HART (Hart Center – Healing Arts Resource & Training Center)

What a wonderful day of inspiring and informative speakers and organizers. A wonderful event. Thank you Bob Brame for hosting and to Dr. Larry Burke for MCing. This was the first event in the triangle/triad area since COVID separated us. Thanks for bringing us back together. Sally Norton spoke about Oxalate Overload and how releasing it has solved her health problems. She is Cornel trained in Nutrition and worked with the Integrative Heath Center at Duke. She was Vegan, changed to Vegetarian and still had debilitating problems until she unlocked the oxalate issue. She is now a vivacious, excellent speaker. You might find her book interesting. I am now wondering what of my diet I need to shift for this issue. Potatoes are high oxalate as is rice bran. I’ve already started shifting to good organic white rice instead of brown. I’ll also reduce potatoes. We’ll see what happens.

I love a diet that allows me to grill salmon and eat potato chips at 9 pm and still release weight (65 lbs in a little less than a year)! My 7 year old grandson is also on the low histamine diet and one sadness was not being able to have any easy snack food beside blueberries with honey, apples or apple juice. Walking down the chip aisle in a large Whole Foods store, I was impressed with how many different choices there were. I picked up many bags of chips and they all had something not on our diet. Many have oils we can’t tolerate including canola oil. After checking out 20 different types with nothing passing our diet requirements, I let out a thought of exasperation, “Why can’t somebody make a chip with just sea salt and olive oil?” Then I looked up and saw it! BOULDER CANYON BRAND CHIPS with just that: Potatoes, Olive Oil, Classic Sea Salt. I grabbed several bags hopeful we could eat them. Upon my return home to my daughter’s house I opened and started eating the chips. She grabbed the bag out of my hand to read the ingredients and protect me from a non-diet item. Her face turned to joy. She informed my grandson we could have these. The jumping up and down didn’t stop for days. The potatoes are Non GMO and the olive oil doesn’t specify organic, but they work for us. So if you are looking for a salty crunchy snack, here it is. We have also found it at Sprouts Grocery. Come on Weaver Street you could carry them, I’ve asked nicely. BTW Whole Foods seems to be providing an aisle of soaps that are unscented. Just walking down the soap aisle in most stores is enough to give me a histamine attack, so thanks Whole Foods for thinking of the chemically challenged among us. Hope you had a great Labor Day Weekend. —-Lyneah

HISTAMINE UPDATE

As of yesterday I have released (I no longer say lost because I don’t want to find them again) 65 lbs in just under a year. It was late September last year that Alexandrea Lassiter (+1 646 207 8642) started coaching me on a low histamine diet. My blood pressure is now low normal — I was having scary high blood pressure prior to this diet. My aches and pains have greatly decreased, allergies decreased, joy increased, agility increased — I am able to do Yoga moves I haven’t every done before and many i haven’t done in decades. My clients who’ve started working with Alexandrea are very happy with her coaching and showing wonderful results as well: clearer compexions, weight reduction, greater body comfort, greater ability to exercise, better breathing, lower BP and so on. The great thing for me is I can eat all I want as long as I stick to the prescribed foods.

One thing I’ve found interesting in the process is that when I start having cravings for specific unhelpful foods — most recently Oreo cookies which I haven’t had in many years — this happens just before another shedding of fat. My theory is that we just got down to the layer where the Oreo cookie fat was stored and as it released, I get the craving. It goes away in a day when I don’t give in and at this point, I know how much discomfort I would suffer if I did give in.

I have just purchased an inflatable paddle board. I am very excited. I tried one out and it is a huge challenge for me given all the injuries I have had, and it is the challenge I NEED to get to the strength, agility, balance and flexibility I intend. My long-term goal is to kite surf and I know in order to do that I need to develop core strength, arm strength, greater balance and endurance. I’m excited because this used to be a dream but now it’s a goal and a strong intention I believe I can achieve. A dear friend has lent me her blow up paddle board until mine arrives just in time for my birthday!

A few comments on other things histamainosis/mastocytosis people have to consider.

Fabric: I cannot use polyester at all. It is high in positive ions which are the ones that make you feel bad. Natural fabric, especially organic fabrics are the best for me and I have invested in underwear and essential clothing. Also true for others I know with this and other conditions.

Air: Since this condition is stimulated by allergens, a good air filter for the home is essential. Also remember to change your vehicle cabin filter often, especially if you are in an area affected by fire smoke. It’s not just the wood in the smoke, it’s all the buildings, appliances, etc. that give off toxins. Sending blessings to all affected by the fires.

JEWELRY: Many cannot tollerate metals, especially mixed metals. So, if you are feeling better but not better enough, try a few days without jewelry and see if it makes a difference for you. I have switched to a black braided cotton cord to wear my jewelry on instead of a chain. It does have a silver clasp but that’s all the metal.

Rosemary is completely out. I threw rosemary into the pan instead of Thyme the other day and even the air made me sick. That beautiful chicken had to go to the family members without histaminosis.

Cherries are ok on my diet and I get the large frozen bags at Costco. This is my substitute for ice cream - a bowl with frozen cherries (and or blueberries) with a drizzle of honey on top. The honey hardens and makes me miss ice cream less.

Another hot weather treat is to use my Vitamix to make a sloshy: berries (blue berries, cherries, raspberries, blackberries,etc. whatever is your ok list), ice, apple juice. Blend to your desired consistency and put in an insulated cup. Cool goodness all day.

Histamine HELP

If you have been following my progress since September 2022, I have now released over 60 lbs and feel better than I have in many years. I have Alexandrea Lassiter to thank for this (WEBSITE HERE). She is the one who helped me learn how to support my histamine intolerance (Histaminosis or Mast Cell Activation Syndrome - not yet labeled officially — I have an appointment in October, set in December, with a specialist) by teaching me a low histamine diet and an exercise program that is right for me and has changed my life for the better. She has coached me each step of the way - a little at a time so I could integrate the steps into my daily life. If you want coaching on how to do this, I highly recommend you contact Alexandrea Lassiter at 646 207 8642 in the Eastern time zone.

