Some patients who experience restless sleep, hives, sinus congestion, muscle twitches, heart pounding, heart palpitations, particularly strong hypnic jerks (those muscle contractions you get when you are falling asleep), or full-blown insomnia at night can get significant relief when they take activated charcoal.
In this article we will find out why this works and what could be the cause of these varied symptoms.
Why Activated Charcoal Can Help High Histamine
It has to do with histamine! Histamine is released in response to a perceived threat like an infection, injury or allergy. When mast cells explode in your body, an increase in histamine increase is the result.
Histamine in small amounts is part of a healthy functioning immune system but often, things like stress, underlying infections and environmental allergens can cause your body to release an excess of histamine or cause you to have a hard time clearing up histamine once it is released.
Your body releases higher levels of histamine naturally at night as well as after meals so taking activated charcoal at night (about two hours after an early dinner) sweeps up excess histamine and can alleviate some, if not all of the symptoms associated with high histamine at night.
High levels of histamine (sometimes described as Histamine Intolerance) is a very common underlying cause of insomnia that is rarely treated or tested for.
Heart pounding or palpitations at night are also often written off as anxiety when they too can be the result of excess histamine.
Remember that charcoal absorbs good minerals vitamins and necessary medications as well as excess histamine so you do not want to take activated charcoal long term - it is a temporary fix to a systemic problem.
Sourcing is important with activated charcoal, only get brands whose activated charcoal is derived from coconut shell.
How to Get to the Root of High Histamine
So how do you find out what's really keeping you awake or hivey or congested at night? That's where functional medicine comes in. With blood testing, or sometimes just by a conversation with me about your symptoms, we can isolate the probable cause of your high histamine levels.
Then, depending on the cause of the problem, I can prescribe dietary guidelines and nutritional supplementation to help you stabilize your mast cells and help you clear away excess histamine naturally.
My practice is now 100% online and I can have a consultation with you anywhere in the world. You can read more about an online consultation here. I can personalize treatment and even work with your primary care physician or order testing if you are out of state or outside of the country.If you would like to speak with me directly you can schedule a Free 15 Minute Consultation here or call or text my office directly at 913-728-5291.
If you think that you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this information. Nor should you ever delay seeking medical advice or treatment due to the information contained on this Website.
FAQs
Get enough sleep: Sleep plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and can help reduce histamine levels. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night and establish a consistent sleep schedule. Aiming to shutting of electronic devices at least 1 hour before bed.
Does histamine help you sleep? ›
Administration of histamine or H₁ receptor agonists induces wakefulness, whereas administration of H₁ receptor antagonists promotes sleep. The H₃ receptor functions as an auto-receptor and regulates the synthesis and release of histamine. Activation of H₃ receptor reduces histamine release and promotes sleep.
When is histamine highest at night? ›
Research shows that histamine levels follow our biological clock, or our circadian rhythm. Histamine levels start to rise around the time that we usually want to crash, worsening allergy symptoms. “Levels tend to peak in the early morning hours and fall to their lowest levels in the afternoon,” May says.
How do you reverse histamine intolerance? ›
People with histamine intolerance can usually manage their condition by changing their diets. In severe cases, taking DAO supplements or other medications can help. Sometimes the intolerance is temporary, and you can eventually go back to eating foods that you'd been avoiding.
How to flush histamines out of the body? ›
You can focus on water or natural teas that are antihistamine, such as steeping fresh ginger in hot water. Plenty of water and low histamine liquids can assist with clearing ingested histamine from your body, as well as aid with proper digestion which is an essential part of controlling histamine reactions.
What neutralizes histamine? ›
The first and most powerful line of defense against ingested histamine is diamine oxidase (DAO), a histamine neutralizing enzyme secreted by intestinal epithelial cells into the gut lumen.
What is the strongest antihistamine for sleep? ›
Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine medicine that relieves the symptoms of allergies. It's known as a drowsy (sedating) antihistamine and is more likely to make you feel sleepy than other antihistamines.
What is the most sedating anti histamine? ›
Types of antihistamine
antihistamines that make you feel sleepy – such as chlorphenamine (Piriton), cinnarizine, diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine and promethazine. non-drowsy antihistamines that are less likely to make you feel sleepy – such as acrivastine, cetirizine, fexofenadine and loratadine.
Can too much histamine cause insomnia? ›
Improper or insufficient synthesis of histamine can lead to somnolence (excessive sleepiness), while excess histamine can lead to insomnia, a common problem among people who suffer from histamine intolerance.
Does drinking water reduce histamine? ›
Drinking enough water throughout the day may help reduce the chance of histamine-related responses across your body, including GI and asthma symptoms.
Itchiness, skin rashes, hives, hayfever, nasal congestion, blocked nose, diarrhea, tummy pain, headaches, dizziness, low blood pressure, fatigue.
Why is my body producing too much histamine? ›
Some foods can block DAO enzymes or trigger histamine release. Bacterial overgrowth: When your body is unable to digest food properly, bacteria grow, causing you to produce too much histamine. Typical DAO enzyme levels cannot break down the increased histamine in your body, causing a reaction.
What destroys histamine? ›
“Antihistamines” control allergy symptoms by blocking histamine activity. But our body can also produce enzymes such as histamine-N-methyltransferase and diamine oxidase (DAO) capable of inactivating histamine.
What is the strongest natural antihistamine? ›
What is the most powerful natural antihistamine? Researchers haven't yet established any natural product as the “best” or “most powerful.” Natural antihistamines with the most research backing their use include stinging nettle, vitamin C, quercetin, butterbur, bromelain, and probiotics.
What is the root cause of histamine issues? ›
Overall, histamine intolerance comes down to an imbalance in your internal histamine levels. Histamine levels in the body are simply higher than they should be and, much like during an allergic reaction, these high levels of histamine are causing a response which you're experiencing as histamine intolerance symptoms.
How do you calm a histamine flare up? ›
However, one or more of the following approaches may help:
- taking antihistamines.
- taking DAO enzyme supplements.
- avoiding medicines associated with histamine intolerance, which may involve switching medications.
- taking corticosteroids.
What is the most powerful natural antihistamine? Researchers haven't yet established any natural product as the “best” or “most powerful.” Natural antihistamines with the most research backing their use include stinging nettle, vitamin C, quercetin, butterbur, bromelain, and probiotics.
What foods calm histamine? ›
Low-Histamine Alternatives
- Fresh meat.
- Fresh fruit, but with limited citrus and plantains, which are similar to bananas.
- Fresh vegetables, but with limited tomato, eggplant, and spinach.
- Rice and coconut milk.
- Herbal tea, but avoid black and green tea.
- Whole-grain products including pasta and bread.
