Freedom from chronic hives: one mother's story: after limited success with medications, Diane Selkirk finally found relief from a six-year-long battle with hives. Here's how see did it

Better Nutrition, Sept, 2006 by Diane Selkirk

2. FOLLOW A LOW-HISTAMINE DIET. Maintaining a low-histamine, low-allergen diet considerably lightens the immune system's load and helps lessen symptoms. Foods to avoid include gluten grains, dairy products, peanuts, bananas, citrus fruits, eggs, shellfish, hydrogenated fats, processed foods, soy products, chocolate and almonds, as well as food additives, flavorings and colorings. Oranges, shellfish and many artificial colorings are particularly histamine-raising. Consume plenty of fresh organic vegetables and fruits (noncitrus if you are sensitive), especially those that are red, orange, purple and blue--these tend to be high in natural antihistamines. Get plenty of fiber by eating beans, lentils and whole grains every day along with the fresh organic produce. Also, drink plenty of water and avoid caffeinated drinks and beverages with high-fructose corn syrup. Drinking anti-inflammatory herbal teas several times a day, such as nettle or green tea, can also help.

3. TRY ANTI-INFLAMMATORY NUTRIENTS. Using anti-inflammatory supplements daily can help lower your body's histamine load, stabilize histamine-releasing cells and lessen symptoms. Take capsules or tablets of the bioflavonoid quercetin, 500mg three times a day 20 minutes before meals, plus omega-3 and omega-6 oils, 2,000-3,000mg daily of omega-3s and 1,000mg daily of omega-6s.