Here are some tips and a start on recipes Alexandrea has developed for histamine-intollerant folks like us:

First thing you need to know about a low histamine diet is this - FRESH is your friend.  Anything dried, fermented, or smoked is high in histamine.  The older a food gets the higher the histamines.  If you grow your food and pick it off the vine and eat it, that is the healthiest food source you can get.  The older the food, the less the vitamin content, so the fresher the better for us all.

Good for you low-histamine foods:

Blueberries, apples, figs, cranberry, pomegranate, lettuce, cucumber, kale, broccoli, zucchini, carrots, green onions, white/yellow/purple onions, garlic, mushrooms, potatoes, rice, olive oil, quinoa, millet.

Lean meats (the more ethically and sustainably raised your meat, the leaner and healthier it will be) Chicken, beef, bison, duck*, turkey.

Salmon and some white fish (some white fish is fatty and high in histamine so make sure you look up each individual fish)

*in moderation because it is a high fat meat

High histamine foods are most foods but here are some high histamine foods that are guaranteed to inflame:

Pork, tomatoes, bell peppers, spinach, strawberries, pineapple, nuts, breads, egg whites, beans, tofu, corn, sugar.

Some spices you will want to have in your cupboard:

Himalayan Pink Sea Salt (We use this because it has more minerals and isn’t a “bad” salt for your body.

White Pepper Corns - freshly ground in a pepper grinder for maximum freshness.  All pepper has a little histamine, but the white fresh pepper corns have the least.

Thyme - I use it in almost everything.

White Wine - yes it has histamines, but they cook off and you are left with the flavor. If you are Vegan or have Alpha-gal, you will need to look up the wine and make sure it is vegan and also organic would be ideal. The website to do this is https://www.barnivore.com/

 Lettuce Wraps -

Take your biggest lettuce leaves off of a head of romaine or hearts of romaine.

Wash them and dry them and put them on a large dinner place.

Heat up some vermicelli rice noodles (the super skinny ones you can get them at any Asian market. You’ll want the ones that say NON GMO if possible). They are pretty quick so keep an eye on them.  Strain and set aside in a bowl.

Let the noodles cool a bit.

While they are cooling, chop up your veggies.

Cucumber, fresh carrot, radishes, red onion.

Add some noodles to each lettuce leaf.

Add a bit of the veggies to each lettuce leaf.

Top with olive oil, salt, white pepper, thyme.

You can add chicken, salmon, Turkey deli meat, beef  as well. 

When I am faced with siutations I respond fearfully to…

NEED HELP REDUCING TAX TIME STRESS???

When I am faced with situations where I feet fear, I have used a mantra:  "I release fear, I live by faith and love." I have been known to say it over and over again to manage situations that stimulate fear in me. Fear is generally not in the situation (with the possible exception of life threatening ones), different people respond differently to the same stimuli. Fear is in our response. We are conditioned to respond to some things fearfully, and we can break that kind of conditioning. It takes consciousness and work.  A currently pertinent example is: TAXES. I used to get so tight from stress and fear that I would give myself debilitating headaches while doing the taxes. One year I became conscious, went into the meditation chair and asked: “Why? It's going to be what it's going to be, so why do I respond with such stress?”  A vision of my father doing his taxes came into my consciousness.  He was a bullheaded Taurus about many things, including taxes.  He was difficult to be around while preparing taxes and I had unconsciously picked up his stressful attitude and habits. I sat a bit longer and hatched a plan for breaking this unwanted habit. I put on relaxation music, set my yoga mat out, made a relaxing tea, lit a candle, did some yoga, some Tai Chi and meditated before starting on the taxes setting my intention to be calm an relaxed. Then I sat down at the desk and began to work. I quit when I felt stressed. In the beginning I could only manage about 10 minute sections and I realized I would have to file for an extension, which I did.  I made it with the one extension and since this only happens once a year, it took several years of breaking the habit before I was able to sit comfortably for long periods doing taxes. Now I have the rest of my life to enjoy doing taxes without stress.

What's your mantra?  How do you keep yourself positive in a shifting sands world? Do you really believe it is all good? Here's a meditation many of us have found helpful in challenging times: 

FOR THIS MICHAELIC AGE            by Rudolf Steiner
 
INTRODUCTION:
 
“We must eradicate from the soul all fear and terror of what comes
toward humans out of the future. We must acquire serenity in all feelings and sensations about the future. We must look forward, with absolute equanimity, to everything that may come and we must think only that whatever comes is given to us by a world direction full of wisdom. It is part of what we must learn in this age: to live out of pure trust, without any security in existence, trust in the ever present help of the spiritual world. Truly, nothing else will do, if our courage is not to fail us. Let us seek the awakening from within ourselves, every morning and every evening.”
 
MORNING: O, Michael, Under Your protection I place myself, With Your guidance I connect myself, Wholeheartedly, So that this day may become an image Of your destiny–ordering Will.
 
EVENING: I carry my sorrow into the setting sun, Place all my worries into her radiating womb Purified in love, transformed in light, They return as helping thoughts, As strength for self–sacrificing deeds.”

**************************

It is important to practice and make meditation a habit in good times, so you can call on it automatically when you most need it. There’s no better time than now to start.

Variety is one of the challenges on a low histamine diet, especially deserts. Here’s my latest favorite snack, meal or desert depending on my mood. Slice an apple into wedges (use a wedge cutter if you have one). Mix Tahini with honey to your taste of sweetness, stir and dip the apples into this dip. A nice mix of textures and tastes satisfy the pallet and the stomach on a low histamine diet.

Fresh foods are best on a low histamine diet and fermented foods are not recommended. Dried fruits are not recommended.

Low Histamine diet ideas: https://lowhistamineeats.com includes a 5 day low histamine diet plan to get you started and other recipes to continue your progress. All recipes have to be run against your personal allergies/preferences/sensitivities. Coconut is OK for a low histamine diet, but I have an allergic reaction to it, so it’s off my list.

My grandson was so excited to find a brand of potato chips that work for us: Boulder Canyon Classic Sea Salt Olive Oil. Potato Chips and Olive oil only, that’s it. I’ve found them at Whole Foods, Raley’s, and Natural Food Stores. Speaking of that’s it, That’s It, they are awesome fruit bars. Apples and blueberries and that’s it (available at Target).

