Histamine Sensitivity: How It Works, Symptoms, & Natural Solutions for Relief

Histamine is vital for our day-to-day biological rhythms. As a neurotransmitter, it promotes wakefulness, controls satiety, and is crucial to direct goal-oriented behaviors. Histamine H3 receptors are also connected to cognitive function and the maintenance of short and long-term memory.

However, the histamine response can become a disruptive force if it is not properly regulated. We are familiar with the ways histamine can produce a runny nose, or draw our attention to a mosquito bite, but histamine can also create hypersensitivity reactions. These can range from leaky gut and inflammatory bowel disease to mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and anxiety, contributing to neurological dysfunction.

Rather than writing off histamine as a bystander in common allergic reactions, we must consider histamine as a primary agent for various destabilizing effects in the body and a considerable source of systemic stress. Then, we can begin to manage and stabilize histamine for a better sense of overall balance in the body.

Table of Contents:

• What Does Histamine Do?
• Histamine Sensitivity Symptoms
• Histamine Sensitivity vs. Intolerance
• What Causes Histamine or Sulfur Imbalances?
• How to Calm Histamine Sensitivity
• Find Relief from (Histamine) Hypersensitivity

What Does Histamine Do?

Histamine acts as the body’s defense mechanism when it perceives a threat by a foreign or pathogenic invader. The release of histamine kicks off the body’s “attack mode,” making this monoamine the natural opposite of balance and calm. When uncontrolled, histamine is pure fight energy. Histamine also acts as a hormone regulator and helps keep us awake during the day, supports gut motility and gastric acid production, and contributes to feelings of satiety when we eat.

When an injury, pathogenic threat, or a toxic substance threatens the body, mast cells release histamine, causing the dilation of blood vessels. This dilation permits white blood cells and blood plasma proteins to slip into the bloodstream and travel to the location of the injury or toxin, where immune system cells can begin to fight the invasion (Branco et al., 2018).

In service of the immune response, histamine can also instigate a number of other reactions:

• Contracting smooth muscle tissues 
• Lowering blood pressure
• Accelerating the heart rate 
• Initiating chemical communication between nerve cells.

Sometimes these effects end up causing symptoms in those who have heightened histamine sensitivity.

Histamine Sensitivity Symptoms

Troubles in the body arise when histamine is over-secreted due to what are known as hypersensitivity reactions to various stimuli, some dangerous and others seemingly harmless. Hypersensitivity reactions refer to an immune response resulting in inflammation, tissue damage, and even chronic disease states (such as multiple sclerosis, colitis, arthritis, ADHD, anaphylaxis, and autoimmunity).

Symptoms of these reactions can include:

• Allergic conditions
• Gastrointestinal disease 
• Low gastric acidity 
• Constipation
• Eczema 
• IBS
• Asthma 
• Anxiety
• Sinus congestion 
• Indigestion
• Hyperactivity
• Gallbladder impairment
• Migraines 
• Chronic fatigue

Significantly, type II hypersensitivities, also known as cytotoxic hypersensitivities, occur when damage happens to our own cells. These reactions are initiated by the antibodies immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM). Some common forms of type II hypersensitivities are when the specified immunoglobulins attack our own cells, often causing autoimmune disease (i.e. Graves’ Disease, hemolytic anemia, Myasthenia Gravis).

The most common points of entry for antigens (a substance provoking an immune response) are the skin, respiratory system, and digestive system. Every breath we take and every bite of food we eat offers an opportunity for new, unrecognizable substances, pathogens, and toxins to enter the body, where they must be identified, assessed for toxicity, and finally metabolized.

This is not something to be afraid of; our bodies are designed to do this. But in a hypersensitive system, the body looks to seek and destroy foreign materials under the assumption that they may be pathogenic — meaning that hypersensitivity may be directly related to excess secretion of histamine.

Histamine Sensitivity vs. Intolerance

However, note that histamine sensitivity is not the same as histamine intolerance. In cases of histamine intolerance, histamine is over-produced, altering the body’s ability to discern between human cells and antigens. Rather than a sensitivity to the compound, histamine intolerance is a sign that you’ve developed too much of it.

Learn more about histamine intolerance, how to test for it, and how to treat it here.

Histamine vs. Sulfur Sensitivity

Because histamine and gut health are so deeply linked, histamine-producing bacteria are of great concern in cases of mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Foods containing the amino acid histidine may be converted via certain types of gut bacteria into histamine.

However, sulfur metabolism impairment can act as a significant contributor to histamine intolerance, and a unique connection exists between the two.

Because sulfur and histamine intolerance are almost identical in symptomatology, they are easily, and often, confused. However, when we make the connection between impaired sulfur metabolism mechanisms and elevated levels of histamine in the body, it becomes clear that an inability to properly process sulfur is linked to a downstream inability to efficiently regulate histamine.

The body typically uses sulfur in the body as sulfate. When the conversion of sulfur to sulfate is slowed or compromised, concentrations of sulfate in the body are depleted, while concentrations of sulfur and sulfite may remain elevated.

Among other symptoms, this can result in:

• Allergic and inflammatory responses
• Compromised gut integrity
• Arthritis
• Dysbiosis
• Impaired cholesterol sulfate metabolism
• Decreased gallbladder function and bile acid activity
• Gallstones
• Kidney stones and calcifications

The Role of Sulfur in Histamine Levels

Another factor that metabolizes sulfur is the CBS gene. A disruption of sulfur metabolism, and any mutations or impairments of the CBS gene may contribute to the depletion of the compound SAM-e, which has been linked to an increase in histamine levels in the body. An additional issue that may arise when the CBS gene is impaired is an excess accumulation of hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) that may lead to gut dysbiosis or hydrogen sulfide SIBO.

