How your allergies are tied to estrogen (and why red clover is the answer)

histamine flares are more likely on day 12-14 of your cycle ( so, could phytoestrogens help?)

estrogen receptors can be found on immune cells. 

A rise in estrogen triggers histamine to rise, and rising histamine then triggers estrogen to rise … and a perpetual cycle begins.  

as rising estrogen triggers histamine release, it also decreases DAO enzyme which is responsible for breaking down the histamine. 

so, what other parts does estrogen have to play in immunity? 

estrogen fluctuations during a woman’s cycle have been shown to also heighten the effects of asthma -this could be to do with how estrogen can relax the smooth muscles in the airways (and the whole body), and the effect on airway cilia movement of estrogen and progesterone. 

trends have also been found between high estrogen and autoimmune conditions. 

but, it’s not all about how bad estrogen is. Like all things, the effects of estrogen are nuanced; 

some positive ways oestrogen effects immunity : 

• increasing antibodies 

• reducing inflammation 

• supports mucosal barrier integrity  

the key here is ‘balance’ -when estrogen is in balance in relation to progesterone AND as an isolated number, then it has positive, protective immune effects, out of balance, and it could be a trigger for allergies including asthma.

Does this mean there’s a place for modulating estrogen through herbal medicines when it comes to immunity? 

Possibly. There’s a small amount of research exploring this link between phytoestrogens and immune-modulation, with positive effects like ‘inhibiting an allergic inflammatory response’ and ‘suppressing specific immune responses’ 

Particular interest in the research is on ‘genistein’ , a type of isoflavone phytoestrogen, which can be found in Red clover. 

Perhaps if you have both hormone issues and allergies, red clover tea is the best place to start?