Histamine Well Podcast: Exploring Histamine, Methylation & Holistic Health

Can an imbalanced gut microbiome contribute to anxiety and depression?

We often think of mental health conditions as beginning solely in the brain. However, growing research suggests that the gut microbiome may also influence mood through the gut–brain axis.

In this episode of The Histamine Well, Joanne explores what gut dysbiosis is and how the gut communicates with the brain through the vagus nerve, immune signalling, inflammation, stress hormones, short-chain fatty acids and neurotransmitter precursors.

Joanne also examines what the research actually says about probiotics, intestinal permeability, depression and anxiety—without overstating the...

Could sluggish bile be affecting your digestion, gut health and histamine symptoms?

In this episode of The Histamine Well Podcast, Joanne Kennedy explains the essential role bile plays in fat digestion, nutrient absorption, liver detoxification and microbial balance. She also explores how poor bile flow may contribute to SIBO, histamine intolerance and increased oxalate absorption.

Joanne breaks down four popular bile-support supplements—ox bile, TUDCA, taurine and phosphatidylcholine—including how each works, when it may be considered and why they are not interchangeable.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

In this episode of The Histamine Well, Joanne explores the powerful connection between stress, cortisol, mast cell activation, and histamine intolerance. She explains how chronic stress can keep the nervous system trapped in fight-or-flight mode, trigger histamine release, and contribute to symptoms such as itching, flushing, headaches, sinus congestion, digestive issues, and skin reactions.

You’ll learn how the HPA axis responds to stress, why cortisol is helpful in the short term, and what can happen when the body becomes less responsive to cortisol’s anti-inflammatory effects. Joanne also discusses how reduced vagal tone may affect inflammation, mast...

Could oxalates be the hidden reason your histamine intolerance symptoms aren’t improving?

In this popular podcast replay, Joanne is joined by Melanie Peers to explore the often-overlooked connection between oxalates, histamine intolerance, inflammation, gut health, and nervous system dysregulation.

Oxalates are naturally occurring compounds found in many foods—including some commonly considered healthy. For sensitive individuals, a high oxalate load may contribute to pain, digestive problems, urinary symptoms, fatigue, and increased reactions to foods and supplements.

In this episode, Joanne and Melanie discuss:

What is histamine, and why does it cause so many frustrating symptoms? 

In this replay of one of our most popular episodes, Joanne explains the science of histamine intolerance in a simple, practical way. Learn how histamine affects your immune system, gut health, hormones, brain, and skin, why histamine levels become too high, and the common symptoms of histamine intolerance—including migraines, anxiety, insomnia, hives, eczema, reflux, bloating, and more. 

Discover why a low-histamine diet alone isn't enough and why identifying the root cause is the key to lasting relief. 

Whether you're new to hi...

One of our most downloaded episodes is back.

If you've been diagnosed with histamine intolerance, MCAS, or unexplained food sensitivities, this replay is one you won't want to miss.

In this listener-favorite episode, Joanne Kennedy explains why histamine intolerance is not a diagnosis—it's a symptom of deeper underlying health issues. While many people rely on a low histamine diet to manage symptoms, lasting improvement comes from identifying and treating the root causes driving excess histamine production.

Drawing on years of clinical experience, Joanne walks th...

Many people with flushing, hives, anxiety, brain fog, digestive issues, food sensitivities, and heart palpitations are told they have either histamine intolerance or Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). While these conditions can look remarkably similar, they have very different underlying mechanisms—and understanding those differences is often the key to finding the right treatment.

In this episode, Joanne explains the difference between histamine intolerance and MCAS, why symptoms overlap, and why some people continue to react despite following a low histamine diet. Drawing on her clinical experience, Joanne explores how histamine is processed in the body, the ro...

Many women enter their 40s expecting a few hormonal changes, but are often unprepared for the anxiety, sleep disturbances, fatigue, low mood, histamine symptoms, weight changes, and nervous system shifts that can accompany perimenopause.

In this episode, Joanne shares her clinical and personal experience working with women through perimenopause and menopause, including her own journey with bioidentical oestrogen and progesterone. She discusses the signs of low oestrogen and progesterone, the limitations of standard hormone testing, and how bioidentical hormone therapy may support women during this transition.

You'll learn:

Methylation has become one of the hottest topics in functional medicine, biohacking, and wellness. From MTHFR testing to methylated supplements, many people are being told that boosting methylation is the key to better energy, mood, detoxification, hormone balance, and longevity.

But what if more methylation isn't always better?

