Natural treatments

[Lara J C]

What natural treatments, e.g. Supplements, help with food allergy symptoms?

[Dr Janice Joneja]

There are numerous claims that a variety of diverse supplements help with food allergies. And there are many different types of food allergies and intolerances that the supplements are designed to manage. A search on the internet will yield a bewildering array of endorsements and promotions for one or another. Some have evidence-based research to support their efficacy; many do not. Products and reagents range from probiotics, to omega-3 and omega-6 oils, vitamins, minerals, animal and plant extracts, and various organic and inorganic formulations. I sympathise with your question, but it is far too broad a topic for me to provide an answer in this forum. Here we are discussing histamine and histamine sensitivity, so I will confine my answer to that.

Antioxidants such as quercetin and vitamins such as vitamin C have been suggested to be effective in reducing histamine in the inflammatory response that causes the symptoms of allergy. However, there is insufficient good evidence-based research to support the use of these supplements generally.

In my practice I have found that there is a formulation that has worked very well for many of my histamine-sensitive patients, which I am happy to share with you here. It is a simple recipe of alkaline salts comprising two parts of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) with one part of potassium bicarbonate, made as follows:

Mix 2 tablespoons sodium bicarbonate and 1 tablespoon potassium bicarbonate in a small jar
Take 1/2 teaspoon of the mixture in 1/2 cup of warm water

Repeat the formulation after 20 minutes if symptoms have not subsided.
These are natural compounds and quite harmless in the small quantities recommended.