Natural antihistamines

[gunde]

Here's a list of natural antihistamines I compiled using google. If you think I've missed something then let me know.

quercetin
vitamin c
stinging nettle (http://www.bodyandfitness.com/Informati ... nettle.htm)
ginger (http://www.tamil.net/list/2001-10/msg00637.html)
magnesium (http://www.ctds.info/5_13_magnesium.html)

grape seed extract
pine bark extract

[webslave]

Quercetin is more of a mast cell protector than an antihistamine.

Vitamin C : "blood histamine levels are inversely related to vitamin C levels". (Vitamin C depletion is associated with alterations in blood histamine and plasma free carnitine in adults. Johnston CS, Solomon RE, Corte C. J Am Coll Nutr 1996 Dec;15(6):586-91)

Even better, this study: Antihistamine effect of supplemental ascorbic acid and neutrophil chemotaxis contains the stunning statement:

...histamine levels were depressed 38% following Vit C supplementation.[at 2g a day]

Let me add that when I was sickest with CFS (M.E./Fibromyalgia, Yuppy Flu, call it what you will), just about the only thing that would help me was megadoses of Vitamin C. I used to go occasionally to a MD (real MD) who gave me intravenous infusions of 20 grams of the stuff at a time. I stopped because of worries about osteoporosis (Vit C can leech calcium).

[Richard.N]

I stopped because of worries about osteoporosis (Vit C can leech calcium).

I'm not sure of the mechanics of calcium leaching but you can get vitamin C in a 'true food form' which is apparently more bio-available than ascorbic acid and thus 250mg 'true food' equals 1000mg ascorbic.

'True food' appears to be sustained for longer in the body.

I wonder if this would be better than buffered ascorbic?

[Robalan]

I have another natural anti-histamine:
BEE HONEY (but it HAS to be locally-harvested): this works because the bees produce natural anti-histamines specific to your geographical area and put it into their honey and pollen. If you do a google search, you should find info on this.