Need Help With Histidine

I need advice from anyone who has any insight on this subject. I have a lot of questions for later but don't want to overwhelm. I am thinking of trying l-histidine. It sounds perfect for me. I have mercury poisoning, mcs, ibs, diverticulosis, chronic insomnia, bad gut problems, high blood pressure, to name a few. I have been fighting going on blood pressure meds but recently had to give in. Now the side effects have put me back to square one after a few improvements. I have been having to take an antihistaming to be able to get a little sleep. My question is what the connection is between antihistaming and l-histidine. I have done a lot of research and still don't have it figured out. Would I still be able to take benadryl at night or would the l-histimine take its place. I know they are opposites but have read that l-histime works for allergies. I hope someone can help and I hope my questions are clear. I am definetely going to order the l-histimine but need help knowing how to take or whether I have to quit the benadryl. It may not be a good thing to take but it has been a life saver for the sleeping problem. L-histidine is also supposed to lower blood pressure.


This is an old post from the forum....I had written to Cytos Pharmaceuticals, the 'histidine experts':

Did you read my article on the Cytos Pharmaceutical website? I checked out the histamine treatment link and agree 100% that it is a great therapy for MS. People have been using the bee sting therapy for years with good results, and of course bee stings cause the body to release histamine. Taking histidine can increase histamine, but only if several other nutrients are available at the same time. These include B6, zinc, and essential fatty acids.

The amino acid histidine can slow the release of histamine by a feedback mechanism and by removing excess zinc from the body. I used to have too much histamine, resulting in mercury sensitivity, food allergies that were so severe I got internal hives, and severe hayfever. After taking histidine I improved tremendously so I took a higher dose (we always seem to think if a little is good, a lot is better!). Within a few weeks I actually developed symptoms of MS. That was a totally unexpected discovery. By adding zinc and borage oil back into my diet the MS disappeared and I was still able to keep my allergies at bay.

It's a delicate balance and both treatments (histidine and histamine) need to be monitored closely. But when you get it right, it can give you back your life!

I'm not sure what you meant about dairy and histidine. I take them together all the time because histidine is the transport protein for calcium and greatly improves absorption. In fact one of the ways you know you're reaching your tolerance for histidine is that the smooth muscles become relaxed and you may become constipated. On the other hand, people with too much histamine tend to have chronic diarrhea. If you can clarify, I'll try to answer your question better.

If you are Hg poisoned, it screws up copper/zinc balance thus histamine production....and methionine (which lowers histamine).



Histadelia (Histamine High) Last updated: Nov 16, 2001THE ANALYST TM

Histadelia (Histamine High)Histadelia, more common in males, is characterized by elevated blood levels
of histamine. It is estimated that 15-20% of schizophrenics are probably
histadelic.

The treatment of histadelia requires great patience because six to ten weeks
are often needed before the beginning of significant improvement. The
treatment usually takes twelve months to complete. To find out more about
this see Mental Illness: The Nutrition Connection, a book by Carl Pfeiffer.
The prognosis is good if the histadelic patient cooperates with treatment
and works to give up detrimental addictions.Signs, Symptoms & Indicators of Histadelia (Histamine High):Symptoms -
General Poor pain tolerance
Symptoms - Environment Poor tolerance of heat
Good tolerance of cold
Symptoms - Gastro-Intestinal - General (History of) unexplained nausea
Symptoms - Head - Mouth/Oral Abundant/excess saliva in mouth
Symptoms - Allergy Excess mucus Histamine can cause additional mucus
production.

Symptoms - Mind - General Being highly motivated Those with elevated
histamine (histadelics) tend to work compulsively.

A hard-driving personality Histadelics tend to work compulsively.

Good creativity/imagination Histadelics are often highly creative.

Symptoms - Mind - Emotional Phobias
Symptoms - Metabolic Hyperactivity Histamine speeds up metabolism producing
a tendency towards hyperactivity.

Frequent colds/flus
Symptoms - Reproductive - General Strong sexual desire
Symptoms - Skeletal (Severe) chronic joint pain
Symptoms - Skin - General Excess perspiration
Warm skin

Conditions That Suggest Histadelia (Histamine High):
Allergy Allergic Rhinitis / Hay Fever
Mental Depression Histadelics are often chronically and suicidally
depressed.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Histadelics are often prone to
obsessions, compulsions, and addictions.

Metabolic Addictions / Addictive Tendencies Nutritional treatment for drug
and alcohol users will depend on the results of a test for blood histamine
levels. In one series of such analysis, all users proved to have high
histamine levels, leading the scientist to conclude that this abnormality -
with its impact on brain function - is a major force in creating addiction.
[Nutrition Guide for the Prevention and Cure of Common Ailments and
Diseases, Carlton Fredericks, PhD. p.58]

Headaches
Insomnia The overarousal seen in histadelia may contribute to insomnia.

Musculo-Skeletal Muscle Pains (Myalgia)

Recommendations for Histadelia (Histamine High):Amino Acid / Protein
Methionine Methionine supplements lower blood levels of histamine by
increasing histamine breakdown.

Diet Vegetarian/Vegan Diet Nutritionists recommend a low-protein, high
complex carbohydrate diet. Histidine, which is more common in animal
proteins, should be avoided as it can be converted into histamine.

Lab Tests/Rule-Outs Check Folic Acid Levels Under certain conditions, such
as anticipated or actual pregnancy, a simple lab test for serum folate
levels is advisable. If the test results show low levels, supplementation
should be considered to prevent potential birth defects.

Test Histamine Levels
Check Copper Levels Testing serum or hair copper levels is usually adequate
for evaluating copper status when low levels of copper are suspected and
hair contamination with copper can be ruled out. When in doubt, it would be
better to use more accurate tests such as the 24 hour urine copper or serum
ceruloplasmin.

