It's that time of the year! The warmth of spring is welcoming trees to bud & bloom, bulbs are stirring under softened soil, and the desert winds are laced with pollen from faraway lands. At the apothecary, we are graced with helping our community address everyday ailments and this time of year, we are no stranger to histamine issues and seasonal allergies.
This blog post is going to walk you through a layered, holistic approach to addressing allergies and histamine dysregulation. We’ll talk about gut health, food intolerances, herbs that support the immune system and nervous system, and also explore how our environment and emotions might be influencing our sensitivity to the world around us.
Why Are We Seeing More Histamine Issues?
Lately, I’ve noticed a wave of people coming into my practice with deep histamine dysregulation. This isn’t just classic spring sneezing — it’s systemic, chronic issues: histamine intolerance and even mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). And I’ve started to notice a pattern among these clients.
They tend to be:
- Overachievers, people pleasers, type A "doers"
- Highly sensitive (emotionally and physically)
- On restrictive diets, taking lots of supplements
- Trying really hard to “do everything right”
Sound familiar?
These folks are often already working so hard on their health. But their bodies are still reacting — and sometimes, it’s the nervous system, gut, and immune system that need deeper support.
Understanding Histamine & Allergies
At its core, an allergic reaction is an overreaction of the immune system — an inflammatory response to something that isn’t truly dangerous. Histamine is the chemical messenger that gets released, causing symptoms like itching, sneezing, congestion, and even fatigue or skin rashes.
But here’s the thing: histamine isn’t the enemy. It plays an important role in immune function, digestion, and even brain health. The goal isn’t to get rid of histamine — it’s to help the body regulate it more effectively.
And that often starts in the gut.
The Gut–Histamine Connection
One of my teachers, herbalist Paul Bergner, says that seasonal allergies are the sea foam on top of deeper systemic food allergies. And that sea foam is a message from the body.
Why? Because leaky gut (aka increased gut permeability) allows undigested food particles and pathogens to enter the bloodstream, triggering an immune response — and eventually leading to sensitivities, chronic inflammation, and histamine overload.
But there’s more to the story.
Inside the gut, we rely on certain enzymes and microbial allies to break down histamine effectively — especially the DAO enzyme (diamine oxidase). DAO is crucial for breaking down histamine from the foods we eat. When DAO is functioning well, histamine is processed smoothly and doesn't build up.
Here’s where things get tricky:
- If you have an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, or even a lack of beneficial bacteria, your DAO enzyme activity can be compromised.
- Some "bad" bacteria can even produce histamine themselves, adding fuel to the fire.
- A weakened or inflamed gut lining further reduces DAO production, creating a vicious cycle of histamine accumulation.
This is one reason why histamine intolerance can show up alongside other gut issues — it’s not just about what you’re eating, but how well your body can process and clear histamine.
So when we talk about healing the gut to reduce allergies, we’re not just talking about food sensitivity — we’re talking about restoring microbial balance, repairing the gut lining, and supporting your body’s natural ability to manage histamine internally.
The Problem with Elimination Diets Alone
Many people turn to elimination diets like Whole30 or Paleo hoping to “heal their gut.” But often, they just end up with a shorter and shorter list of foods they can tolerate.
Why? Because they’re removing foods without repairing the gut lining. And if the gut remains leaky, your immune system continues to freak out — even over “safe” healthy foods.
So yes, removing irritants like gluten or dairy can be helpful, especially temporarily during allergy season. But that must be paired with gut healing support to be effective.
Foundational Gut Healing Herbs
Here’s where herbs shine.
To truly support gut lining repair, we want to use formulas that include:
- Demulcent herbs: soothe and coat the gut lining (e.g., marshmallow root, licorice, slippery elm
- Vulnerary herbs: promote tissue healing and regeneration (e.g., calendula, plantain)
- Carminative herbs: ease gas, bloating, and support digestion (e.g., fennel, peppermint, chamomile)
At Dancing Willow Herbs, our Digestive Repair Powder blends many of these herbs together. It is one of my absolute favorite formulas at the shop because I have seen it be supportive for so many individuals at helping to repair extreme inflammation, ulceration and digestive symptoms. This formula is a powder, so the best way to take it is by adding it to warm water and drinking it all down, but you can also add to applesauce or smoothies.