You can see I’ve lost a lot of weight since mid September (a great Birthday present) — 50 lbs — and more than two dress sizes. My pants on the right are supposed to be tight leggings! When I saw this picture I realized I needed to order new ones. Instead of XL they are now M. I continue on the low histamine diet and have mostly quit eating out. I’ve learned the art of taking my food with me. There are only two restaurants I can trust here to use exactly what I ask for — usually fresh fish grilled or sauteed with only garlic, salt and olive oil preferably organic and greens with carrots no dressing. I am now taking lots of L-Lysine, L-Proline and L-Argenine and exercise to help my skin tighten.

In one session today, I helped a friend/client heal from the loss of a significant other. It is an incredible process which was gifted to me many years ago when a friend of mine, who took care of her mother the last months of her life, turned from a bubbly social person to agorophobic not leaving the house or answering the phone. When she finally agreed to come in for a treatment, I meditated long asking what to do. I was given the gift of a protocol that can decrease the mourning time enormously. The woman I worked with today went from a tight mess of emotions to being able to breathe and said she felt peace for the first time since the loved one's transition. This session (sometimes a series is needed) can change someone's life and help them move forward on their path. It is an honor to help in this way during such a difficult time.

HISTAWHAT? Part 3: What causes it? Histaminosis, MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) and Mastocytosis What’s the DIFF?

In searching for what causes this histamine response I found there are different types of histamine dysfunction. Three major types include Histaminosis, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Mastocytosis (Including SM Systemic Mastocytosis).

Histaminosis (histamine intolerance) seems to indicate a lack of DAO (Diamine Oxidase) an enzyme that breaks down histamine.

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MSAC) is a condition where normal amounts of Mast Cells are overactive and produce too many histamines and other mediators. To learn more about how to tell the difference you might find this article by Functional medicine practitioner, Will Cole of interest:  https://goop.com/wellness/health/histamine-intolerance-mast-cell-activation-syndrome/ .

Mastocytosis is a diagnosis of having too many Mast Cells.  There are several varieties. ASM is Aggressive Systemic Mastocytosis.  Skin conditions can indicate the type which is associated with too many  mast cells in the skin, other forms (SM Systemic Mastyocytosis) can indicate a systemic condition of too many mast cells especially in the organs (spleen and liver most notably). There are tests to find out if you have the genetic marker and bone marrow tests to show if you have an over abundance of mast cells. There are currently  clinical trials for Mastocytosis:  https://blueprintclinicaltrials.com/en-us/study/harbor?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=search, and https://itssmthing.com/about-sm.php for more info. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04996875. I am in the initial stages of applying for one clinical trial. But I have to have a doctor’s diagnosis first. I’m working on that.

https://itssmthing.com/testing.php?gclid=Cj0KCQiA1NebBhDDARIsAANiDD3sjh5y43sCqm6keODilmH4_ZZrd7up3Rj9zD01yHIhOgm7F3bEKh4aAu7VEALw_wcB is a site that provides a lot of information and guidelines for how to talk with your doctor about this. It also says it provides free testing if you are working with a doctor.

Why do we have this?  Other than genetics, to date, I have no answer to what causes the problem in the first place. One of my thoughts is environmental toxin overload has much to do with this syndrome. Chemicals in processed foods, oils that are less than optimal especially when eating out, large amounts of sugar in most diets and environmental toxins in the water and air add to the stimulators and up the histamine responses. Generally, our physical systems are on overload. If you have a genetic marker, then genetics may be a causal factor. My daughter thinks her paternal grandmother may have had it as well, so she has likely inherited it from both sides of her family.  My father had it worse as he aged and that has been true for me as well. My symptoms worsened after moving to an area with many pine trees. Pine oil is a hista-stimulator.  I took one sniff of an organic pine oil and suffered symptoms for three days. I learned the hard way that pine oil stimulates the release of histamines.  

Other Options: There are Pro-Biotics that promote healthy gut and help with histamine issues by suppressing histamine receptors. There are two probiotic strains which help: bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus rhamnosus . https://a.co/d/gxupl9T is a vegan product with more than these two strains s and three prebiotoics. Two of three of the Prebiotics are low histamine. Acacia Senegal may not be suitable for a low histamine diet.

I thought, well if I could find a DAO supplement, I could try it to see if that solves the problem. Looking for a DAO or Pro-biotic product, we have to make sure it is not made from substances for which you know you have an allergic reaction.  Here’s a product that claims to be free of many stimulators, but it does not specify it’s sources:  https://a.co/d/gcCaV65 .  Another product is https://a.co/d/ihSiQ5U  which is sourced from legumes which are not recommended on a low histamine diet.  Corn products and corn starch are not recommended on this diet and can be found in some antihistamine products as well as this Histazyme product:  https://a.co/d/daCaEKB . So far this seems to be the cleanest product I’ve found https://a.co/d/ihSiQ5U, but it is also sourced from porcine kidney (not organic), so it will only works if you can eat pork and tolerate non-organic.  I have not personally tried it yet. 

Noticing that many of the DAO supplements are made from animal Kidneys led me to wonder about the role stress plays in this scenario. Stress can negatively affect all our systems, so relaxation and yoga are often recommended as part of the recovery process.  Yoga has been part of my daughter’s and my recovery routines.

Lotions, perfumes, after shaves, soaps etc., even good organic ones, can also stimulate a histamine response especially those containing eucalyptus, pine, citrus and menthol. Lavender has an anti-histamine effect. A good natural rose works for me and since Tulsi Rose Tea is antihistamine, it seemed a natural one to try. I have long been drawn to good rose oils. Synthetic scents are not recommended. Sitting outside Weaver Street Market, I caught a whiff of a passing lady’s perfume. I started having a sneezing fit. My daughter has even experienced diarrhea and migraine headaches as a result of someone in her house using a lotion with oils that stimulate histamine.  Cleaning products with citrus, eucalyptus and pine scents can have a negative effect.  As I heal my body with the low histamine diet, I am more aware when I do have a reaction and track down and eliminate the cause. I have given away many high-quality lotions, creams  and cleaning products because they had scents that stimulate histamine release.  As a massage therapist I can no longer use most of the warming or cooling lotions such as Biofreeze and Deep Blue. Advanced Tachyon Technologies’ Panther Juice still works for me. You can get it here:  

https://store.planet-tachyon.com/#a_aid=bodysoulandangels&a_bid=beacebed .     

