Histamine is an organic nitrogen compound produced by the body's immune system when a person is exposed to an allergen, meaning a substance causing an allergic reaction. Histaminum hydrochloricum is a kind of histamine used as a homeopathic remedy. It is primarily used to treat various allergies, including those caused by food, insect bites and pollen, and allergy symptoms such as skin irritations, nasal congestion and breathing difficulties. Histaminum hydrochloricum is also sometimes used as a remedy for non-allergic conditions like bronchitis, gastric pain, muscular pain and joint pain. Scientific studies have been done on this homeopathic remedy, but there is no firm evidence supporting its effectiveness.
Histaminum hydrochloricum is commonly sold in the form of tablets, pellets, oral sprays and nasal sprays, and homeopathic practitioners often recommend it as a treatment for problems like asthma, eczema, hay fever, runny nose, hives and itchy eyes. It is used both to alleviate immediate allergy symptoms and to reduce future allergic reactions. In homeopathic medicine it is believed that an illness can be cured by the same substance that causes it, and that ingesting minute amounts of that substance gradually strengthens the body's resistance to it. In this way, histaminum hydrochloricum is thought to work by decreasing the amount of histamine released during an allergic response and thereby reducing the effects of that histamine.
Histaminum hydrochloricum is identical to a substance known as histamine dihydrochloride that is known to have several effects on the body, including stimulating gastric secretion, relaxing blood vessels and narrowing the bronchial airways. It is used in mainstream medicine to treat certain forms of cancer as well as other conditions. As a homeopathic remedy, the substance is used in much smaller doses and is also prepared differently than in regular medicine.
Homeopathic remedies like Histaminum hydrochloricum are produced by diluting the active ingredient with water until the remedy contains a very small, even infinitesimal, amount of the active substance. This is done because homeopathic medicine teaches that the lower the dose, the more effective the remedy. Homeopathic remedies are also shaken during manufacturing, a process called dynamization that is thought to enhance their potency and healing properties.
Histaminum hydrochloricum can be bought in natural food stores, on the Internet and from homeopathic practitioners. Pregnant and nursing women should not take this remedy. If one is suffering from allergies or other medical conditions, it is advisable to consult a physician before using homeopathic remedies.
Understanding Histaminum Hydrochloricum Side Effects and the Food and Drug Administration
While histaminum hydrochloricum might provide some of the relief you seek from common allergic reactions and asthmatic episodes, there is still a possible side effect that you should be aware of before using it as a treatment. Unsubstantiated research shows a link to wheezing when histaminum hydrochloricum is used with belladonna, another homeopathic supplement.
The United States Food and Drug Administration does not test the effectiveness or safety of any product labeled as a homeopathic remedy. Medicines like histaminum hydrochloricum that are marketed as homeopathic typically contain highly diluted amounts of the active ingredients. However, without FDA regulations and oversight, some companies manufacture their products with more measurable amounts. When this occurs, it can trigger unexpected, and sometimes life-threatening, reactions.
Understanding the Use of Histaminum Hydrochloricum for Hives and Other Allergies
Hives, medically known as urticaria, appear on the skin as red bumps or welts. They commonly surface from exposures to:
- Medications
- Foods
- Insect bites
- Infections
- Animal dander
A doctor may prescribe an antihistamine to help alleviate hive symptoms. Antihistamines are drugs that are used to treat your body after it produces too much histamine, which is a natural chemical released into your bloodstream to combat exposure to allergens. Common responses to the release of histamines are congestion, headaches, hives and fatigue.
Depending on your physiology and medical history, there are many possible reactions that you could experience if you take an antihistamine. These include:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Low blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- Constipation
Additionally, antihistamines confuse the body, making it believe that it needs to pump out even more histamine. This ultimately results in the continuation of the allergy cycle once the effectiveness of the medication in your system recedes.
Using histaminum hydrochloricum for hives and other allergies offers a natural, homeopathic approach without these side effects. However, in addition to histaminum hydrochloricum, there are a few other methods you might consider using to manage an outbreak of hives.
- Wear clothing that fits loosely around the affected area.
- Adjust to a cooler room temperature when accessible.
- Place a wet cloth or cool compress directly on the hives.
If any other concerns accompany the appearance of the hives, such as difficulty breathing or dizziness, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Understanding When and How To Take Histaminum Hydrochloricum
One of the most important things to remember before starting histaminum hydrochloricum as an allergy relief medication is to first speak to a trusted medical professional. You also want to make sure that you purchase from a reputable retailer so you receive a product with accurate dosage and ingredient information.
As general guidance for when allergen levels are at their highest, it is best practice to be proactive and not reactive.
- Dissolve five 30C pellets of histaminum hydrochloricum under your tongue every fifteen minutes for the first hour that you experience the symptoms.
- Continue dosing five 30C pellets under your tongue up to three times per day.
- Follow this process until the intensity of your allergies has subsided.
