Under-methylation/HISTADELIA
Individuals
with high-histamine levels may be due to a metabolic imbalance that results
from under-methylation. As a
consequence, these individuals overproduce and retain excessive levels of
histamine. Histamine is a substance in the body that has wide ranging
effects. There are receptors for
histamine in the brain, stomach, skin, lungs, mucus membranes, blood vessels,
etc. For some individuals, high levels
of blood histamine (called histadelia) have psychological, behavioral, and
cognitive symptoms.
Many patients
with obsessive-compulsive tendencies, "oppositional-defiant
disorder," or seasonal depression are under-methylated, which is
associated with low serotonin levels.
Often with inhalant allergies, frequent headaches, perfectionism,
competitiveness and other distinctive symptoms and traits. Tend to be very low
in calcium, magnesium, methionine, and vitamin B-6 with excessive levels of
folic acid. People with histadelics have a positive effect from SSRIs and other
serotonin-enhancing medications (Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, Effexor, etc.) because
methylation is a step in the manufacture of mood stabilizing
neurotransmitters. Unfortunately,
histadelics often have nasty side effects with these medications.
Histamine
excess can be manifest as asthma, vasomotor rhinitis, allergic skin disorders
with pruritis, excess stomach acid production (acts as a gastric hormone to
stimulate flow of HCl), saliva, tears, and thin nasal and bronchial secretions,
and certain types of vascular headaches.
This is the basis of anti-histamine medications. Excessive histamine results
because of the inadequate methylation in liver detoxification. Histamine opposes adrenalin in its effects
and as expected fatigue occurs just as it occurs in adrenal exhaustion.
Biochemical
treatment revolves around antifolates, especially calcium and methionine. Certain
forms of buffered vitamin C can help by providing calcium and ascorbic
acid. Three to six months of nutrient
therapy are usually needed to correct this chemical imbalance.
As in most biochemical therapies, the symptoms usually return if treatment is
stopped.
Methylation
is involved in DNA synthesis, masking and unmasking of DNA, detoxification, heavy
mental detoxification, nerve myelination, carnitine and coenzyme Q 10
synthesis. The relationship of mood and
behavior to Histadelia is due to the fact that methylation is involved in
neurotransmitter synthesis.