Hope this is helpful.  I’ll keep you posted with new blogs as I learn more.  I am hoping to get a diagnosis based on testing to show if this is a lack of DAO enzyme or a dysfunction of the Mast Cells (over production or over abundance) and then find out what options there are for correcting the problem. In the meantime, I am grateful to have a diet that helps keep me functioning at a better level. And I am paying attention and discovering things that do not work for me like scented candles and sage smoke. I might try a lavender scented candle (natural scent) as lavender has an anti-histamine effect. Please comment on your findings and your journey with histamine issues.

HISTAWHAT? PART 2

“So, how did you find out?” is the most frequent question I get. 

The answer is:  I didn’t.  My daughter, Alexandrea (Copper Key Photography) did.  She has been seriously ill for over 3 years and unable to get much help through the medical establishment.  She did have one doctor test her for Alpha-Gal Syndrome and it was positive. Alpha- Gal Syndrome is an inability to digest mammalian proteins. Alpha gal (galactose-alpha 1, 3-galatose) is a sugar molecule found in most mammals (cows, pigs, bison, deer, rabbits, etc.). The Texas Tic (so named because of a shape on it’s back that looks like the state of Texas) bite causes Alpha-gal Syndrome which is “a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction” (CDC website) to alpha-gal. So once bitten by this tic one is unable to digest pork, beef, rabbit, lamb, venison, elk, etc and all products from mammals including gelatin, cow’s milk and milk products including cheeses.  I placed a Vitamin D capsule into our smoothie and in one gulp Alexandrea had a serious reaction.  Looking of the bottle she found that part of the source for the Vitamin D was beef. Her sensitivities are very high and her reactions often quick. The tic bite went undetected and untreated.  I have heard of some people getting over this reaction. This information and the ensuing meatless/dairyless diet helped, but it did not solve the problems. She continued to have debilitating reactions to many things and making sense of it was a nightmare for her and for me.

Alexandrea was reduced to a severely limited diet and had difficulty getting enough calories to run her body. After depleting the medical resources and tests available to her, she turned to a Black Forest Hair Analysis which gave her a long list of food allergies. Pouring over this list to find commonalities, a friend one day said,

“Oh, those three are high histamine foods.”

That was the key. Internet searches revealed the foods on her list were high histamine simulators. The searches revealed much information about low histamine diets and this was a major key to her getting well. She also noticed that the condition can be genetically linked.  My father suffered greatly from the symptoms (bloating, extreme intestinal distress, swelling, arthritis like symptoms). He figured out that he needed to avoid dairy and when he did so, he was better. Holidays were especially difficult times as relatives would cook with butter and probably other foods that stimulated his symptoms which we now believe to have been histamine responses.  We knew he also had per-diabetic reactions to sugars. He loved his coffee with two heaping teaspoons of sugar accompanied by a sweet roll. We knew to leave within 20 minutes because if you did not, he would start a fight with someone.  Sugar rebound. Sugar is also not your friend on a low histamine diet.  She suspects her paternal grandmother also had this syndrome, so she may have inherited it from both sides of the family making her even more susceptible/sensitive.

My symptoms included bloating, gas, swelling, arthritic-type symptoms (joint aches and pains and lack of flexibility possibly due to inflammation), cold like symptoms including sore and rough throat, mucous production, occasional blurry vision, breathing problems including wheezing, bronchitis-like symptoms and shortness of breath. My least favorite is swelling of the tongue and mouth sores. The tongue swelling can be so bad that it feels like my tongue has been repeatedly cut by a razor! The reaction has lasted a week before I understood it was a histamine response.  

As I get myself well on this low histamine diet, I am more sensitive to what is causing my symptoms and I now know that I sometimes need an antihistamine to help alleviate my symptoms, at least until I find out root causes.  I am using the two teas I mentioned in the first post (Tulsi Rose and Moringa) and they work well most of the time. If I have a large reaction, I need to take an antihistamine.  What I take is OTC Benedryl and Zertec. Alexandrea takes  Hydroxazine (she says it puts her to sleep but it works). This raises the question for me: what does histamine have to do with sleep and I also want to know what it has to do with body temperature regulation.

As you try this diet, don’t despair. I just talked with a friend who is trying it and she had a setback.  After much discussion, she reported she tried some of her husband’s sauteed vegetables sandwich filling avoiding the bread.“

“That’s it! That is enough to set off a reaction especially when you are starting to heal your body.  The veggies were not organic and the oil they used was probably histamine producing or stimulating.”

“It was a French restaurant, it could have been butter.”

“Yes, and that would do it too. I rarely eat out anymore and when I do it’s at a restaurant I can trust to do exactly what I request.  Usually it’s a fillet of fish pan seared in Olive Oil with garlic and thyme and a plain salad with Olive Oil on the side. I use the oil as a dressing and add salt and sometimes pepper. I could also bring my own Olive Oil for the salad dressing. I would add thyme, garlic and salt to it. I only go to restaurants I trust to use the best of ingredients. One day I met a friend for lunch and all I could find on the menu that I could eat was a small side of melon. That restaurant didn’t even have olive oil!”

Keeping a food diary is something that might help you identify what is causing your symptoms. Every bite counts for me.

In addition to salt, garlic and thyme are the two seasoning that works for all three of us.

For future posts, I will be looking for answers to questions like: what does histamine have to do with body temperature?  What does it have to do with digestion? Does histamine have an effect on blood pressure?

HISTAWHAT? PART 2 (SEE BELOW FOR PART 1)

HISTAWHAT? Part 2

“So, how did you find out?” is the most frequent question I get. 

The answer is:  I didn’t.  My daughter, Alexandrea (Copper Key Photography) did.  She has been seriously ill for over 3 years and unable to get much help through the medical establishment.  She did have one doctor test her for Alpha-Gal Syndrome and it was positive. Alpha- Gal Syndrome is an inability to digest mammalian proteins. Alpha gal (galactose-alpha 1, 3-galatose) is a sugar molecule found in most mammals (cows, pigs, bison, deer, rabbits, etc.). The Texas Tic (so named because of a shape on it’s back that looks like the state of Texas) bite causes Alpha-gal Syndrome which is “a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction” (CDC website) to alpha-gal. So once bitten by this tic one is unable to digest pork, beef, rabbit, lamb, venison, elk, etc and all products from mammals including gelatin, cow’s milk and milk products including cheeses.  I placed a Vitamin D capsule into our smoothie and in one gulp Alexandrea had a serious reaction.  Looking of the bottle she found that part of the source for the Vitamin D was beef. Her sensitivities are very high and her reactions often quick. The tic bite went undetected and untreated.  I have heard of some people getting over this reaction. This information and the ensuing meatless/dairyless diet helped, but it did not solve the problems. She continued to have debilitating reactions to many things and making sense of it was a nightmare for her and for me.

