High histamine, can’t sleep?

Have allergies (or histamine intolerance, mast cell activation, mastocytosis) and can’t sleep? It’s not just you – a new study reveals that in narcolepsy, a condition that causes excess sleep, extra histamine is produced.

While we’re on the topic of sleep…

CLICK HERE TO CREATE YOUR OWN PERSONALISED HEALING HISTAMINE PLAN.

Here are my top 5 tips for getting a good night’s sleep

1. Try to eat dinner as early as possible.

I’ve found that it takes two to four hours for my body to get the histamine reaction properly going, and around six to eight hours for it to die down again. (And that’s the secret, most reactions will pass if you remain calm and let them wash over you). Having dinner around six to eight pm means that I’m over the worst of it by midnight…

2. Go liquid

As Dr Fuhrman points out in his teachings, liquids are easier to digest, requiring less enzymes, and are easier on the digestive process. I wonder if this means we need less of the enzymes responsible for breaking down histamine (like diamine oxidase), or if less stress on the digestive system means that we need less histamine to get it going? Read all about how digestion itself causes histamine release.

3. Embrace natural antihistamines

Whether you’re currently taking pharmaceutical antihistamines or not, adding some natural antihistamines and anti-inflammatories could help. I often combine points 1, 2 and 3 by making myself an emergency antihistamine juice for dinner.

4. Switch off the electronics

We’ve known for some years that exposure to light impairs the production of the sleep inducing hormone melatonin, but now researchers think that blue light from computer screens and iPads in particular not only disrupts melatonin production, but that it also causes an increase in alertness! So switching off that device not only means more melatonin, it means you’ll be less mentally alert, thereby hopefully heading off any midnight obsessing over issues that need resolving the next day.

5. My top tip – go low histamine, all the time!

Was that high histamine smorgasbord of the last few days really worth a week of insomnia? How about losing all the gains you’ve made these last few months? Eventually my answer was no, and that’s when I healed. Check out the high nutrient low histamine, antihistamine and anti-inflammatory recipes that help me stay meds free.

17 responses to “High histamine, can’t sleep?”

Betty Spitzfaden

June 6, 2013

This is a great help. It has helped my understand my condition and to know that I am not crazy. Well …maybe I am but I have answers now. Thank you so much. BJ
Napoleon

June 6, 2013

So true. For over 10 years I went with only a couple of hours sleep a night. After I was diagnosed with mast cell activation disease and had to alter my diet I found I was sleeping through the night.
thelowhistaminechef

June 6, 2013

Amazing that you managed to deal with it! Congratulations and thanks for taking the time to post.
thelowhistaminechef

June 6, 2013

Lol you’re so very welcome, thank you for reading 🙂
lorilye ann

June 13, 2013

At risk of sounding paranoid I worry about all the wireless waves in the air, especially when I am sleeping. So I try to turn off the wireless router at night. It cant hurt and saves electricity.Also, keeping lights dim before going to sleep keeps your melatonin levels/cycles closer to what they would be naturally as the sun sets. This I know is documented!
thelowhistaminechef

June 25, 2013

You’re right on the money. There are a number of studies supporting this. That said, I’m not willing to part with technology. I do however take care to avoid the computer/devices a few hours before bed time.
But at some point I had to choose to stop obsessing about everything because it was making me miserable. Using meditation to calm myself when getting upset about these things has helped me lead a far more normal life. I do not dispute that these things affect mast cells/our health, I just can’t allow my brain to go into overdrive worrying about things I have minimal control about. At some point I will die. All I can do is live the years I have left to the fullest. That means not stressing 🙂
laura350

