There is a close relationship between histamine intolerance and stress.

In fact, the levels of stress and histamine release impact one-another dramatically.

And – your brain may be influencing everything from your sleep to your symptoms. Especially if it’s severe, as in the case of panic attacks, anxiety and depression.

So, whether it’s common daily stress or extreme stress – let’s get to discussing the relationship between histamine and stress.

And, how stress and histamine release may be creating a cycle that’s doing your body more harm than necessary.

Histamine Intolerance Revealed

Histamine is an essential neurotransmitter with involvement in the digestive, immune and central nervous systems. There are four types of histamine receptors located throughout the body:

1. H1 receptors are present in the cells involved in inflammation and allergic responses.

2. H2 receptors can be found in the stomach, where histamine is involved in the release of gastric acid as part of the digestive process.

3. H3 receptors are primarily found in the brain, where histamine acts as a neurotransmitter.

4. H4 receptors are found in a broad range of the body’s organ tissues and participate in histamines interaction with key granulocytes such as mast cells.

While histamine is an essential component of a healthy body, research suggests that at least 1% of the population suffer with histamine intolerance (1). When histamine is accumulated in excess, it can trigger a myriad of seemingly unrelated and debilitating symptoms.

Many of us are familiar with the term ‘histamine’ as it relates to allergies, however the context for its role in a broader range of disorders is often poorly understood.

As histamine primarily travels via the bloodstream, it can have a vast reaching influence on the gut, brain, skin and heart often resulting in the experience of anxiety, panic attacks and even insomnia.

What Causes Histamine Intolerance?

Histamine intolerance results from histamine excess in the body. When a disproportion between the amount of histamine being released and the body’s ability to metabolize it exists, histamine builds up in the system, often triggering a myriad of uncomfortable symptoms(2).

There are many causes of histamine intolerance – I’ve summarized some of the causes below:

Mast cell Release

As part of the body’s natural immune response, when an allergen is detected, it binds to immunoglobulin-E (IgE) antibodies, which signal the body’s mast cells to release inflammatory substances such as histamine.

DAO is an enzyme in the gut which regulates the resorption of histamine in the intestine. When DAO is inhibited, histamine cannot be broken down correctly and so levels of histamine in the body increase

Gut dysfunction

As histamine is both produced and broken down in the gut, compromised gut health can cause imbalanced histamine levels. For this reason, there is often a similarity between symptoms of bacterial overgrowth, irritable bowel syndrome (5), leaky gut and histamine intolerance.

High consumption of histamine-rich foods and beverages

Histamine occurs naturally in the foods and drinks we consume. Those who suffer with histamine intolerance often see their symptoms worsen after the consumption of high histamine items such as cheese, chocolate and alcohol (3). Sticking to a diet that eliminates high histamine foods and histamine releasing foods is essential. If you are looking for a comprehensive diet, click the button below to download the free low histamine diet.

Regardless of the root cause, one thing is for sure: stress is a negative addition that can increase histamine release and significantly worsen symptoms. Let’s discuss why that is.

How are Histamine and Stress Related?

Stress, in particular, can be a problem for those experiencing histamine intolerance, as it can trigger an increase in histamine release, often exacerbating present symptoms.

Let me give you a brief science lesson…

When the body is under stress, it releases the stress hormone cortisol which calls the nervous system into action. The hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis is then stimulated by the nervous system which puts the body into ‘fight or flight’ mode.

This cascade of events signals the body that it is under attack and, so, all of its resources are poured into energy conservation, which causes high energy processes such as digestion to shut down.

Following this, the sympathetic nervous system is engaged; releasing neurotransmitters such as adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine to sharpen the senses and put your body on high alert for danger.

As part of this stress response, the sympathetic nervous system can further activate the immune system, leading to mast cell degranulation and the release of even more histamine into the bloodstream.

Histamine and stress are related in this way, with the outcome being that stress increases histamine release.

While these evolutionary mechanisms are advantageous when the body is under significant external threat, the real problem occurs when this stress response is habitually triggered due to the various environmental and psychological stressors we are frequently exposed to.

Overtime, the histamine and stress response cycle can increase histamine release, which can spark a number of symptoms, including:

Histamine and Anxiety & Depression:

Histamine and stress are able to cause significant mood disorders due to the role of histamine in the brain.

The presence of H3 histamine receptors in the brain explains the high occurrence of mood disorders in those who are histamine intolerant.