Alexandrea was reduced to a severely limited diet and had difficulty getting enough calories to run her body. After depleting the medical resources and tests available to her, she turned to a Black Forest Hair Analysis which gave her a long list of food allergies. Pouring over this list to find commonalities, a friend one day said,

“Oh, those three are high histamine foods.”

That was the key. Internet searches revealed the foods on her list were high histamine stimulators. The searches revealed much information about low histamine diets and this was a major key to her getting well. She also noticed that the condition can be genetically linked.  My father suffered greatly from the symptoms (bloating, extreme intestinal distress, swelling, arthritis like symptoms). He figured out that he needed to avoid dairy and when he did so, he was better. Holidays were especially difficult times as relatives would cook with butter and probably other foods that stimulated his symptoms which we now believe to have been histamine responses.  We knew he also had pre-diabetic reactions to sugars. He loved his coffee with two heaping teaspoons of sugar accompanied by a sweet roll. We knew to leave within 20 minutes because if you did not, he would start a fight with someone.  Sugar rebound. Sugar is also not your friend on a low histamine diet.  She suspects her paternal grandmother also had this syndrome, so she may have inherited it from both sides of the family making her even more susceptible/sensitive.

My symptoms included bloating, gas, swelling, arthritic-type symptoms (joint aches and pains and lack of flexibility possibly due to inflammation), cold like symptoms including sore and rough throat, cough, mucous production, occasional blurry vision, breathing problems including wheezing, bronchitis-like symptoms and shortness of breath and racing heart beat. My least favorite is swelling of the tongue and mouth sores. The tongue swelling can be so bad that it feels like my tongue has been repeatedly cut by a razor! The reaction has lasted as long as a week before I understood it was a histamine response.  

As I get myself well on this low histamine diet, I am more sensitive to what is causing my symptoms and I now know that I sometimes need an antihistamine to help alleviate my symptoms, at least until I find out root causes.  I am using the two teas I mentioned in the first post (Tulsi Rose and Moringa) and they work well most of the time. If I have a large reaction, I need to take an antihistamine.  What I take is OTC Benedryl and Zertec. Alexandrea takes  Hydroxazine (she says it puts her to sleep but it works). This raises the question for me: what does histamine have to do with sleep and I also want to know what it has to do with body temperature regulation.

Last night I attended a gathering of women and enjoyed the first hour. Slowly I started feeling my throat being effected, my sinuses started producing mucus, and when a headache started and my eyes started to itch I went to the bathroom to put cold water on my eyes.  There is where I found the culprit. A candle with a loud scent. I left quickly after that and it took an anti-histamine, a cup of Tulsi Rose tea and several hours (more than 4) to get to where I could go to sleep.  Body aches and pains were high as well making it hard to sleep and I did not want to take aspirin.

As you try this diet, don’t despair. I just talked with a friend who is trying it and she had a setback.  After much discussion, she reported she tried some of her husband’s sauteed vegetables sandwich filling avoiding the bread.“

“That’s it! That is enough to set off a reaction especially when you are starting to heal your body.  The veggies were not organic and the oil they used was probably histamine producing or stimulating.”

“It was a French restaurant, it could have been butter.”

“Yes, and that would do it too. I rarely eat out anymore and when I do it’s at a restaurant I can trust to do exactly what I request.  Usually it’s a fillet of fish pan seared in Olive Oil with garlic and thyme and a plain salad with Olive Oil on the side. I use the oil as a dressing and add salt and sometimes pepper. I could also bring my own Olive Oil for the salad dressing. I would add thyme, garlic and salt to it. I only go to restaurants I trust to use the best of ingredients. One day I met a friend for lunch and all I could find on the menu that I could eat was a small side of melon. That restaurant didn’t even have olive oil!”

Keeping a food diary is something that might help you identify what is causing your symptoms. Every bite counts for me.

In addition to salt, garlic and thyme are the two seasoning that works for all three of us. They are able to use white pepper.  I don’t think it’s good for me.  lt is better than black, but I still feel I react at this point in my recovery/healing process.

A special note on citric acid.  Make sure how your citric acid is sourced. Some is made from corn and most corn is GMA, stored way too long (often contains mold and mildew). I am in the process of researching this as well. (Thanks Jen for telling me about this.)

For future posts, I will be looking for answers to questions like: why histamine effects me so strongly? What causes such a response? What does histamoine have to do with body temperature?  What does it have to do with digestion? Does histamine have an effect on blood pressure?

Histawhat????? or How I lost 5 inches off my belly in 3 weeks!

“Histawhat?” I asked my bright-eyed beautiful daughter on a visit to North Carolina.

“Histaminosis,” she replied matter-of-factly. “It’s a genetic condition and I think you have it too. My son also has it. It is when your body does not deal with histamine very well and you have too much of it. It causes inflammation and many other things. I'd like you to go on this diet with us."

She explained the basics of the diet and it sounded reasonable so I agreed. I had just stayed at my brother's house where he restores old books and his book working room is very close to the room that I sleep in. After one night I had bronchitis symptoms, a never-ending stream of mucous, sore throat, coughing, body aches and pains that made me feel like I had a flu but I was reasonably certain I did not (no fever). I had called my daughter to ask if the room she had was available and she said yes come ahead. In three days all of the symptoms were gone and I was feeling better than ever.

“I told you I thought you were allergic to his house,” she explained and I realized there were probably many allergens associated to his book restoration business: mold, mildew, dust, etc. I had been sick every time I stayed at his house.  

