While usually associated with classic, seasonal allergies, the topic of histamine is in fact much broader due to its ability to adversely affect parts of the population all year round.

Histamine intolerance can manifest in various ways when there is an excess in the body, impacting the gastrointestinal, respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems, leading to many symptoms experienced by those with fatigue related conditions.

Symptoms can be debilitating, although can improve markedly once steps are taken to address its root causes.

Learning more about it is the first step in understanding whether it is worth considering in your journey back to health.

What is histamine?

Histamine is a chemical naturally produced by the body. It is typically released by immune cells such as mast cells and basophils in response to perceived threats such as allergens and is part of a healthy immune response.

What is histamine intolerance?

An excess of histamine can result when the body is either creating a large amount of it or is incapable of breaking it down. This imbalance can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, digestive issues, dizziness, headaches, temperature dysregulation and more.

Who is susceptible?

People experiencing gut dysfunction, a high environmental toxin load, stress or who have low amounts of the DAO enzyme can all be vulnerable to experiencing histamine intolerance.

What you can do

Lowering the body’s histamine load and increasing its capacity to deal with it is the first place to start.

Trialing a low histamine diet in addition to taking a DAO enzyme and antihistamines can assist. Some people opt for over the counter options while natural varieties such as stinging nettle, quercetin and bromelain can all assist.

Reducing sources of inflammation such as a malfunctioning gut, chronic infections and a high toxic load can all bring about sustained relief.

You can find other ME/CFS related blogs here.