In this episode, Joanne explores the science behind methylation, the roles of MTHFR and COMT, and why relying solely on genetic reports can lead to inappropriate supplementation. Joanne explains the difference between undermethylation and overmethylation, the symptoms of excess methyl groups, and why many people experience worsening...

Could histamine be contributing to Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)?

In this episode of The Histamine Well Podcast, Joanne explores the growing interest in the connection between PMDD, histamine intolerance, mast cell activation, and hormonal fluctuations. As more women report improvements in PMDD symptoms with antihistamines, the question is gaining attention: could histamine be a missing piece of the PMDD puzzle?

Joanne breaks down the science behind the estrogen-histamine feedback loop, explains how histamine interacts with estrogen and progesterone throughout the menstrual cycle, and discusses why some women experience worsening mood symptoms during the luteal phase.<...

Persistent fatigue is one of the most common—and most frustrating—symptoms experienced by people with mould illness. Many find that despite sleeping more, resting, pacing themselves, and trying countless supplements, the exhaustion simply doesn't improve.

In this episode of The Histamine Well Podcast, Joanne explores the hidden connection between mould illness and mitochondrial dysfunction, revealing why fatigue can persist long after mould exposure has been identified.

You'll learn how three key factors often work together to impair cellular energy production:

In this episode of The Histamine Well Podcast, Joanne explores the hidden connection between mould mycotoxins and Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) — and why so many people with chronic digestive symptoms may be missing the true root cause of their gut dysfunction.

If you’ve been struggling with bloating, reflux, constipation, diarrhea, histamine intolerance, food sensitivities, nausea, fatigue, or recurring SIBO that never fully resolves, this episode explains how mould exposure may be contributing to ongoing nervous system and digestive dysfunction.

Joanne breaks down the mechanisms behind mould-related gut issues, including how mycotoxins impact the vagu...

What if your histamine symptoms aren’t just about food? In this episode of the The Histamine Well Podcast, Joanne explores the overlooked connection between bile flow, histamine intolerance, SIBO, estrogen dominance, mold exposure, oxalates, methylation, and chronic inflammation.

Bile plays a critical role in digestion, detoxification, hormone clearance, and microbial balance in the gut. When bile flow becomes sluggish, it can contribute to bacterial overgrowth, poor fat digestion, impaired estrogen detoxification, oxalate accumulation, and worsening histamine symptoms.

In this episode, Joanne explains:

Can methylated B vitamins make your symptoms worse instead of better? In this episode of The Histamine Well Podcast, Joanne explains the connection between high homocysteine, histamine intolerance, methylation, and why some people react poorly to methylated nutrients.

High homocysteine is associated with cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, inflammation, and neurological health concerns — yet lowering it isn’t always simple. Many people experience headaches, anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, skin flare-ups, or worsening histamine symptoms when taking methylfolate or methyl B12.

Joanne breaks down the methylation cycle in simple terms, explains the role of histamine in nutrient tole...

Can you take Calcium-D-Glucarate while on HRT estrogen during menopause? In this short Q&A episode of The Histamine Well Podcast, Joanne explores the relationship between estrogen detoxification, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), menopause, gut health, and histamine-related symptoms.

Many women are advised to take supplements that support estrogen detox, but is this always the right approach when using bioidentical hormones or estrogen therapy? Joanne explains why Calcium-D-Glucarate may not be beneficial for menopausal women on HRT, how estrogen balance works during menopause, and why understanding your hormone dose matters for symptom relief and long-term wellbeing.

...

In this episode of The Histamine Well, Joanne shares a powerful clinical case study exploring the connection between SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), histamine intolerance, hormonal imbalance, estrogen dominance, gut health, bloating, acne, fatigue, and PMS symptoms.

This episode follows the journey of a 37-year-old woman who experienced rapid body changes over two years — including unexplained weight gain, chronic bloating, severe PMS, hormonal acne, headaches, fluid retention, breast tenderness, digestive discomfort, and low energy. Through functional testing and a naturopathic treatment approach, Joanne uncovers how gut dysfunction, histamine overload, and hormone imbalance can work together to drive ch...

Can something as simple as an Epsom salt bath support detoxification, gut health, and nervous system regulation?

In this Q&A episode of The Histamine Well Podcast, Joanne breaks down the clinical benefits behind Epsom salt baths (magnesium sulfate)—and why they’re often recommended for patients dealing with histamine intolerance, sulfur issues, chronic fatigue, and food sensitivities.

You’ll learn how magnesium and sulfate work together in the body, how they’re absorbed through the skin, and why this gentle therapy can support everything from sleep and muscle r...