Test for Manganese Levels
Check Zinc Levels
Mineral Calcium
Copper Copper levels may be low to normal in patients with histadelia.
Copper is part of the enzyme histaminase, which is involved in the
metabolism of histamine.

Manganese
Magnesium
Vitamins Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Vitamin Folic Acid Histadelics should avoid supplemental folic acid as it
can produce excess histamine. In fact, anti-folate drugs may be required.
Folic acid increases depression in histadelic patients and a trial of folic
acid could be used to distinguish between histapenics and histadelics. In
extreme cases, folic acid in food or in multivitamins is enough to produce
the adverse effects.
GLOSSARY

Complex Carbohydrate Includes indigestible molecules of fiber (e.g., starch
and glycogen). Slowly releases sugar into the bloodstream and also adds the
fiber.

Copper An essential mineral that is a component of several important
enzymes in the body and is essential to good health. Copper is found in all
body tissues. Copper deficiency leads to a variety of abnormalities,
including anemia, skeletal defects, degeneration of the nervous system,
reproductive failure, pronounced cardiovascular lesions, elevated blood
cholesterol, impaired immunity and defects in the pigmentation and structure
of hair. Copper is involved in iron incorporation into hemoglobin. It is
also involved with vitamin C in the formation of collagen and the proper
functioning in central nervous system. More than a dozen enzymes have been
found to contain copper. The best studied are superoxide dismutase (SOD),
cytochrome C oxidase, catalase, dopamine hydroxylase, uricase, tryptophan
dioxygenase, lecithinase and other monoamine and diamine oxidases.

Enzymes Specific protein catalysts produced by the cells that are crucial
in chemical reactions and in building up or synthesizing most compounds in
the body. Each enzyme performs a specific function without itself being
consumed. For example, the digestive enzyme amylase acts on carbohydrates in
foods to break them down.

Folic Acid A B-complex vitamin that functions along with vitamin B-12 and
vitamin C in the utilization of proteins. It has an essential role in the
formation of heme (the iron containing protein in hemoglobin necessary for
the formation of red blood cells) and DNA. Folic acid is essential during
pregnancy to prevent neural tubular defects in the developing fetus.

Histamine A chemical in the body tissues, produced by the breakdown of
histidine. It is released in allergic reactions and causes widening of
capillaries, decreased blood pressure, increased release of gastric juice,
fluid leakage forming itchy skin and hives, and tightening of smooth muscles
of the bronchial tube and uterus.

Histidine An amino acid. Precursor to histamine, a vasodilator and gastric
juice stimulant. Has been used as a therapeutic aid for arthritis.

Metabolism The chemical processes of living cells in which energy is
produced in order to replace and repair tissues and maintain a healthy body.
Responsible for the production of energy, biosynthesis of important
substances, and degradation of various compounds.

Methionine Essential amino acid. Dietary source of sulfur and methyl
groups. Important for proper growth in infants, nitrogen balance in adults,
healthy nails and skin and the synthesis of taurine, cysteine,
phosphatidylcholine (lecithin), bile, carnitine and endorphins. It is an
antioxidant nutrient and lipotropic agent which promotes the physiological
utilization of fat.

Protein Compounds composed of hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen present in the
body and in foods that form complex combinations of amino acids. Protein is
essential for life and is used for growth and repair. Foods that supply the
body with protein include animal products, grains, legumes, and vegetables.
Proteins from animal sources contain the essential amino acids. Proteins are
changed to amino acids in the body.

Serum The cell-free fluid of the bloodstream. It appears in a test tube
after the blood clots and is often used in expressions relating to the
levels of certain compounds in the blood stream.


She would be better than me in answering your question about using L-histidine as a supplement. I recently saw an ad for a new Mannatech product (herbs and vitamins) that is supposed to improve your breathing and thus help you get a better night's sleep. It is called Manna-C. The advertisement mentioned that vitamin C, peppermint, methionine, calcium lactate, zinc, and manganese help reduce histamine.



Antihistamines mediate immune response. Your symptoms overlap mine and may be an indication of an out of balance immune system. There is a new treatment for this; visit marshallprotocol.com to read about it and see if the approach might work for you.


Thanks for answering. I read through the marshall protocol and I can't tell yet if it fits me. I am hoping it doesn't since the Tennessee doctors will not go past the norm in the way of testing and I can't go far because of insomnia. Can you elaborate more on how your symptoms are like mine and tell me if you are using that protocol? I have found sunlight in my eyes to be a great help for the insomnia, when it is possible to be helped, for example if my gut is not acting up so bad that it would keep a brass monkey awake. I am going to try to read more on that web site and see if I can figure out if it might help me. It is hard for me to understand since part of it looks like I would need a little more medical background to figure it out. I am even having a hard time remembering the things that I do get. Thanks for your help.


A defining measurement for whether the MP might help you is your vitamin D ratio. That test, as described at the MP site, is one I'd strongly recommend you have done.

As you probably know, vitamin D is called the "sunshine vitamin". Your reaction to light is further indication abnormal vitamin D levels may be involved.

I had high mercury too, and still have significant digestion problems and pain that, prior to the MP, no doctor was able to explain or treat.

I found that steroids helped reduce my symptoms tremendously, but later learned why: steroid suppress the immune response. Antihistamines, like you are trying, also mediate immune response. So that's another way we are similar.

According to the MP, this is all due to an infection that causes our immune systems to overreact and create excess inflammation. Due to the nature of the infection, our bodies needs help from meds to be cured.

I have the abnormal vitamin D ratio, and I'm trying the MP now, but am in the early phases, so do not yet know if it will be successful for me.