Depression and histamine
Depression and anxiety can cause serious problems in an otherwise productive life. These conditions frequently run in families.
Very high blood levels of histamine can significantly increase a person’s risk for depression. Because its origins differ from other forms of depression, high histamine depression may not respond well to the usual depression treatments.
A neurotransmitter in itself, histamine stimulates the release of important mood neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain’s hypothalamus. [1]
The condition of having abnormally high levels of histamine is called ‘histadelia’, or ‘undermethylation’. This condition creates an imbalanced amino acid cycle, resulting in low serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is believed to be responsible for maintaining mood balance. It is thought that a deficiency of serotonin leads to depression.
Many medical practitioners remain ignorant of the histamine-depression link. Michael Lesser, M.D., author of “The Brain Chemistry Plan,” states that few clinical psychiatrists focus on elevated histamine levels as a cause of depression.
Treatment for high-histamine depression
Treatment involves:
- Regularly take the supplements listed in ‘Is Food Making You Sick? The Strictly Low Histamine Diet’, especially vitamin C, which is a potent antihistamine.
- Follow a low histamine diet.
It can take 3-6 months to resolve this chemical imbalance. If treatment is discontinued, symptoms may return.
References:
[1] Causes Of Depression – Histamine Imbalance. by Cindy L. www.holisticdepressionhelp.com
