Histapenia, is characterized by elevated levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, low whole blood histamine, and low absolute basophils. This population is characterized by the following typical symptoms: Absence of seasonal, inhalent allergies, but a multitude of chemical or food sensitivities, high anxiety which is evident to all, low libido, obsessions but not compulsions, tendency for paranoia and auditory hallucinations, underachievement as a child, heavy body hair, hyperactivity, “nervous” legs, and grandiosity.
The treatment program consists of the administration of zinc, manganese, vitamin C, niacin, vitamin B12, and folic acid. With this treatment the high blood copper is slowly reduced and symptoms are slowly relieved in several months’ time.
Serum copper levels in these patients are abnormally high. Since copper is a brain stimulant and destroys histamine, the elevated serum (and presumably brain) copper level probably accounts for many symptoms, including the low blood histamine level. This is also called a condition of overmethylation or being over-methylated.Behavioral symptoms in high-copper histapenia include paranoia and hallucinations in younger patients, but depression may predominate in older patients. The patient is usually classified as having chronic or process schizophrenia. Some studies of schizophrenics have revealed high blood copper, as seen in histadelia, with low urinary copper (showing that copper is being retained) as well as low blood zinc.
Signs, symptoms & indicators of Histapenia (Histamine Low)
Helped by benzodiazapines
Good pain tolerance
Counter Indicators
Poor pain tolerance
High body hair quantity
Hyperactivity
Not having headaches
Headaches are usually not experienced by those with low histamine levels (histapenia).
Being a sociable person
An overstimulated mind
Difficulty achieving orgasm
Conditions that suggest Histapenia (Histamine Low)
Allergy / Intolerance to Foods (Hidden)
Although hay fever type allergies are reduced or absent in those with low histamine, food allergies are present more frequently.
Counter Indicators
Histapenia
Counter Indicators
Histadelia
Bipolar Disorder, Manic-Depressive
About 25% of bipolar patients have low histamine levels.
Schizophrenia
Histapenia is a shortage of histamine in the body. Histamine is an important brain chemical involved in many reactions. Elevated copper decreases blood histamine. Excess copper is linked with psychosis.
Dopamine appears to be a factor in producing hallucinations, voices and other symptoms associated with schizophrenia. Those with histapenia may have elevated dopamine levels.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Histapenia tends to cause obsessions but not compulsions.
Risk factors for Histapenia (Histamine Low)
(Severe) childhood hyperactivity
Low histamine children are hyperactive while often healthy in other respects.
Possible histadelia
Worse by SAMe use
Feel worse with antihistamine
No history of adult allergies
Seasonal and inhalant allergies are generally not experienced by those with low histamine levels (histapenia).
Histapenia (Histamine Low) can lead to
Recommendations for Histapenia (Histamine Low)
Methionine
One thing that is absolutely certain is that methionine and/or SAMe usually harm low-histamine (overmethylated persons)….. But are wonderful for high-histamine (undermethylated) persons. The reverse in true for histadelic (undermethylated) persons, who thrive on methionine, SAMe, Ca and Mg….. But get much worse if they take folates & B-12 which can increase methyl trapping. [Willam Walsh, Ph.D., past senior scientist, Pfeiffer Treatment Center www.hriptc.org]
Manganese
Copper levels are usually elevated in patients with histapenia. Manganese and zinc supplementation increase copper excretion.
Copper
Excess copper may be acquired from commercial vitamins and minerals or drinking water flowing through copper pipes. Distilled water may occasionally be needed to reduce copper intake.
Inositol
Be alert for adverse side effects, should a low histamine (overmethylated) person with severe anxiety or panic symptoms be given inositol.
TMG (Tri-methyl-glycine) / SAMe
DMG and TMG (dimethyl and trimethylglycine) or SAMe may cause adverse reactions in some.
Vitamin Folic Acid
The rationale underlying this treatment is that folic acid in conjunction with vitamin B12 injections raises the blood histamine while lowering the degree of symptoms.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
One simple test you can do yourself is to get some nicotinic acid in a 50mg dose. Nicotinic acid is the flush producing niacin. If you have a flush from one dose of 50mg of nicotinic acid (taken on any empty stomach) then you have histamine levels.
A low histamine person would probably require a dose of about 250mg of nicotinic acid to have that flush. If no flush from 50mg of nicotinic acid then you might try 100mg dose to double check this. If that doesn’t work you might try once more a total of 200mg or 250mg of nicotinic acid just to make sure that you do in fact have low histamine levels and that supplement is the kind to cause a flush.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Zinc and manganese with vitamin C remove copper from the tissues. Copper destroys histamine and therefore as copper levels decrease, histamine levels should return towards normal.
Key
| Weak or unproven link |
| Strong or generally accepted link |
| Proven definite or direct link |
| Strongly counter-indicative |
| Very strongly or absolutely counter-indicative |
| Likely to help |
| Highly recommended |
| May have adverse consequences |
| Reasonably likely to cause problems |
| Avoid absolutely |
Glossary
Serotonin
A phenolic amine neurotransmitter (C10H12N2O) that is a powerful vasoconstrictor and is found especially in the brain, blood serum and gastric membranes of mammals. Considered essential for relaxation, sleep, and concentration.
