the.com/histamine
Your body's tiny alarm bell that screams about danger even when it's just pollen.
means A chemical released by your immune cells that triggers inflammation, itching, swelling, and other allergy symptoms as part of your body's defense response.
from Coined from Greek 'histos' (tissue, the same root as 'histology') plus 'amine,' the chemistry suffix for nitrogen-containing compounds derived from ammonia. The name is purely descriptive — it's literally the amine found in tissue — reflecting its discovery as a compound widespread throughout the body's cells, where it sits stored in mast cells waiting to be released.
- made by
- mast cells, stored in granules, ready to riot
- true job
- widens blood vessels so immune cells can swarm in
- side effect
- turns a bee sting into a red angry monument
- also lurks in
- aged cheese, wine, and leftover fish