From time to time people visit here and may be having food intolerance reactions. Some of these reactions may be due to histamine excess in the body. Normally the body removes excess histamine, but not always.

Histamine is a biogenic amine, it dilates blood vessels, increases circulation to the skin and muscles, is also a neurotransmitter in the brain, which is thought to be a precursor to stimulate the release of other neurotransmitters. This gets pretty complex, so unless people really want more info I won't search it all down again. I used to have a histamine thread on our old home online in the past. Back then I found some links to ADHD and impulsive disorders.(these kids can have common food intolerances) But I do see histamine as a culprit at least for myself sometimes from food.

There are two major histamine blocking families of drugs. One are antihistamines, used for allergies. Some of them, the older ones like Benadryl and Atarax, are fat soluble and enter the brain. The newer ones like Claritin and Allegra are less potent and have little if any brain effects. (hence no drowsiness).
The second type of histamine blocker is the H2 antagonist drug family, which were the first acid blocker drugs offered for ulcer treatment. Zantac, Pepcid, and Tagamet (the most potent), are examples.

Often when people have severe food or drug reactions both families are prescribed as treatments. Also for some preventive
treatments for MRIs and CAT scans that use dyes that are allergenic, both families can be given before the tests.

I read on this forum some posts that suggest to me a consumption of a trigger food(s) that might be giving burning, tingling or other PN type symptoms. So I post lists of histamine releasing foods, or foods high in histamine on those posts.

Yesterday Swanson's supplement company sent out the recent monthly catalog (which is really really large), and featured was this topic.

They are promoting a new supplement that is supposed to deactivate histamine in the GI tract before it goes systemic into the body. It is called Daosin.

Let me say now, I have not tried this, but I just might very soon.
I have flushing from certain foods, and Hubby has lots of runny nose issues that come and go.

This is a link to the website of the primary scientist, Dr. Janice Joneja, on their website:
http://www.allergynutrition.com/reso...ntolerance.pdf

It is complex, and I'll have to read it further several times, but I thought to put it up now for anyone interested.
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/healt...upplement.html

I cannot endorse this yet, but I am very sure I will try this and get Hubby to try also. He seems to have more issues with it than I do. Mine are more burning, his are more nasal.

I might even give it to my cat, who has mast cell (hence histamine secreting) tumors. As far as I can tell this supplement only works in the GI tract to inactivate food histamines.

Here is a blog discussing the topic and also giving supplement suggestions to help deal with high histamine:

http://histamino.wordpress.com/tag/daosin/

There is also another product similar, but far more expensive:
Histame:

http://www.amazon.com/Histame-Food-I...3263318&sr=8-1

Histame also more expensive at iherb.com:
http://www.iherb.com/Search?kw=Histame

Swanson's product is about 1/2 this price.
The active ingredient strength is about the same.

More on histamine:

http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks...histamine.html

bumping this up with a very good site explaining histamine reactions and food:

http://diagnosisdiet.com/histamine-intolerance/

Did you ever try this, MrsD?



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No I never did. Tomatoes really set both hubby and me off.

Peppers and hot spices also bother me... once I figured that out and avoided them, things got better.

But the histamine reactions are very noticeable... Both my son and I had a big one to a perch lunch on vacation not too long ago... burning feet by 4pm.
This indicates old fish. My son does not have a PN that I am aware of.

Thanks a million for this....I've seen the iherb thing before and forgot about it...but I am helping someone with food issues and even though there are some environmental concerns as well, I think if we can control the food ones then there would be more tolerance of the perfumes etc...
I feel that all this can be overwhelming so thank goodness for help like this...thanks for sharing....

I second the thanks for all this. I've thought I've had a histamine problem for awhile, and even purchased Histame a few years (no luck with it for the problem I tried it for), but I'm trying to figure out if something other than food cause trigger it.

Wow. I bought some really good aged blue cheese. I think it may not be good for me. Talk about flaring.

All one has to do is try some real niacin and get the flush.

That flush can be so like some PN symptoms. Stinging, burning, you name it!

I just read about a HISTAMINE cream!
Australian Dream Cream!

Here is a wiki on it too: used for leukemia patients.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histamine_dihydrochloride