October 18, 2013

Thank you so much for this : ) I’ve been researching and working on my middle of the night-early wakings for decades. I was diagnosed with adrenal fatigue two years ago and largely got it under
control with a myriad of brain supportive supplements, lifestyle changes. Lately my sleep has slipped wayyy back. My holistic MD diagnosed me with SEVERE adrenal fatigue and I figured with my regime of adrenal supportive supplements,blood sugar balancing, de-stressing I’d be a happy sleeper. NO. I recall an MD friend casually mentioning to me 2 years ago that “I bet you’re high in
histamine/histadine.” I was. BUT, my adrenal tests showed gluten intolerance so that’s where I focused my food sensitivity. Two+ years later,
after a HORRIFIC night sleep this past Sunday but ZERO gluten ingested, I
researched and found your work. That day I’d eaten a HUGE pre-made salad of
edaname, marinated feta, dried cranberries. That night I had tomatoes, mozzeralla and
my favorite wine, plenty o’ hearty red. Add on the avocado/salsa that week and my usual large glasses of cottage cheese/cocoa protein shakes and my histamine
bucket was LONG overflowing. I eat marinated tofu like it’s popcorn. I spray Braggs aminos on everything. I am clearly a soy-aholic. As a wellness writer and
seeker of mental peace and SLEEP, I can’t thank you ENOUGH for sharing your journey from hell to healing. Years of research, tears and setbacks and total mental
exhaustion, made hopeful by your work. Last night I thought my whey protein drink would be a good blood sugar balancing snack. Oops. Loaded with histadine, fruit enzymes. I was up and itching and miserable. I’m thinking
apple, peanut butter and my two favorite spices in capsules, ginger/turmeric. I also ordered Histame.
Lindsay

November 22, 2013

Great article! How do you find out if you have mast cell activation? Any certain tests? So many foods bother me. I only sleep once or twice a month for 2 hours on a good day.
thelowhistaminechef

November 27, 2013

Thanks! Sorry to hear it 🙁 Yes, many tests: prostaglandin, n-methylhistamine, tryptase are a couple of the basics. Best to consult with an immunologist with a specialty in mast cells.
Cathie Vaillancourt

June 9, 2015

I’ve started to eat anti-histamine diet and have more insomnia since. Is it because my system is not use to this new diet ?
Cathie Vaillancourt

June 9, 2015

I’ve started to eat anti-histamine diet and have more insomnia since. Is it because my system is not use to this new diet ?
thelowhistaminechef

June 9, 2015

Hi love, I would say it’s more likely that something you’re eating is bothering you. Remember, these foods are not guaranteed to have an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effect for everyone. Many of these tests are done in test tubes…humans are different. That’s why I tell people not to just follow what any list tells us. Just figure out what works for you xo
thelowhistaminechef

June 9, 2015

Hi love, I would say it’s more likely that something you’re eating is bothering you. Remember, these foods are not guaranteed to have an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effect for everyone. Many of these tests are done in test tubes…humans are different. That’s why I tell people not to just follow what any list tells us. Just figure out what works for you xo
Becky

February 20, 2016

Thanks for this, I am having such a hard time getting off of benadryl for sleep. Ironically, I am waiting to have a food sensitivity test which I can’t have until I am off the benadryl for 3 days! I am doing a low histamine diet, already do high-dose vitamin C, but I will try some of the anti-histamine juice as well.
Becky

February 20, 2016

Thanks for this, I am having such a hard time getting off of benadryl for sleep. Ironically, I am waiting to have a food sensitivity test which I can’t have until I am off the benadryl for 3 days! I am doing a low histamine diet, already do high-dose vitamin C, but I will try some of the anti-histamine juice as well.
Priscilla

April 16, 2016

Hi Yasmina — Good post, but do you have any additional posts or thoughts on how to Stay asleep? Going to sleep is no problem, but I almost always wake up between 4-5 am and even after laying in bed for hours, can just not get back to sleep. Any thoughts are appreciated!
Priscilla

April 16, 2016

Hi Yasmina — Good post, but do you have any additional posts or thoughts on how to Stay asleep? Going to sleep is no problem, but I almost always wake up between 4-5 am and even after laying in bed for hours, can just not get back to sleep. Any thoughts are appreciated!

Welcome!

Yasmina was an award-winning broadcast journalist with a decade of experience covering war zones for CNN and the BBC. She devoted her journalism skills to researching and writing about histamine. Click here to learn about her. Each post is carefully and fully referenced with the latest scientific research. Not sure where to start? Here’s a four week meal plan and overall Histamine Reset.