Do you experience a range of unexplained symptoms – eczema, skin rashes, fatigue, headaches, IBS, joint pain, poor sleep, or random allergic reactions with no clear trigger? If HRT isn’t helping – or even making things worse – or if your blood tests keep coming back normal but you still feel awful, histamine intolerance could be the missing piece of the puzzle.
This little-understood condition is tricky to diagnose but more common than you might think. For some women in menopause, an underlying intolerance can escalate into a serious problem. To help unravel this mystery, I’m joined by a leading expert on histamine intolerance, Dr Tina Peers, who also happens to be a menopause specialist, so we’re in the best possible hands.
Tina first became interested in histamine intolerance through her daughter’s long history of unexplained illness. She shares their journey to diagnosis and treatment, which ultimately led her to specialise in this field. Since then, she’s helped thousands of people through her clinic.
In this episode, we cover:
- The essential role of histamine in the body and what happens when you can’t metabolise it properly
- The typical symptoms of histamine intolerance
- The difference between mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and histamine intolerance
- Why these conditions are so difficult to diagnose
- The connection between oestrogen and histamine metabolism
- How an underlying intolerance can become severe during menopause
- Managing histamine intolerance – including the role of a low-histamine diet
Tina is an absolute mine of information. If you’re struggling with a range of unexplained symptoms and finding it hard to get a diagnosis, this episode might just be your lightbulb moment.
Show Notes
Find our more about Tina and the work that she does on her two websites: DrTinaPeers.com which features some helpful information and resources on histamine intolerance in this section, and MenopauseConsultancy.co.uk which is her clinical website.
Check out the MCAS information website Tina recommended Mast Cell Action.
Here is a link to Tina’s Recommended Products Page
You may also be interested in My Medical Choice
For advice on nutrition and menopause, check out my book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish
Biography
Dr Tina Peers qualified in 1983 from Guy’s Hospital Medical School and has enjoyed a fulfilling 41-year career. She began as a GP, then transitioned to a Consultant in Contraception and Reproductive Health and specialised in Menopause Management. In 2019, she established a clinic to treat patients with MCAS, Long COVID, and post-vaccination symptoms. Dr Peers organised and introduced the first Treating Long COVID 2-day Conference in June 2021. She has found that a holistic approach is essential in managing these complex cases.
In January 2025, Dr Peers stepped away from allopathic medicine to broaden her scope beyond traditional practices. She now fully embraces Integrative Personalized Medicine, focusing on the underlying causes of conditions rather than just treating symptoms. She continues to offer regular patient advice and uses her extensive experience as a Naturopathic doctor. Dr Peers remains the clinical lead for The Menopause Consultancy and retains her memberships with the British Society of Ecological Medicine and Freedom Health Connect.
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