Histamine & Headaches: How histamine can trigger migraines
Are you wondering how histamine is related to migraines and headaches?
Histamine is a biogenic amine in the body that is involved in the immune response as well as the regulation of various physiological processes. It is also found in various foods, such as fermented products, aged cheese, or red wine. Histamine is released by the body's mast cells and is involved in intolerance reactions ranging from redness to allergic shock.
In those affected by histamine intolerance, the body's ability to break down histamine appropriately is impaired. This can lead to an increase in the concentration of histamine in the body, which in turn can cause various symptoms such as gastrointestinal complaints, a runny nose, and fatigue.
However, excessive amounts of histamine can cause illness in anyone. Everyone has an individual tolerance threshold here. In the case of histamine intolerance, this threshold is simply lower.
Headaches and migraines are also among the common symptoms of histamine intolerance. The exact link between elevated histamine levels and headaches is complex and varies from person to person.
It is certain that histamine can dilate blood vessels by releasing nitric oxide. This can lead to headaches due to the dilation of blood vessels in the brain. Migraine attacks could be triggered by the release of histamine and other substances from mast cells.
The different faces of headaches: From migraines to tension headaches
The symptom pattern depends on the type of headache you are suffering from. The most common types of headache are migraines, tension headaches, and cluster headaches. They can even occur in combination.
The nature of the pain ranges from pulsating to pressing/pulling to tearing/stabbing, and the intensity can also vary. The pain can be one-sided, but it can also affect the entire head.
To distinguish between them:
- Tension headache: mostly episodic, attacks vary in duration and frequency, mild to moderate headaches without accompanying symptoms, possibly aching head and neck muscles
- Cluster headache: one-sided, attack-like headaches, usually of short duration and recurring very frequently, but sometimes also absent for longer periods
- Migraine: mostly episodic, moderate or severe headaches, attacks lasting 4–72 hours, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, aura, and/or sensitivity to light or sound, but sometimes also without accompanying symptoms
Red wine and migraines: Histamine as the prime suspect
It is not just alcohol itself that plays a major role when it comes to headaches. What else could be behind it?
The keyword here is also: histamine. Along with other biogenic amines like phenylethylamine and tyramine, histamine is a frequent trigger for headaches in connection with alcohol. Often, there is also a connection between histaminosis, leaky gut syndrome, and a Helicobacter pylori infection, a combination that promotes headaches.
Red wine, like champagne or sparkling wine, is classified as level 3—the highest level of histamine-containing foods—according to the SIGHI list (list of the Swiss Interest Group for Histamine Intolerance). Consuming red wine, for example, leads to a histamine excess in the body.
If this excess is then difficult to break down, histamine-related complaints such as headaches and migraines occur because blood vessels in the brain areas that supply the meninges are dilated.
If you know that a meal contains more histamine, our DaoFit can be easily integrated into your everyday life. It contains vegan DAO from pea sprouts with 100,000 HDU per capsule and is supplemented by natural vitamin C from acerola and quercetin. DaoFit is taken approximately 15 minutes before a meal.
Lieferzeit: 2-3 Tage
The morning after: Hangovers, headaches, and histamine
Why do we get a pounding head from too much alcohol? It's simple: dehydration is the reason, because alcohol deprives your body of huge amounts of electrolytes like sodium and water. The release of the hormone vasopressin is inhibited by the dilation of blood vessels in the brain in order to regulate the fluid balance.
This causes the human body to lose more fluid than is normally the case. Due to dehydration over the following hours, cramp-like pain occurs in the head as the blood vessels in the brain region constrict. Another factor is the overloaded liver, which has to do heavy work during alcohol breakdown, thereby intensifying hangover symptoms. Through sweat loss, the body loses even more fluid.
Furthermore, alcohol is converted by the body into the cellular toxin acetaldehyde. Particularly when consuming red wine or whiskey, toxic waste products are created through the conversion of the contained isobutanol and methanol.
Alcohol in combination with stuffy, smoky rooms or nicotine consumption itself increases headaches because the brain perceives oxygen deficiency as an alarm state. Mixed drinks and cocktails also encourage a hangover, as the sugar they contain ensures that the alcohol reaches the blood faster and its effects are felt even sooner.
Natural defense: Diet and lifestyle against histamine headaches
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 400 mg/day
- Magnesium: 300 mg/day
- Alpha-lipoic acid: 600 mg/day
- Coenzyme Q10: 300 mg/day
- Feverfew: Dosage varies depending on the product
Magnesium is also one of the important minerals and should be consumed in sufficient quantities through a balanced diet. Our MagnesiumFit combines three organic magnesium compounds for this purpose: magnesium bisglycinate, magnesium gluconate, and magnesium malate. Among other things, magnesium contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system and muscles as well as to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. MagnesiumFit is vegan and suitable for a low-histamine, low-fructose, gluten-free, and lactose-free diet.
Low-histamine diet: What is safe, what should be avoided?
Myths and facts: Histamine intolerance and headaches demystified
That is false. In fact, histaminosis can cause a wide variety of complaints, and headaches and migraines can be severe symptoms of this intolerance.
Myth #2: With histamine intolerance, high-histamine foods must be strictly avoided.
That tends to be true. However, every one of us has an individual tolerance for histamine. Not everyone affected has to strictly adhere to a low-histamine diet, as some foods are well tolerated. After your diagnosis, it is definitely important that you avoid high-histamine foods for a while to calm your body. Once you have addressed the causes, you can slowly and carefully start testing certain foods again.
Nutritional counseling can also help you to better tailor your diet to your body.
Myth #3: Every headache can be traced back to histamine.
No. It is important to emphasize that not every headache is due to histamine intolerance. There are different types of headaches with very different causes. The diagnosis should therefore be made by a doctor to rule out other possible reasons.
Should there be a suspicion of histamine intolerance, it is definitely advisable to keep a food diary to identify your triggers.
Myth #4: Histamine intolerance is just a trend.
No, histaminosis is not a rare trend and can now also be diagnosed with tests. Many people suffer from this disorder and its diverse symptoms. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of this intolerance is crucial to help those affected achieve fewer symptoms and more well-being.
Expert advice: Dealing with migraines in a histamine-rich world
- avoid external triggers like noise, smoke, exhaust fumes, and unpleasant light
- distraction and thus also activation of pain-associated brain areas
- exercise that is not strenuous and does not raise blood pressure
- relaxing baths or a hot shower
- application of various oils like peppermint, lavender, or CBD oil
- ginger for nausea
- mental imagery to influence the perception of pain
- carbohydrates like sugar (preferably in the form of fruit sugar)
- massages and relaxation exercises in the temple and neck area
- drink plenty of fluids and consume electrolytes
- sleep is not the best medicine for nothing: sleep relaxes and, in the best case, reduces pain
- warmth in the neck in the form of hot water bottles or cherry pit pillows
- cooling the face can help just as much as warmth
Conclusion
Headaches and migraines are closely related to histamine. If you have a histamine intolerance, you should avoid alcohol if possible. If symptoms occur, the tips mentioned and a low-histamine diet can be helpful. Always take care to strengthen your mental health and avoid stressors to prevent histamine headaches.
Sources
- What are real headache triggers
- Dietary trigger factors in migraines and headaches
- Food allergies can trigger migraines
- Ascending Liver-Yang in the form of migraines
- Histamine – unknown trigger for headaches
- Why alcohol triggers headaches
- Histamine intolerance and alcohol
- 20 home remedies for migraines
- Histamine intolerance
- Too much histamine can trigger migraines
- Medical classification of headache types
- SIGHI list
- Causes of migraines