Colostrum & Microbiome Support
Another tool I love is colostrum — a deeply nourishing, immune-modulating superfood that helps:
- Reduce inflammation in the gut
- Lower IgG allergen responses
- Support beneficial bacteria in the microbiome
Colostrum can be a supportive tool if microbial imbalance is related to your histamine dysregulation. The brand that I have recommended to clients is Cowboy Colostrum. Saccharomyces boulardii is another supportive supplement for helping to reduce pathogenic bacteria and improve beneficial bacteria in the gut. It is a probiotic yeast that is really well tolerated and generally beneficial for most people.
If you are dealing with more complex gut imbalances, it may be helpful to work with a practitioner who can run GI Map stool tests and create a customized plan based on your unique results.
Antihistamines, Flavonoids, Immunomodulators, Oh My!
Let’s talk herbal allies! These are herbs that can help to reduce an overactive histamine response- either by having direct antihistamine activity, stabilizing mast cells, or helping to modulate the immune response.
Herbal antihistamine:
- Nettle- my favorite go to that directly inhibits the release of histamine from mast cells, is nourishing/nutritive, helps to promote detoxification by providing the body with vitamin/mineral co-factors that improve liver function
Herbal flavonoids:
- Elderberry – rich in bioflavonoids, stabilizes mast cells, regulates the immune response, recommend Elderberry Syrup 1 tbsp up to 3-5x daily during acute allergies
- Rosehips – high in vitamin C and antioxidant support
- Quercetin – a powerful flavonoid that can be taken as a supplement
Herbal Immunomodulators:
-
Medicinal mushrooms- helps to train the immune system to distinguish when it is a proper time to rally a response & when it is not, supportive for overactive immune activity (as is the case with allergies), our Mindful Mushroom Mix or Reishi Vitality
Spring Tonic Herbs:
- Dandelion, chickweed, cleavers, violet, burdock – spring tonics that gently nourish detox pathways to help the body process excess histamines, our Cleansing Blend Tea features many of these nourishing spring herbs for gentle cleansing
Acute Allergy Support (When Symptoms Hit)
While root cause healing is essential, sometimes we need symptom relief — and fast.
Here are some herbal allies and strategies for acute support:
- Yerba Santa + Yerba Mansa: powerful decongestants that help move boggy, stagnant mucus
- Eyebright: wonderful for red, itchy allergy eyes (also supports liver via TCM connection)
- Thyme, rosemary, oregano: aromatic kitchen herbs that work beautifully in teas and respiratory steams, or try our Steam Inhalation Treatment
- Fire cider: pungent, warming, decongesting
Our Famous Aller Relief:
Our Aller Relief formula is legendary within our community and has helped so many people! This tincture contains:
- Nettle- antihistamine
- Eyebright- to help with itchy, red eye symptoms
- Yerba Santa- decongestant
- Yerba Mansa- decongestant
- Oregon grape- helps support liver detoxification & GI balance
We recommend a higher dose during acute allergy symptoms: 3-4 full droppers, 4-5x daily until symptoms subside. Then a maintenance dose may be required of 1-2 full droppers, 2-3x daily.
The Emotional Layer of Histamine Sensitivity
Something I find again and again in my practice: people dealing with histamine issues often feel emotionally and energetically overloaded.
Our environments are full of sensory stimulation — lights, sounds, screens, smells. And for sensitive bodies, it can become too much.
Your body’s inability to process physical allergens may mirror your emotional capacity. Building resilience is about more than herbs — it's about rest, nourishment, boundaries, and connection.
- Are you eating enough?
- Are you over-stimulated?
- Are you giving yourself grace?
Sometimes healing means mothering or fathering yourself through gentle, loving care.
In Summary: Your Seasonal Allergy Protocol
1. Heal the Gut
- Demulcent + vulnerary herbal teas like Digestive Repair Powder or Tummy Tea, daily
- Avoid known irritants (dairy/gluten) temporarily
- Add colostrum & saccharomyces boulardii
2. Stabilize Histamine & Immune Response
- Aller Relief formula, acute dosage
- Elderberry syrup or quercetin
- Immmunomodulators like medicinal mushrooms
4. Manage Acute Symptoms When Needed
I hope this gives you a deeper understanding of how to work with your body — not just mask symptoms, but really build resilience from the roots. These herbal strategies, gut repair tools, and nourishing rhythms can help you experience the beauty of spring — without all the discomfort.
Soaking up the beginning of spring,
Elliott