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Histamine Intolerance services offered in Portland, OR
Histamine intolerance occurs when the body accumulates more histamine than it can break down - triggering symptoms that can look like allergies, gut issues, hormonal problems, and anxiety all at once. Naturopathic physicians Rebecca Sand ND and Elizabeth Emrick ND at Open Wellness PDX specialize in identifying and treating histamine intolerance, often in the context of broader immune, gut, and hormonal dysfunction. If you react to wine, aged cheeses, fermented foods, or leftovers - or notice symptoms that worsen around ovulation or before your period - histamine intolerance may be part of your picture. Call the Portland office, request a telehealth visit, or book online.
Histamine Intolerance Q&A
What is histamine intolerance?
Histamine is a chemical messenger involved in immune responses, digestion, and neurotransmitter signaling. Normally, enzymes - primarily diamine oxidase (DAO) and HNMT - break down histamine efficiently. When this system is overwhelmed by high histamine intake, reduced enzyme activity, or increased histamine production, excess histamine accumulates and triggers symptoms throughout the body.
Common symptoms include headaches or migraines, skin flushing, hives or itching, nasal congestion and sneezing or watery eyes, digestive symptoms including bloating, cramping, diarrhea, and nausea, heart palpitations, anxiety and insomnia or irritability, worsening symptoms premenstrually or around ovulation due to estrogen-histamine interactions, and reactions to wine, aged cheese, fermented foods, vinegar, smoked meats, or leftovers.
What causes histamine intolerance?
Histamine intolerance is almost always driven by a combination of factors: high dietary histamine load, impaired DAO enzyme activity caused by gut inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, or certain medications, gut dysbiosis or SIBO which generates excess histamine, and hormonal factors since estrogen stimulates histamine release and also inhibits DAO activity. This is why histamine intolerance so often presents alongside gut conditions, MCAS, and hormonal imbalances.
At Open Wellness PDX, treatment begins with identifying the specific drivers - including gut assessment, nutrient levels, inflammatory markers, and hormone evaluation via DUTCH testing - rather than simply eliminating foods.
How does naturopathic medicine treat histamine intolerance?
A comprehensive plan for histamine intolerance at Open Wellness PDX may include low-histamine nutrition guidance; DAO support and cofactor optimization including vitamin C, B6, copper, and zinc; gut healing to address dysbiosis and intestinal permeability; SIBO treatment when present; estrogen metabolism support; quercetin and other mast cell stabilizing agents; nutrient optimization; and nervous system support. The goal is to restore the body's ability to process histamine normally - so that strict avoidance diets become unnecessary long-term.
To get started, call 503-770-0670, request a telehealth visit, or book online.