Natural antihistamine
Do you suffer from allergies? Can you not get away from that runny nose, watery eyes, and the endless sneezes that overcome you during allergy season or in your everyday life? Common allergens include pollen and pet dander, dust, certain foods, drugs, bee stings, mold spores, and plants (grass, weeds, and trees). Natural antihistamine is an alternative treatment to block the response of histamine, and in addition, improve the immune system response.
What is Histamine?
Histamine is a naturally occurring amine involved in the immune response and also helps to regulate the physiological function of the gut, acting as a neurotransmitter. An allergic reaction is a common immune response in many people. Histamine triggers this inflammatory response in an effort to fight off foreign invaders. In this case, the foreign invaders are allergens. The inflammatory response allows the area to have more blood flow, and therefore, an influx of more white blood cells that can fight off an infection. This increased vascular permeability causes fluid to escape from nearby tissues, which causes an outflow of fluids: hence the watery eyes and runny nose that are so common with allergies. Sneezing can also result from histamine-associated sensory neural stimulation.
Nutrients with Antihistamine
Antihistamine, which works against histamine and its reactions, is found naturally in some nutrients. Mainly, these are vitamins, minerals, flavonols, and enzymes. Vitamin C, vitamin A, magnesium, calcium, selenium, carotenoids, quercetin, bromelain, pycnogenol, and L-histadine are all among these. Many of these nutrients have antioxidant properties—which means that they fight off damaging free radicals—which boosts their effect of fighting against histamine; antioxidants can strengthen the immune system and stave off allergic reactions. Complementary to these nutrients, they can often be found in foods, thus making said foods good sources of natural antihistamine properties.
- Vitamin C is abundant in citrus fruits, strawberries, guava, pineapple, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, red cabbage, cauliflower, and cayenne pepper. It is a well known antioxidant.
- Vitamin A is produced in the body from the plant pigment called carotenoid. These too have strong antioxidant properties. Carotenoids are rich in carrots, green leafy vegetables, mango, and tomatoes.
- Quercetin and pycnogenol are found in flowers, fruits, and vegetables. They reduce the instances of flare-ups caused by allergies. Quercetin can be found in citrus fruits, broccoli, berries, onions, garlic, and apples. Pycnogenol is found in the French maritime pine.
- Bromelain has anti-inflammatory properties and ensures proper absorption of quercetin and pycnogenol. It can be found in pineapple.
- Magnesium, selenium, and calcium are among the minerals that can work to promote antihistamine actions.
- L-histadine is an amino acid whose secretion takes priority over the secretion of histamine.
Histamine in Herbs
Herbs have been used for centuries as a natural cure to alleviate symptoms of common health conditions. One of these conditions is an inflammation response involving histamine. The herbs known to help with those are natural antihistamines. They are often enriched with special compounds that reduce the secretion of histamine, or they contain them naturally. Either way, allergic reactions are lessened or eliminated, depending on how bad the allergies are. Green tea, stinging nettle, licorice root, butterbur, chamomile, ginger, thyme, basil, Gingko biloba, fennel, and garlic are all included in this herb category.
Including Foods with Antihistamine
All of the above listed antihistamines not only control an allergic flare-up in the short term, but they are meant to deter any potential flare-ups in the future. Including these foods, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals in your diet every day is a way to ensure that you will be getting all the natural antihistamines that you can. If you aren’t getting enough, then a supplement might be your best option. Talk with your healthcare provider about what is best for you.
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