need these strains of probiotics, not that you should drop them. If you experience this, follow the proper introductory stage for probiotics, beginning with kraut juice fermented for 12 days with the cabbage pieces fully submerged under the brine. The quantity you can handle is specific to your pathogen overload and no one can tell you what to start with, only your body can do that. 

Most people begin with one teaspoon kraut juice and build up from there. Others with severe reactions, like the situation described above, need to start with one drop under their tongue. Still, others with the greatest gut damage which is usually accompanied with clogged detox pathways, have to put one drop in a glass of water and take one sip a day. Wherever your starting point is, it is vital to rebuild with kraut juice progressing to sauerkraut as tolerated. 

Stopping sauerkraut juice because it gives you a reaction will only prolong the pathogen overgrowth. Building slowly, with the guidance of a skilled practitioner in this area is important to healing. Histamine can be put in check with proper rebuilding. 

Amino Acid Studies adds, “Once formed, histamine is either stored or broken down by an enzyme. Histamine in the central nervous system is broken down primarily by histamine N-methyltransferase (HMT), while histamine in the digestive tract is broken down primarily by diamine oxidase (DAO). Both enzymes play an important role in histamine break down.”

The American Society for Clinical Nutrition says the enzyme DAO breaks down histamine introduced through the mouth, in food. Eating foods that are not fresh will create a histamine response in those with great intestinal damage. For this reason, while healing the body of the histamine response it is vital to eat fresh food.

When histidine releases histamine it is known to throw off the zinc and cooper balance in the body making repair without support more difficult. If you find yourself in this situation a good method of checking your zinc levels are with this assay. 

The most beneficial protocol for healing histamine responses is the GAPS protocol. If you suffer from histamine issues make your healing meat stock and freeze what you will not use in two days time. Be sure you are using meat stock and not bone broth. Meat stock is high in amino acids proline and glycine, bioten, collagen, elastin, glucosamine and gelatin. These are the elements that feed the enterocytes, the building blocks of the gut lining.

Histidine can be replaced through protein rich foods and by building the microflora creating homeostasis. Kraut juice is the best way to begin building up the gut flora, as stated previously, which will help with any histamine reactions. Science tells us sauerkraut contains histamine, stay away from sauerkraut. Going back a step rebuilds the weakness. Those with the most severe damage start with kraut juice in whatever amount tolerable and build up to sauerkraut show consistent rebuilding creating a balanced system in the long run.

Allergies begin in the gut from a damaged micorbiome. Sealing and healing the gut with meat stock while building up the good bacteria prevents the reaction and cycle of histamine halting the allergen response at the source.

Using kraut juice that has fermented for 12 days minimum, longer if necessary, will diminish any adverse reactions from histamine responses. Those with the most aggressive situations find success with three to four month fermentation. When following this protocol the fermenting cabbage is fully submerged under the brine for the whole three to four months. 

Click here to see what to watch for in regards to die off symptoms which are often mistakenly confused to be a histamine response. 

The best way to walk out of histamine reactions is through the GAPS protocol. Click here to read what Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride says about histamine while on GAPS.

The homeopathy remedy histaminum is designed to stop a histamine reaction. Most importantly, there are no adverse effects known with homeopathy and it will not cause drowsiness like over-the-counter antihistamine products. Histaminum is recommended for any antihistamine needs, where histamines are an issue, including sneezing, watery eyes, congestion, itching, hives, food allergies and burning eyes or throat due to allergens.

This homeopathic antihistamine is reported safe for any age by homeopaths. Proper protocol for homeopathy is 4 tablet under the tongue. If symptoms remain 15 minutes later repeat the dosage. Repeat again 15 minutes later if needed, back off as needed. Click here to order histaminum.

Be cautious, some people experience wheezing if they take histaminum hydrochloricum with belladonna.  

PubMed published findings from a study on homeopathic histaminum and cat saliva with regards to cat allergies. They tested 30 individiuals who tested positive to a cat allergy on the skin prick test (SPT) through a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study. 

PubMed reported, “Cat saliva 9cH and Histaminum 9cH produced a highly statistically significant reduction in the wheal diameter of the cat allergen SPT at the end of week 4. The placebo group showed no statistically significant change. The homeopathic medicine reduced the sensitivity reaction of cat allergic adults to cat allergen, according to the SPT.”

Rescue Remedy, a Bach Flower remedy, also stops histamine reactions naturally. Click here to order Rescue Remedy. Click here to learn more about Rescue Remedy and see other natural options for handling die off reactions.

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*Nourishing Plot is written by a mom whose son has been delivered from the effects of autism (Asperger’s syndrome), ADHD, bipolar disorder/manic depression, hypoglycemia and dyslexia through food. This is not a news article published by a paper trying to make money. This blog is put out by a mom who sees first hand the effects of nourishing food vs food-ish items. No company pays her for writing these blogs, she considers this a form of missionary work. It is her desire to scream it from the rooftops so that others don’t suffer from the damaging effect of today’s “food”.