Dopamine
A neurohormone; precursor to norepinephrine which acts as a stimulant to the nervous system.
Noradrenaline
(Norepinephrine): A catecholamine hormone secreted from the adrenal medulla and post-ganglionic adrenergic fibers in response to hypotension or emotional stress.
Histamine
A chemical in the body tissues, produced by the breakdown of histidine. It is released in allergic reactions and causes widening of capillaries, decreased blood pressure, increased release of gastric juice, fluid leakage forming itchy skin and hives, and tightening of smooth muscles of the bronchial tube and uterus.
Basophil
The basophils account for about 1% of the granulocyte count (60 to 75% of the white blood cells). They release chemicals such as histamine and play a role in the inflammatory response to infection.
Allergy
Hypersensitivity caused by exposure to a particular antigen (allergen), resulting in an increased reactivity to that antigen on subsequent exposure, sometimes with harmful immunologic consequences.
Anxiety
Apprehension of danger, or dread, accompanied by nervous restlessness, tension, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath unrelated to a clearly identifiable stimulus.
Hallucination
A false or distorted perception of objects or events, including sensations of sight, sound, taste, smell or touch, typically accompanied by a powerful belief in their reality.
Zinc
An essential trace mineral. The functions of zinc are enzymatic. There are over 70 metalloenzymes known to require zinc for their functions. The main biochemicals in which zinc has been found to be necessary include: enzymes and enzymatic function, protein synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism. Zinc is a constituent of insulin and male reproductive fluid. Zinc is necessary for the proper metabolism of alcohol, to get rid of the lactic acid that builds up in working muscles and to transfer it to the lungs. Zinc is involved in the health of the immune system, assists vitamin A utilization and is involved in the formation of bone and teeth.
Manganese
An essential mineral found in trace amounts in tissues of the body. Adults normally contain an average of 10 to 20mg of manganese in their bodies, most of which is contained in bone, the liver and the kidneys. Manganese is essential to several critical enzymes necessary for energy production, bone and blood formation, nerve function and protein metabolism. It is involved in the metabolism of fats and glucose, the production of cholesterol and it allows the body to use thiamine and Vitamin E. It is also involved in the building and degrading of proteins and nucleic acid, biogenic amine metabolism, which involves the transmitting of nerve impulses.
Vitamin C
Also known as ascorbic acid, Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant vitamin essential to the body's health. When bound to other nutrients, for example calcium, it would be referred to as "calcium ascorbate". As an antioxidant, it inhibits the formation of nitrosamines (a suspected carcinogen). Vitamin C is important for maintenance of bones, teeth, collagen and blood vessels (capillaries), enhances iron absorption and red blood cell formation, helps in the utilization of carbohydrates and synthesis of fats and proteins, aids in fighting bacterial infections, and interacts with other nutrients. It is present in citrus fruits, tomatoes, berries, potatoes and fresh, green leafy vegetables.
Niacin
(Vitamin B-3): A coenzyme B-complex vitamin that assists in the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Essential for the health of the skin, nerves, tongue and digestive system. It is found in every cell of the body and is necessary for energy production. Niacin is also needed for DNA formation.
Cobalamin
Vitamin B-12. Essential for normal growth and functioning of all body cells, especially those of bone marrow (red blood cell formation), gastrointestinal tract and nervous system, it prevents pernicious anemia and plays a crucial part in the reproduction of every cell of the body i.e. synthesis of genetic material (DNA).
Folic Acid
A B-complex vitamin that functions along with vitamin B-12 and vitamin C in the utilization of proteins. It has an essential role in the formation of heme (the iron containing protein in hemoglobin necessary for the formation of red blood cells) and DNA. Folic acid is essential during pregnancy to prevent neural tubular defects in the developing fetus.
Copper
An essential mineral that is a component of several important enzymes in the body and is essential to good health. Copper is found in all body tissues. Copper deficiency leads to a variety of abnormalities, including anemia, skeletal defects, degeneration of the nervous system, reproductive failure, pronounced cardiovascular lesions, elevated blood cholesterol, impaired immunity and defects in the pigmentation and structure of hair. Copper is involved in iron incorporation into hemoglobin. It is also involved with vitamin C in the formation of collagen and the proper functioning in central nervous system. More than a dozen enzymes have been found to contain copper. The best studied are superoxide dismutase (SOD), cytochrome C oxidase, catalase, dopamine hydroxylase, uricase, tryptophan dioxygenase, lecithinase and other monoamine and diamine oxidases.
Serum
The cell-free fluid of the bloodstream. It appears in a test tube after the blood clots and is often used in expressions relating to the levels of certain compounds in the blood stream.
Chronic
Usually Chronic illness: Illness extending over a long period of time.
Schizophrenia
Any of a group of psychotic disorders usually characterized by withdrawal from reality, illogical patterns of thinking, delusions, and hallucinations, and accompanied in varying degrees by other emotional, behavioral, or intellectual disturbances. Schizophrenia is associated with dopamine imbalances in the brain and defects of the frontal lobe and is caused by genetic, other biological, and psychosocial factors.
Allergic Rhinitis
Also known as hay fever, this is an inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes that is caused by specific allergen(s). It is an allergy characterized by sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, a runny or stuffy nose, coughing and a burning/scratchy sensation of the palate and throat.