Post by poodlebell on Jul 23, 2013 16:53:19 GMT
A good one to start off with
Herbal Medicines to Reduce the Excitatory Effect of Histamine and Treat Allergic Conditions.
First published in the Positive Health Magazine
Histamine: What is it and what effects does it have?
What is histamine?
Histamine is an excitatory neuro-transmitter which is made from the amino acid histidine.1 Extensive research has shown that 'histamine is a major mediator of allergic inflammation' and plays a key role in inflammatory diseases.2
The presence of histamine
Histamine was first thought only to be present in mast cells but modern research has proven that many other cells also produce histamine to varying degrees. These include white blood cells such as basophils, platelets, certain types of gastric cells and neurons.2 Furthermore, histamine has been found to be present in all tissues of the body. 3
Different histamine producing cells play a role in different conditions. Mast cells have been found to be the main sources of histamine in the blood and the respiratory system. However, in asthma it is believed that basophils also contribute to the presence of histamine in the airways.2 This seems to be the consensus in other types of allergic inflammation and not just asthma.2 In relation to gastrointestinal disease, it has been found that mast cells play a major role in both functional (irritable bowel syndrome) and inflammatory bowel disease.4
What are the effects of histamine?
Histamine exhibits a vide range of effects on the body. Its effects vary depending on the receptor sites involved, but for the purpose of this article the generalised effects of histamine will be mentioned in order to keep it simple.
Histamine has been found to:
. Stimulate acid secretion from the stomach.3
. Stimulate the smooth muscles of the respiratory system.3
. Cause vasodilation.3
. Stimulate the heart to contract.3
. Stimulates the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal system by exciting the nerves that supply this system.4
. Promotes wakefulness. Researchers have found that histamine promotes wakefulness by stimulating the basal forebrain.5
. Induce an inflammatory response.6
Histamine has also been found to causes blood pressure to fall and stay low for as long as it is around.3
Further more, it is thought that histamine plays a major role in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This is believed to be due to a hypersensitivity to the immune suppressing effects of histamine. Much of the symptromatology of this condition can be explained by this hypersensitivity, which can sometimes cause permanent changes in cell membranes.7
The histamine/stress connection
It has been shown that mast cells are activated by stressors. These stressors can either be emotional, physical or environmental.8 Once activated they release an array of over 50 potent molecules, including histamine, which cause or further aggravate inflammation; among these molecules are cytokines.6 Cytokines are proteins that either stimulate of inhibit immune cells.9
These chemicals play a major role in the development of chronic inflammatory diseases. Some of these diseases include psoriasis, alopecia areata, acne vulgaris, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), to name but a few. In fact acute stress has been found to increase the histamine levels of mast cells in the colon resulting in functional disturbances of the gastrointestinal system.8
The Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system consists of two main subdivisions, the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.1 The sympathetic division is further divided into alpha sympathetic (αΣ) and beta sympathetic (βΣ). αΣ activity relates to stress, so stress/stressors increase the activity of this subdivision. βΣ activity is related to the part of the autonomic nervous system that produces cortisol (a potent anti-inflammatory hormone produced by the adrenal glands). Simply put the βΣ system is the release mechanism of the body. It is the way the body adapts to stress. The parasympathetic (PΣ) division, among other activities increases the secretions of fluids and in this context is a congestive system.
As we have seen above, mast cells and to some degree other cells are activated by stress/stressors and histamine is released.8 It is thought that histamine not only goes on to affect the body directly, but also prolongs the life of αΣ activity, so a positive feedback cycle occurs. In this way, a viscous stress induced histamine cycle is put into motion.6 In addition to prolonging αΣ activity; histamine has a blocking effect on βΣ activity, so suppressing the action of the adrenal glands and the production of cortisol. (Figure 1).10
poodlebell
Herbal Medicines to Reduce the Excitatory Effect of Histamine and Treat Allergic Conditions.
First published in the Positive Health Magazine
Histamine: What is it and what effects does it have?
What is histamine?
Histamine is an excitatory neuro-transmitter which is made from the amino acid histidine.1 Extensive research has shown that 'histamine is a major mediator of allergic inflammation' and plays a key role in inflammatory diseases.2
The presence of histamine
Histamine was first thought only to be present in mast cells but modern research has proven that many other cells also produce histamine to varying degrees. These include white blood cells such as basophils, platelets, certain types of gastric cells and neurons.2 Furthermore, histamine has been found to be present in all tissues of the body. 3
Different histamine producing cells play a role in different conditions. Mast cells have been found to be the main sources of histamine in the blood and the respiratory system. However, in asthma it is believed that basophils also contribute to the presence of histamine in the airways.2 This seems to be the consensus in other types of allergic inflammation and not just asthma.2 In relation to gastrointestinal disease, it has been found that mast cells play a major role in both functional (irritable bowel syndrome) and inflammatory bowel disease.4
What are the effects of histamine?
Histamine exhibits a vide range of effects on the body. Its effects vary depending on the receptor sites involved, but for the purpose of this article the generalised effects of histamine will be mentioned in order to keep it simple.
Histamine has been found to:
. Stimulate acid secretion from the stomach.3
. Stimulate the smooth muscles of the respiratory system.3
. Cause vasodilation.3
. Stimulate the heart to contract.3
. Stimulates the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal system by exciting the nerves that supply this system.4
. Promotes wakefulness. Researchers have found that histamine promotes wakefulness by stimulating the basal forebrain.5
. Induce an inflammatory response.6
Histamine has also been found to causes blood pressure to fall and stay low for as long as it is around.3
Further more, it is thought that histamine plays a major role in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This is believed to be due to a hypersensitivity to the immune suppressing effects of histamine. Much of the symptromatology of this condition can be explained by this hypersensitivity, which can sometimes cause permanent changes in cell membranes.7
The histamine/stress connection
It has been shown that mast cells are activated by stressors. These stressors can either be emotional, physical or environmental.8 Once activated they release an array of over 50 potent molecules, including histamine, which cause or further aggravate inflammation; among these molecules are cytokines.6 Cytokines are proteins that either stimulate of inhibit immune cells.9
These chemicals play a major role in the development of chronic inflammatory diseases. Some of these diseases include psoriasis, alopecia areata, acne vulgaris, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), to name but a few. In fact acute stress has been found to increase the histamine levels of mast cells in the colon resulting in functional disturbances of the gastrointestinal system.8
The Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system consists of two main subdivisions, the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.1 The sympathetic division is further divided into alpha sympathetic (αΣ) and beta sympathetic (βΣ). αΣ activity relates to stress, so stress/stressors increase the activity of this subdivision. βΣ activity is related to the part of the autonomic nervous system that produces cortisol (a potent anti-inflammatory hormone produced by the adrenal glands). Simply put the βΣ system is the release mechanism of the body. It is the way the body adapts to stress. The parasympathetic (PΣ) division, among other activities increases the secretions of fluids and in this context is a congestive system.
As we have seen above, mast cells and to some degree other cells are activated by stress/stressors and histamine is released.8 It is thought that histamine not only goes on to affect the body directly, but also prolongs the life of αΣ activity, so a positive feedback cycle occurs. In this way, a viscous stress induced histamine cycle is put into motion.6 In addition to prolonging αΣ activity; histamine has a blocking effect on βΣ activity, so suppressing the action of the adrenal glands and the production of cortisol. (Figure 1).10
poodlebell