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Histamine Intolerance
GUT HEALTH · HISTAMINE INTOLERANCE NATUROPATH GEELONG
If wine, aged cheese, and leftovers make you feel terrible — histamine could be why.
Histamine intolerance occurs when the body's ability to break down dietary and endogenous histamine is overwhelmed — most commonly due to deficiency of the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO). The result is a wide-ranging collection of symptoms that can look like allergies, migraine, gut issues, skin reactions, and anxiety — often appearing unconnected. At The Sana Co. we investigate the gut and enzyme drivers of histamine intolerance, not just what foods to avoid.
Histamine intolerance symptoms — wide-ranging and often surprising
Headaches and migraines from food
Skin flushing, hives, and redness
Nasal congestion and allergy-like symptoms
Headaches or full migraines consistently triggered by red wine, aged cheeses, chocolate, fermented foods, smoked fish, or processed meats. Histamine is a potent vasodilator driving the vascular changes behind migraines.
Runny nose, sneezing, or nasal stuffiness triggered by foods rather than seasonal allergens. Histamine causes the same nasal symptoms as allergic rhinitis — but the trigger is dietary.
Runny nose, sneezing, or nasal stuffiness triggered by foods rather than seasonal allergens. Histamine causes the same nasal symptoms as allergic rhinitis — but the trigger is dietary.
Heart palpitations and blood pressure changes
Histamine affects cardiovascular tone — palpitations, racing heart, or lightheadedness after high-histamine meals are underrecognised symptoms of significant histamine burden.
Digestive symptoms
Cramping, diarrhoea, or abdominal pain after histamine-rich meals — histamine directly stimulates gastric acid secretion and gut motility.
Why histamine accumulates — the underlying mechanisms
Histamine intolerance develops when DAO activity is insufficient relative to histamine load. Several factors reduce DAO:
Gut dysbiosis — histamine-producing bacteria overproduce histamine; histamine-degrading bacteria are reduced in dysbiosis | Intestinal permeability — gut wall damage reduces DAO production | SIBO — excess bacteria fermenting foods and producing histamine in the small intestine | Genetic variants in DAO and HMNT genes reducing enzyme activity | Nutritional deficiencies — DAO requires copper, vitamin B6, and vitamin C as cofactors | Medications blocking DAO — NSAIDs, certain antibiotics, PPIs, and antidepressants | Oestrogen excess — stimulates histamine release and inhibits DAO
Treating histamine intolerance at its source
A low-histamine diet is a symptom-management strategy — not a cure. Our approach addresses why DAO is insufficient and restores your capacity to tolerate histamine over time.
Gut microbiome assessment
Stool analysis to identify histamine-producing bacteria, reduced histamine-degrading species, dysbiosis patterns, and intestinal permeability markers.
SIBO is a major driver of histamine intolerance — excess bacteria in the small intestine produce large quantities of histamine directly. SIBO treatment often dramatically reduces histamine symptoms.
Stool analysis to identify histamine-producing bacteria, reduced histamine-degrading species, dysbiosis patterns, and intestinal permeability markers.
Targeted gut treatment
Stool analysis to identify histamine-producing bacteria, reduced histamine-degrading species, dysbiosis patterns, and intestinal permeability markers.
DAO enzyme supplementation
Oral DAO enzyme supplements to reduce histamine load during the gut healing phase — providing immediate symptom relief while underlying drivers are addressed.
Copper, B6, and vitamin C supplementation to optimise DAO enzyme activity — often producing meaningful improvement rapidly.
DAO cofactor support
If symptoms worsen significantly premenstrually or in perimenopause, oestrogen management is added to the protocol.
Hormonal assessment if indicated
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