Jul 7, 2026
Do I have a histamine sensitivity?
You've been reacting to things for a long time. Maybe years. To foods that used to be fine. Lotions, fabrics, perfumes, candles, weather changes. The skin flare you can't trace. The 2 am wake-up when your body decides it's done with the dinner you ate. The sinus that's been mildly irritated since you can't remember when.
Often, when clients think about histamine, they think of sneezing, nasal congestion, watery eyes, and other symptoms associated with allergies. But, what many people do not know is that histamine sensitivity can also cause other symptoms such as new food intolerances and sensitivities, diarrhea, constipation, sensitivity to lotions, fabrics, perfumes, candles, a change in the weather, acne, and eczema that came out of nowhere, brain fog, infertility, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. This list can feel disjointed and disconnected, but when a client arrives with persistent symptoms that have been addressed for years by different practitioners, histamine may be an underlying cause.
To understand how histamine sensitivity can occur, we first need a short and easy biochem lesson. Mast cells are the first responders of the immune system, and they are located where the body meets the outside world. Think of their presence in your skin, respiratory tract, mucous membranes in your nose, and even throughout the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. When they detect a threat, they release a variety of inflammatory chemicals to neutralize it, and the primary chemical released is histamine. Sometimes, mast cells can fire at random times and become hyperactive, usually in response to sudden temperature changes, stress, foods, and hormonal changes (especially estrogen). When histamine continues to build up, it can have trouble being cleared by an enzyme called DAO, and when that balance is disrupted, the list of symptoms I mentioned earlier starts to show up.
If you are familiar with this process because you live with it, you know it feels like there is a laundry list of foods, cleaning agents, and perfumes you have to avoid. But the kicker is that when you avoid these things, the list can sometimes get longer until there are only about 10 foods you can tolerate. So how can we support the body by calming mast cells, clearing histamine, and improving sensitivity? Surprisingly, it takes about six botanicals to do the job.
The first step is mast cell stabilization using two compounds with extensive research: quercetin and luteolin. These are plant compounds that support mast cells when they are not reactive. But clients have taken both of these, and they report small changes. This can occur because the gastrointestinal tract doesn’t readily absorb quercetin or luteolin, and only a small amount enters the bloodstream. When using a phytosome form of quercetin and luteolin, bioavailability is 20 times higher, making it more effective and available for the body to use.
The second step is clearing histamine. Many practitioners skip this step because they assume that once they drop mast cell reactivity, there will be less histamine, but histamine must be cleared for the sensitivity to diminish. In order for the body to use DAO to clear histamine, it needs an enzyme to be activated, and that enzyme is vitamin C. Without vitamin C, histamine cannot be cleared from the gut.
The third and final step is repairing the cells. When mast cells are overactive, they produce reactive oxygen species that can damage cells and impair cellular energy function. For proper cell repair, the body needs anti-inflammatory and antioxidant support. Glutathione, bromelain, and stinging nettle root provide both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to not only repair cells but also protect mitochondria and support energy production.
If you have been living with increasing sensitivities and you do not know how to get back to your old self, reach out and schedule a chat with me!
