If you have low blood volume, which is common for many of us, vasodilators can worsen symptoms.
Histamine is one of several vasodilators, and research shows that healing nerves release vasodilators, including histamine. This means that, as we heal, we already have excess histamine in our system.
Many people in the group talk about histamine intolerance and often choose to eat foods lower in histamine, which can be helpful in some cases. However, it’s important to note that our bodies produce more histamine than any food we can consume. Plus, our environment can easily trigger the production of excess histamine.
A group member experimented with mold a few years ago by placing three mold tests around his house and backyard. The tests inside were done in bathrooms, while the outside test was placed on a table. The purpose was to check for environmental mold.
The results?
The two indoor tests came back clean with no mold growth.
But the outdoor test looked like it had a full-blown mold forest growing on it.
And this was in a city known for its relatively low humidity.
Why is this important? Mold produces histamine, and histamine is a vasodilator. Vasodilators, as we know, can make low blood volume symptoms worse.
For reference, the mold count in San Antonio on 5/30/23 is shown below. Fortunately, one of the local TV stations reports daily pollen and mold counts. The mold levels after rain are consistently this high.
What does this mean for you?
As you heal, your body is already releasing histamine to support nerve healing. Now, you need to consider all the other sources of histamine in your life right now.
Pollen? It’s spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and the increased pollen levels will trigger more histamine production.
Mold? Spring also means more rain. In San Antonio, mold counts are high due to live oak trees, whose leaves don’t decompose quickly. The combination of these leaves and heavy rain results in very high mold counts.
Fermented foods? Yes, they tend to have higher levels of histamine than most foods. Whether you can eat them or not is a personal decision. For example, I had a tablespoon of sauerkraut daily.
What can you do?
Over-the-counter antihistamines can help during spring. Be sure to work with your healthcare provider to determine the correct dosage and type for your needs.
Vasoconstrictors, like Sudafed, can help with excess vasodilation. Use wisely.
A blip of research suggests that apple polyphenols suppress histamine release in rats. Enjoy apples every day!
Below is study after study we have saved for this topic.
For more information on B6 toxicity and histamine, please review the following articles:
The Intriguing Role of Histamine in Exercise Responses
Postexercise hypotension and sustained postexercise vasodilatation: what happens after we exercise?
Impact of mold on mast cell-cytokine immune response
Apple polyphenols suppress histamine release
Histamine Enhances Bladder Afferent Sensitivity to Bladder Distension
Cells involved in allergies also play a key role in survival
Caffeine promotes glutamate and histamine release in the posterior hypothalamus
Targeting Histamine Receptors in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Critical Appraisal
Also see: Allergies and Environmental Mold