Are you dreading the arrival of the HAY FEVER season?
The Spring Equinox has just passed, and nature is in motion. Days are getting longer, blossoms are peeking through, and pollen is already starting to make its way into the air. And while the world prepares to bloom, many of us brace for itchy eyes, sneezing fits, and relentless brain fog. If spring feels more like a struggle than a fresh start, you’re not alone.
With around 6 weeks until it really peaks, there’s still time to support your body, lighten your Histamine load, and enjoy spring instead of suffering through it.
If you only focus on pollen, you’re missing the real load on your body.
Your Histamine bucket is being filled by:
- Hormones
- Toxins
- Food
- Gut imbalance
- Genetics
…and stress just pushes it all over the edge.
Your body can handle Histamine – until it can’t.
Think of Histamine like water in a bucket. If too much pours in (or your drainage is blocked), it overflows… and boom 💥 symptoms:
- Sneezing
- Runny or blocked nose
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Nasal congestion
- Post-nasal drip
- Itchy throat or ears
- Cough or mild wheezing
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Headaches
So, what’s filling (and clogging) your Histamine bucket?
Histamine is a natural compound released by your immune system in response to allergens like pollen. It causes the typical hay fever symptoms like a runny nose, red eyes, and sneezing.
But did you know Histamine is also found in foods and produced in your gut? An overload can make symptoms much worse.
WHAT DOES HISTAMINE ACTUALLY DO?
Histamine is more than just the thing that makes your nose run in spring. It’s a vital chemical messenger (a biogenic amine) involved in many important body functions.
1. It acts like an alarm bell for your immune system:
- Dilates blood vessels to widen the way for the incoming help
- Makes vessel walls more permeable (hello, swelling!)
- Attracts immune cells to fight off the “invader” (like pollen)
Result? Sneezing, hives, red itchy eyes, runny nose – classic allergy symptoms.
2. Acts as a Neurotransmitter in your brain and helps regulate:
- Wakefulness and alertness
- Appetite
- Learning and memory
Low Histamine = fatigue or brain fog
Too much = anxiety or over-alertness
3. Helps Regulate Digestion
Histamine stimulates the release of stomach acid (HCl) necessary for breaking down food and absorbing nutrients.
If Histamine levels are too high or too low, digestion suffers.
4. Modulates Hormones & Menstrual Cycles
Histamine interacts with oestrogen, which is why many women notice allergy symptoms spike around ovulation or their period.
Oestrogen increases Histamine … and Histamine increases oestrogen.
It’s a feedback loop that can worsen PMS, headaches, or hay fever symptoms.
So… Histamine isn’t bad?
Exactly. Histamine is essential. The real issue is Histamine overload when:
- Your body makes too much
- You can’t break it down fast enough
- Or you’re getting extra from food & environment
Managing Histamine is about balance, not blocking it completely.
DO YOU STILL THINK TAKING ANTIHISTAMINES LONG-TERM IS A GOOD IDEA?
AntiHistamine s like loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec), or diphenhydramine (Benadryl) are designed to block Histamine receptors, especially H1 receptors responsible for allergic symptoms.
While they bring short-term relief… they come with long-term trade-offs you should know about.
1. They don’t address the root cause
AntiHistamine s don’t stop Histamine from being produced, they just block its effects. Think of it like muting a fire alarm instead of putting out the fire.
2. They can affect your brain & mood
Some antiHistamines cross the blood-brain barrier and cause brain fog, drowsiness or sedation, mood changes or anxiety (especially with long-term use). Even “non-drowsy” types can build up over time and blunt your mental sharpness.
3. They disrupt your gut & liver
Your body breaks down Histamine using DAO enzymes (in the gut) and HNMT enzymes (in the liver). Long-term antiHistamine use may overburden detox pathways or even lower DAO enzyme activity, making you more Histamine-sensitive over time.
Histamine plays a role in stomach acid production (HCl) which essential for breaking down food and absorbing nutrients like B12, iron, and zinc, suppressing it can lead to bloating, nutrient deficiencies, poor digestion, sluggish elimination, increased gut dysbiosis and food sensitivities over time.
4. Blunt immune response
Blocking histamine too much for too long can weaken immune surveillance, making you more vulnerable to infections, slower to recover and prone to chronic low-grade inflammation.
5. Tolerance can develop
Your body can adapt, making antiHistamine s less effective the more you use them. You might need higher doses or stronger meds to get the same effect.
WHAT TO DO INSTEAD:
Find out what’s filling your Histamine bucket exploring these areas one by one.
1. Oestrogen & Xenoestrogens
Oestrogen increases Histamine release and slows down the enzyme that breaks it down. Xenoestrogens (from plastics, skincare, receipts) mimic oestrogen and keep the cycle going. Check for dysregulations with a DUTCH test.
Symptoms: hormonal migraines, worse symptoms around ovulation or PMS
2. Environmental toxins
Your liver is constantly detoxing both Histamine and external toxins. When it’s overburdened, Histamine clearance slows down. Check for toxic overload with a HTMA or OAT tests.
Top offenders: pesticides, mould/mycotoxins, fragrances, heavy metals
3. Food Triggers
Some foods are naturally high in Histamine, while others tell your body to release more or block the enzymes that break it down.
High-Histamine foods: aged cheese, wine, fermented foods, cured meats
Histamine liberators: tomatoes, chocolate, citrus
DAO enzyme blockers: alcohol, black tea, energy drinks
4. Gut Dysbiosis
Your gut microbiome helps break down Histamine, but when it’s imbalanced Histamine can build up instead. Some bacteria produce Histamine or damage the gut lining, reducing DAO enzyme production. Check for gut dysbiosis.
Symptoms: bloating, IBS, skin flares after eating, brain fog
5. Genetic Mutations (SNPs)
Some people are genetically less able to break down Histamine, especially if they have mutations in genes like:
DAO – breaks down Histamine in the gut
HNMT – breaks down Histamine in cells
MAO, COMT, MTHFR – involved in detox, methylation, and neurotransmitter balance
Symptoms: Histamine intolerance runs in your family, you’re sensitive to meds/supplements, reactions are unpredictable
6. Disbalanced Omega 6:3 fatty acids ratio
When this ratio is out of balance, it fuels chronic low-grade inflammation, which can prime your mast cells to release more Histamine. This can lead to mast cell activation, gut inflammation, and a slower recovery from histamine flares. Use Balance test to check yours.
Symptoms: frequent inflammation, achy joints, puffy face, or chronic sinus congestion, poor recovery from exercise or illness
Say goodbye to itchy eyes, sneezing fits, and foggy brain by identifying your triggers and gently removing them. It’s time to download my FREE guide and support your body the natural way.