After one week on this diet, I felt good.  Bronchitis-like symptoms, mucous factory, cough, sore throat, body aches and pains had all disappeared. I was more flexible and yoga showed that. Within three weeks I could pinch 2 1/2 to 3 inches (doubled) extra cloth on blouses that had been tight when I first arrived. I had lost more than 5” off my belly in three weeks!!!  My pants were getting longer and fitting loosely. I had been struggling with weight issues for many years with little success. Now my daughter was shrinking down to a size M and giving me her size L’s and they fit!!! I had been in size 1 and sometimes 2X!!   

I moved to Mount Shasta, CA, two years ago and my food allergies greatly increased. Sometimes I could tell if I was allergic to something because my tongue swelled and when it swelled significantly it felt like someone had taken a razor to it. Increasingly, there were more and more foods that I could not eat and I couldn't make sense out of it because some things I could eat one day and not another. I had been gluten free, I did the Seven Day Diet (which did help me lose weight but once I was off of it all the weight came back on and then some), I avoided dairy and ate mostly organic. I can’t tell you how many intestinal cleanse programs I’ve tried and supplements I’ve taken. I was tired and skeptical of diets. I generally ate healthfully – mostly organic –and still was not able to lose weight or allergy like symptoms. The week before I left Mount Shasta for the NC visit, a healer friend suggested that I use an essential oil of pine. I took one sniff and my tongue swelled up. It didn't go down for three days. I returned the oil saying I was highly allergic. If you've ever been to Mount Shasta, you know that it is all pine and cedar trees. I started to wonder if I would have to move.  Turns out pine oil is a histamine simulator.

There are foods that stimulate histamine and they are to be avoided.  There are foods that are neutral and they work. There are some foods that are anti histamine (teas see below). If in doubt say, “ Siri (or Goggle) is ‘name the food’ a low histamine food?” and you will get a report that is very helpful.

I had two setbacks during my three weeks in North Carolina. One was when I decided one morning that I could have a scrambled egg. I paid for that for about 2 1/2 days with body aches, mucous and difficulties breathing. Egg whites are the highest in histamine which surprised me but after that go around I decided not to even try egg yolks. The second setback came two days after I ate out. I had only food that was on my diet but the chicken probably was not organic and  had non-recommended spices. It took a few days to cleanse that out of my body. I am so grateful to my daughter for teaching me about this histamine issue. The medical statistics say that only 1% of the population is affected. I suspect it is a much higher. My daughter had been to many doctors and none of them helped her diagnose this condition. She had a Black Forest hair analysis done and it showed a long list of foods allergens. She was seeking commonalities between the foods on the list and a friend suggested that three of them were all high histamine foods. That led to a flurry of Internet searches which resulted in a great deal of information and a diet that allows her and her son to be healthy and vibrant.

———————————————————————————
Many other symptoms disappeared or lessened: overall body aches and pains, swelling of my ankles, occasional blurry vision, bloating, flatulence, stomach acid distress, flexibility increased and size decreased. What’s not to like?
———————————————————————————

There are a few things that can help you get a jump start on this kind of diet if you feel this could be your issue as well. At least in the beginning, you need to be quite strict with yourself to let your body heal. Later, you can introduce other foods one at a time spaced out by at least three days.

First, buy only organic and stop eating out. Non-organic foods have chemicals that can stimulate histamines. The only oil which works on this diet seems to be Organic Virgin Olive Oil. Very few restaurants use this oil. Give away the foods that are the most offending.

There are two teas that have antihistamine effects: one is Tulsi Rose https://a.co/d/bucn9ht and the Tulsi Rose that has loose tea rather than tea bags is best as tea bags can have micro particles that can cause a histamine response  https://a.co/d/1S7DT6G. Tulsi is Holy Basil, a leaf grown mostly in India. the Second is Moringa (https://a.co/d/djoLGcY).  Moringa is the more wakeful of the two. I use it in the morning with honey and sometimes a bit of coconut milk (some can and some can’t tolerate coconut). Tulsi Rose is restful and has an amazing aroma, so a tea to be had in the evening or whenever you need to chill out. 

Foods to avoid: 
Sugar,
wheat (all flour except rice and quinoa),
tomatoes,
egg plant,
legumes (even green peas),
peppers (all of them, White pepper is better than black for flavoring foods if you can tolerate it),
green, black and Yerba Matte teas,
fatty foods especially meats,
dairy,
gluten,
alcohol,
canned foods,
processed foods,
dried fruits,
fermented foods and drinks,
nuts,
shell fish,
smoked meats,
spinach (oxilate),
avocados,
bananas,
citrus (add citric acid powder to your smoothies),
kiwi,
papaya.

It’s a surprising list but it is working for me. After you’ve been on the diet a time (it varies for everyone how long is enough), you can introduce one food per three days and see if it has a negative effect. The longer I’m on the diet the more sensitive I have become.  I can tell some things by one little touch to my tongue – I used to love basil, but one leaf touched to my tongue swelled my tongue for 3 days!

Foods to include (AL:L ORGANIC):

Chicken (white meat preferred),
Organic or grass-fed clean lean meats,
apples and apple juice (fresh fruits are best, dried can have sulfates which can stimulate histamine production),
potatoes,
sweet potatoes,
broccoli,
zucchini & other squashes,
beets,
carrots,
mixed greens (other than spinach),
kale,
okra,
pine nuts,
organic rice cakes   https://a.co/d/4jtK3yY  (plain, lightly salted, rice, brown rice and wild rice),
organic whole grain rice,
quinoa,
garlic, thyme, salt and white pepper for spices. 

All this works for me, but everyone is different. All of these are listed as low histamine foods. I seem to be able to tolerate a small amount of organic coconut milk unsweetened, my daughter cannot and my grandson absolutely cannot.  I love quinoa and it works for me. I make my own quinoa flour and plan to try recipes that fit this diet.  I read today that Chia seeds are OK on a low histamine diet and they can replace eggs in recipes.  I’ll let you know as I go with this part. For a treat I cooked down blueberries with some apple juice and a little honey to make a spread for the rice cakes.  Hot it penetrated the rice cakes nicely and cold, it stays on top. Either way it’s a delicious treat. My grandson puts honey and fresh blueberries on a rice cake. He proudly made one for each of us.

It is recommended that you eat smaller meals and eat more often, like every two hours. An apple is an easy thing to throw in your bag when going out just in case you need to eat again. Another option is Vermont Meat Sticks  https://a.co/d/eZDEAnV which are handy and filling. The meat sticks need to be as natural as possible and as plain as possible to avoid reactions to spices.

