Peat Archive

Ray Peat viewed histamine as part of the inflammatory cascade that includes estrogen, serotonin, and prostaglandins. He noted that histamine promotes inflammation, vasodilation, stomach acid secretion, and allergic responses, and that it rises under stress and with estrogen exposure. Antihistamines, in his view, have broader protective effects than just allergy relief.

Peat recommended cyproheptadine (an antihistamine and anti-serotonin drug) as a particularly useful agent, as it blocks both histamine and serotonin. He also noted that progesterone has antihistamine properties, and that reducing the inflammatory cascade at its source (PUFAs, endotoxin, estrogen) is more effective than blocking individual mediators.