In the brain, histamine acts as a neurotransmitter which can affect the levels of mood altering neurotransmitters such as GABA, dopamine and serotonin; causing the increased expression of anxious and depressive feelings.

Histamine and Insomnia:

Histamine has been indicated in the onset of sleep disturbances; both in the case of insomnia and excessive sleepiness. Recent research reveals that histamine may in fact play an integral role in the circadian rhythm.

In fact, the histaminergic system is localized within the hypothalamus brain region which can directly influence many aspects of the central nervous system. It has been found that activation of the H1 histamine receptor promotes sleep, while H3 receptor activation stimulates increased wakefulness.

Not only can the relationship between histamine and stress throw off sleep balance and promote insomnia in the first place. But, the lack of sleep can cause increased stress and histamine release, therefore cyclically worsening these issues.

Histamine and Panic attacks:

Under conditions of excess histamine levels, many individuals report experiencing regular and debilitating panic attacks. These panic attacks can be partially attributed to the role of histamine in vasodilation or the widening of blood vessels within the heart.

This function causes blood pressure to drop as blood flows through the vessels more freely. In conjunction, the heart rate increases in order to continue pumping a consistent level of blood through the newly widened vessels.

This reduction in blood pressure combined with the increased heart rate can result in shortness of breath, dizziness and a rapid heartbeat; together causing the individual to feel as though they’re experiencing a panic attack.

Again, the connection between histamine and stress can worsen issues such as panic attacks, with the further issue being that stress and histamine release both increase.

As with the other conditions discussed, this may potentiate further panic attacks, and increase both histamine and stress levels.

Ways to Reduce Histamine and Stress

When it comes to histamine and stress, it’s important to note that stress acts as the trigger rather than the cause of histamine intolerance. However, taking steps to manage your stress levels can still be very effective in minimizing your symptoms.

Working to identify the source of your stress as well as taking steps to manage it effectively are important practices to adopt.

Although personal sources of stress may vary, below are some universal methods for effectively reducing stress and histamine release.

1. Magnesium Supplementation

Pay attention to your magnesium levels as stress can deplete magnesium in the body, while a lack of magnesium can amplify the stress reaction.

Magnesium is found in a variety of vegetables, nuts and seeds, however during very stressful times, taking a magnesium supplement is recommended.

Studies have shown transdermal magnesium to be most effective at increasing levels quickly. So, you may also consider applying liquid magnesium chloride 1-2/day to the skin to calm your system.

2. Diet

By controlling the amount of histamine coming into your body through the foods you eat, you can significantly reduce the levels of histamine which your body has to deal with. This reduces biological stress and can therefore calm stress-induced histamine release as well.

The best way to do this is by following a low-histamine diet plan while closely monitoring and recording your symptoms. Additionally, eliminating foods that are not high in histamine themselves but either provoke histamine release or can be bacterially converted to histamine in the body is essential as well.


Once you reach the point where your symptoms have noticeably reduced, you can begin to reintroduce a few moderate to high level histamine foods back into your diet and record your reaction.

The response to different foods tends to vary significantly between individuals so it’s best to follow this process slowly; introducing one new food every 3-4 days.

3. Avoid Known Allergens.

As histamine release is intrinsically linked to the allergic response, it is important to avoid known allergens such as pollen or dander.

If you can’t control your exposure to an allergen, for example in the case of seasonal allergies, then adhering to a very low histamine diet as well as following the other listed suggestions during these times can help you to avoid reaching your body’s histamine threshold.

4. Polyphenols

Polyphenols are a type of phytochemical found abundantly in a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Pomegranates contain tannins and anthocyanin, two types of polyphenols which have been shown to stabilize mast cells. Apples also contain a variety of polyphenols which can inhibit the release of histamine from mast cells.

5. Diamine Oxidase

If you suspect that your DAO levels are low, consider trying to Increase your DAO naturally this will support the body in breaking down and managing excess histamine and reduce your biological stress load.

DAO can also be taken in supplement form – but, it should be noted that supplements on the market are largely derived from pork and are therefore unsuitable for vegans.

6. B6

Vitamin B6 is required for the production of DAO in the body and so it is important that you are getting enough in your diet. B6 is found in a variety of low-histamine foods such as brown rice, vegetables and fresh poultry.

Targeting the root of your histamine intolerance

While the above methods are very useful in controlling both mental and biological stressors that accompany histamine intolerance, it’s important to remember that targeting the root cause of your intolerance is essential in solving your symptoms for good.

For more info on how to discover the root cause, check out our testing options on www.thermographyireland.ie