Well, this should get you started and I will be writing future blogs with more information, links to articles and more details. This post is just to get you started if you suspect you have some sort of histamine dysfunction. In future blog entries I’ll talk about the two types of histamine dysfunction, why this, what we can do.  Happy eating. Happy getting well.

 To be continued…

Ghost Guiders: https://a.co/d/4kKmu1n

Thirsting for a Raindrop: https://a.co/d/38jEkw0

Sensitive? Empath? Need Boundaries? Need Help?

When I was a teenager, I remember ariving at a lunch counter ravenously hungry. I sat between two men and before I could order, I lost my appetite. My stomach hurt with a burning sensation that came on quite suddenly. I turned to the man to my left and asked,

“How are you?”

“Oh, my stomach is killing me,” he said with a pained face.

Even then I knew to send healing energy to him and soon my stomach felt better.

In graduate school, I worked with an acu-therapist who provided much assistance standard medicine had not been able to provide. One day while seeing him I had been complaining about my over sensitivity which had been peaking with the atmosphres Graduate School provided. He started to do something around my ear with his equipment and I pulled away quickly asking,

“What are you doing?”

“Decreasing your sensitivity,” was his answer.

“That’s not what I want! I want to keep my sensitivity not decrease it! I just want to be better able to handle it.”

He shrugged and went on to other things we had talked about. It was years later when I met Dr. Mark Eisen, MD, trained in Anthrosophical Medicine (out of Rudolph Steiner’s indications). He introduced me to Moor Lavender.

Moor Lavendar (Solum Uliginosum) is a thick peat moss that grows in the moors (marshlands). It has a purple flower so it obtained the name moor lavender though it is not part of the lavender family at all. This kind of moss is very protective and provides the energetics of protection in a few forms. Dr. Hauschka makes an oil form available many places (https://www.google.com/search?q=moor+lavender+oil+Dr.+Hauschka&pvf=EggIh_poEIz6aA). It is a thick oil with a unique aroma which I personally find very comforting and enjoyable. I was told by my doctor to apply it on my temples, on the nape of my neck, over my heart front and back, the web between my thumb and first finger, and on my feet. I found that this reduced my sensitivity without decreasing my senses. It provides protection. Dr. Eisen explained that it provides an energetic that could increase the thickness of the outer sheath of the aura or astral body (the body of emotions) and with time I found this to be true. It allowed me to perceive other people’s energies without allowing them all the way into my heart and inner spaces. Their emotions stopped arms’ length away. What a relief this has been. So for anyone unable to handle high sense situations, I highly recommend trying both the oil and the pillules.

Weleda makes a homeopathic pillule version of it https://www.weledapharmacy.co.nz/products/search?search=solum+Uliginosum+globuls

And Wala also provides this form: https://www.weledapharmacy.co.nz/products/category/search/41SOLULCO-E--solum-uliginosum-comp-pilules-20g-wala

I took the pillules and used the oil regularly for several years with increasingly more effective results. It seems to have an accumulative effect. It is also effective for reducing the reaction to weather conditions. I used to get headaches regularly from the front before a storm. They were often debilitating. Storm fronts are high in positive ions, the ones that make you feel bad. When the storm breaks, the moving water creates negative ions, the ones that make you feel good. I still use the oil when a big storm or a challenging situation is coming up. It is of great help. I recommend it to all my clients who are sensitives or empaths.

The Uriel company reports:

Solum Uliginosum and Radioactivity

“Due to the urgent situation in Japan and the possibility of radiation from nuclear meltdown reaching the United States, many people have asked what Uriel remedies may afford some protection.

Solum Aesculus was developed by Dr. Ita Wegman, Rudolf and Margarethe Hauschka and Dr. Ruth Jensen in the 1930s. In 1986 when the Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred, I was working with the Wala Company in Germany. We produced massive quantities of Solum uliginosum comp., another name for Solum Aesculus, in the form of ampules, pellets, oil and cream, for the many patients and doctors who found it helpful. It contains peat moss extract, horse chestnut seeds and horsetail herb in homeopathic potencies. It strengthens the life forces of the etheric body, thereby mitigating destructive influences from the environment.

Uriel also makes Aurum Lavender Rose Cream for calming stress relief. It contains many of the same ingredients as Solum Aesculus, plus lavender, rose, and gold, frankincense and myrrh in homeopathic potencies.”

More information from Uriel: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Use-Uriel-s-Solum-Aesculus-for-Environmental-Protection.html?soid=1102220563029&aid=sMeLUXHFrHU

Another aspect that has helped many of my clients is doing past life healings around the end of Atlantis. Many people have experienced great trauma at that time and it comes forward in this over sensitivity. I have helped many people heal from this trauma also resulting in improved abilities to deal with high degrees of sensitivity with greater ease. Call me to schedule your appointment to do this healing work 919 949 3039.

I hope you find this as helpful as I have. Protect your sensitivity. Live more comfortably.

Lyneah

Lyneah Marks

Body, Soul & Angels

Waves of energy coming through. How do you ride these waves? Let go of the dense energies. Focus on what is good and beautiful. Ride up with gratitude. Practice compassion more and more especially with yourself. Love life. Love self. Love others especially those you like least. Let go of who you have been and seek who you truly are.

Photo by . Veruschka Normandeau, www.magicwoodstudios.us

The Wisdom of the Grandmothers

The Wisdom of the Grandmothers by Susan Christianson aired on PBS . Here is the link in case you missed it: Wisdom of the Grandmothers This is a sensitive beautiful documentary of many cultures and beautiful women around the world. Thank you Susan for creating this. We need to hear these messages especially at this time.

Thanksgiving

Ever wonder why sometimes creation happens quickly and others not so much? This might be one key to manifesting more consistently. When we are in the quantum field in meditation, manifestation can happen quickly. When we fuel that creation with head, heart and will forces even faster. When we let go and et the Universe deal with the details it moves faster. When it is fanned by sincere, heart-felt gratitude miracles abound. In the Tuesday evening Stargate meditation we facilitate, I felt a huge river of gratitude in our group. This has been the week to focus on gratitude and it seems our group was in the flow. This group is one of the things for which we are grateful. Here’s what Alcazar recently said.