Normal levels of hydrogen sulfide help regulate gut inflammation and motility, oxidative stress, ulcer healing, apoptosis, vascular tone, and hormone secretion. Imbalances in H2S due to gut dysbiosis may lead to Crohn’s disease, IBS, ulcerative colitis, SIBO, obesity, and sepsis.

Too much hydrogen sulfide may also be linked to adrenal insufficiency due to H2S helping to control mitochondrial function in the adrenal tissue (Wang et al., 2014). H2S imbalances could be linked to stress, excessive meat consumption, and high-sulfur diets, particularly if an individual has genetic predispositions that impair sulfur metabolism.

What Causes Histamine or Sulfur Imbalances?

We’ve mentioned a couple of times now that certain gut bacteria are involved in both processing sulfur and producing histamine. When these bacteria become imbalanced, levels of sulfur and histamine can easily get out of control.

Through clinical observation, our practitioners have identified a common thread between candida and SIBO cases (high histamine levels are a repeated symptom in this group), bacterial infections like Lyme Disease and its co-infections, mast cell activation syndrome, and sulfur intolerance. For comparison, here are the common symptoms of both sulfur and histamine intolerance:

Overlapping histamine intolerance and sulfur intolerance symptoms:

• Headaches/Migraines
• Flushing/Hives
• Joint pain/Body pain
• Itchiness
• Palpitations/Sudden blood pressure changes
• Inflammation
• GI pain/Constipation/Diarrhea
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue/Cognitive impairment

In cases of candida and SIBO, sulfate-reducing bacteria in the gut produce excess hydrogen sulfide gas when they ferment carbohydrates, further disrupting microbiome health, inducing an immune response, and increasing intestinal permeability and gut inflammation (Figliuolo et al., 2017).

Clients with candida or SIBO often present with an intolerance to sulfur-based medicines and foods, with symptoms that mirror those of histamine intolerance. One red flag for sulfur-sensitive clients is an intolerance to glutathione, a sulfur-based antioxidant. When the body cannot properly break down glutathione, one side effect is an increased production of hydrogen sulfide gas, especially in cases of SIBO. Hydrogen sulfide causes the breakdown of the mucus barrier, and reduces concentrations of the mineral molybdenum, which is crucial for the regulation of histamine.

How to Calm Histamine Sensitivity

Five key ingredients to managing excess levels of histamine and supporting natural modulators of histamine in the body are manganese, taurine, glycine, Rhodiola rosea, and phosphatidylserine.

Manganese

An underappreciated trace mineral for this purpose is manganese. Manganese helps to promote a sense of calm by modulating the excitatory neurotransmitter histamine through the following mechanisms.

Manganese:

• Is a cofactor for the protein that forms superoxide dismutase (SOD), an enzyme that is crucial for the antioxidation of cells
• May support the suppression of mast cell activation
• May rebalance gut dysbiosis

The amount of manganese used should be small enough to ensure sustainable use, but potent enough to provide effective daily care.

Taurine

Taurine, an amino acid linked to liver and nerve support, may also play a role in modulating:

• Inflammatory cytokines
• Mast cells
• Histamine release in the body

Modulating histamine and mast cell activity could contribute to a reduction in mast cell activation, and even rebalance the sympathetic nervous system response, regulating dopamine. This is of particular interest, as the improper regulation of dopamine can result in a histamine response. Taurine’s ability to act as a modulator for both dopamine and histamine make it a vital player in this formulation.

Glycine

Glycine is also an amino acid, and a precursor to betaine that supports healthy levels of serotonin, promotes protein synthesis, and regulates cytokines. Crucially, glycine may reduce inflammation from digestive autoimmune diseases by lowering inflammation in the epithelial cells of the intestines.

Additionally, a study using mouse models found that oral administration of glycine significantly inhibited allergy development, indicated by a reduction in acute allergic skin response, anaphylaxis, and serum antibodies. 

Rhodiola Rosea

Two adrenal adaptogens are essential to success: Rhodiola rosea and phosphatidylserine. When the adrenal glands are overworked, cortisol levels rise and may depart from normal ranges, depleting the body’s ability to relieve stress.

This is noteworthy because, as a natural anti-inflammatory agent, cortisol is key to the modulation of histamine, and strong adrenals are critical to maintaining the healthy production and management of cortisol.

The first adaptogen, Rhodiola rosea, is an herb that helps to manage stress and mental fatigue, and may support the rebalancing of depressive symptoms. Acting as an adrenal adaptogen, Rhodiola has the potential to modulate the release of cortisol and reduce inflammatory markers in the body. As a modulator of cortisol, Rhodiola indirectly helps to support a balanced histamine response, and may modulate serotonin, contributing to a more balanced mood.

Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid found in the brain that supports healthy myelination, nerve cell structure, memory, and executive functioning. Phosphatidylserine may reduce the release of stress hormones such as ACTH and cortisol, indirectly managing histamine. Additionally, phosphatidylserine may also positively impact age-related cognitive decline, combat depression, and aid ADHD symptoms.

Find Relief from (Histamine) Hypersensitivity

By supporting a more balanced histamine response, you can introduce a new way to soothe hypersensitive systems, addressing symptomatology that often goes overlooked but can significantly degrade an individual’s quality of life. From seasonal allergies to ADHD and mast cell activation syndrome, these tips and supplements can be your secret weapon for hard-to-reach symptoms, providing a foundation for systemic balance.