Creating from Gratitude Part II

One way to accelerate creation in your so-called future is to feel gratitude in your now for that which is about to come. And this is a little strange for the mind initially, but if you can celebrate, if you can feel the deep gratitude for something that you wish to create, something that your mind does not say, "Oh that is not possible," ... But if you are intending to create something in your life, and you can start feeling a deep gratitude for it now, for example -- if you are wishing to create a new job, you do not have to know where the job will be or even what the job will be. But if you start to feel gratitude, "Oh Thank you, bringing me this new job, it is so wonderful. And you start to feel how it is wonderful, this new job. It will feel exciting, and you feel the excitement. It will be rewarding.

You will feel that your skills are being honored and well compensated for what you are doing. You will feel gratitude for being paid well for the job that you are doing, either financially or in other ways. Can you feel how grateful you are to be given this new job? Can you feel grateful for the responsibility you're being given in this new job? Yes, you are being honored by being given this responsibility. Tune in to how it feels. By combining deep gratitude with the feelings, and feeling that which is desired in the now, you start to draw that into your reality. Because the Quantum Field reflects back to you what you are vibrating in the now. So, this is a powerful way of bringing change into your life. 

– Alcazar

Mexico Retreat, Nov. 2021

Difficult Lives

Advanced Spiritual Beings Chose Difficult Lifetimes

What you have experienced, Beloved, is so common here. Advanced spiritual beings often chose difficult lifetimes. Because, by moving through this and freeing yourself, you are creating a change. You are creating a pathway, so to speak, an energetic pathway in the morphic field of humanity for others to follow. You are making it easier for others to become free. Allow for the possibility that you chose this experience. And, if you chose this experience, you have lived it well. You have been shut down by it. You have hidden away because of it. And now you are breaking free. Now you are opening that doorway for others. Now you can celebrate. Now you can relax. Now you can start to create that which you wish to create in your life.

– Alcazar

September Intensive, 2021

SFF PRESENTATION: THE STARGATE: A way to Higher Consciousness

November 4 presentation to Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship

FOR REPLAY LICK HERE

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Lyneah+Marks+The+Stargate%3A+A+Way+to+

Habits to Break

The first thing is you need to want to change. I recently had an interaction with someone who I thought wanted to quit smoking but learned that she did not. When you do not desire this change, no article, advice or anything will penetrate. I remember my midwife asking me to just consider the possibility of quitting smoking which I resumed after my daughter was born. It took another 10 years for me to make the big (and it was BIG) decision to quit. I had quit for a year previously twice and resumed smoking after a year. This time I meditated and asked how I could stay quit. It seemed more difficult each time, so I wanted to make it permanent this time and so far I have. It’s been 29 years since I’ve had a cigarette, so if you are looking for help to quit, read on. If not, skip to the next blog entry.

This is just my personal experience and not backed by any double blind Placebo controlled studies. I went through a weaning program switching from menthol to non-menthol, then gradually decreasing the amount of nicotine. I bought a whole carton of my next step ciggs so I would stay with it until I became accustomed to that level/taste. By the time I got to NOWs, I felt like I was just smoking air.
In my meditation I was shown that there are circuits of energy that are built up by habits. We are aware that it takes energy and effort to build a positive habit and that was present for me building a habit of smoking. I had to fight against all the signals my body sent me that told me this was not good for my body: dizziness, nausea even vomiting. When you build a habit energy circuits are formed. There is a daily circuit, a weekly circuit, a monthly, a quarterly, and a big yearly circuit. Each has to be broken to succeed at quitting. Knowing that at a year there will be a day that will be so full of urges that it will feel almost as bad as the first day of quitting helped me realize it was only one day and I could push my way through that one day. The first three days of quitting break the daily cycle. The first three weeks break the weekly one and so on. The first year was the worst. Later years were easier. There are also object and event specific cycles like after a meal. It helps to substitute something in it’s place, a strong mint gives a nice sensation and opens your air passages. Go outside and enjoy the air while taking your mint.
The meditation also suggested that I pay myself the amount I saved from not smoking and keep it until 10 days after my anniversary of quitting. I was to spend it on something to reward myself, something I would find rewarding. Initially I chose jewelry because I had little at the time and had great fun and a huge sense of accomplishment when I spent that first year money on some nice jewelry. I still buy myself a piece of jewelry each year to commemorate, but now the money goes to travel or to something I want that I normally would not allow myself, like a spa day. I call it my “mad” money. This has helped me stay quit when situations have offered the opportunity to smoke. I have looked a cigarette in the eye and said, I’m not giving up my mad money because as a true addict, I cannot even have one (one is too much a hundred are not enough).
Exercise was crucial and I was guided to take a steep uphill walk picking up a large stone and carrying it until I became winded. I walked the same path daily and picked up the stone each day to carry it further giving me a very real indication of the improvement in my breathing abilities.
Homeopathics to cut urges helped.
Isolating myself from my family on my worst days helped. I had to tell them not to expect me to be reasonable for three days initially and again at intervals for a day here and there, especially at the year day.
Switching from coffee to chai tea helped because the tea was not associated with smoking.
Staying out of bars and places where smoking was prevalent also helped. It was a few years before I could risk this and it has been helpful that most establishments have gone to no smoking indoors.
Breathing deeply on purpose helps.
I’d love to hear what helped you quit smoking. What is your success story?

Fibroids Revisited

The posts on Fibroids receive the most comments of all the posts on this website. Interesting how many are seeking natural ways and how many are experiencing fibroids. In previous posts, I have specified the types and amounts of digestive enzymes that worked for me. What I want to focus on here is the emotional aspect behind the fibroids. You can get rid of fibroids, but if you do not heal the underlying issues, they may return until you do. I am not of the school that all illnesses have emotional substrates. I believe that some illnesses are programed into our lives by us to help us learn or experience certain things. Another cause can be that we have come to clear certain kinds of illnesses as a service to humankind. Then there are the effects of karma. When there is an emotional substrate, Soul Integration is one process which can help you access and clear them. There were definitely emotional issues in my case and Soul Integration: questioning in deep meditation and opening to the feelings, memories and visions (some found in past life experiences) led me to understand and heal them and I have been able to help others do the same. Hand and hand with physical measures, clearing emotional strands can help speed recovery and can contribute to its permanence.