Salicylate intolerance is not fully understood by scientists.
The condition is often misdiagnosed, and there’s a variety of possible treatments.
Some salicylates are relatively easy to stay away from, but others are nearly impossible to avoid.
This article looks at the evidence-based ways to treat salicylate intolerance.
What are salicylates?
Salicylates is the general term for chemicals that have salicylic acid as their base.
Salicylic acid is a naturally occurring organic acid found in a variety of plants. These plants produce it as part of their defence system against diseases, insects, bacteria and environmental stress.
Salicylic acid is used as an ingredient in synthetic salicylates and a variety of other products. Aspirin, for example, is made by combining salicylic acid with a chemical called acetic anhydride.
Summary: Salicylates are a group of chemicals that form part of a plant’s natural defence system. They are also used as ingredients in a variety of products.
What is salicylate intolerance?
Most people tolerate regular amounts of salicylates without any issues.
However, in some people even a small dose can cause problems. This is called salicylate intolerance or salicylate sensitivity.
The term is often used for two related but different problems.
Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease, or AERD, is a recognised condition involving asthma, chronic sinus disease with nasal polyps, and respiratory reactions after aspirin or certain anti-inflammatory medicines (2).
Food-related salicylate intolerance is less clear. Some people report symptoms after eating foods high in salicylates, but the research is limited and the symptoms overlap with many other conditions (3).
Two different questions
A medicine reaction does not automatically prove a food intolerance
Aspirin or NSAID sensitivity
A recognised medicine reaction
- Often involves asthma, nasal polyps and breathing symptoms after a medicine
- A clear history may be enough to diagnose
- An aspirin challenge belongs in a clinic
- Medicine safety comes first
Symptoms blamed on food
Possible, but the evidence is thinner
- Gut, skin or respiratory symptoms may occur
- Symptoms overlap with many conditions
- There is no single confirming blood test
- Use a short elimination and reintroduction
- Aim to return to the broadest diet tolerated
A reaction to aspirin does not automatically prove that food salicylates are causing digestive symptoms. The two questions need to be assessed separately.
Summary: Salicylates do not cause problems for most people. Aspirin and NSAID sensitivity is a recognised medicine reaction, while food-related salicylate intolerance is less well understood.
Signs and symptoms of salicylate intolerance
Reported symptoms vary from person to person.
They can include:
- Sinus inflammation and infection
- Polyps in the nasal and sinus passages
- Asthma, wheezing or chest tightness
- Hives, itching or tissue swelling
- Abdominal pain, nausea or diarrhoea
These symptoms can look very similar to an allergy. They also occur with asthma, IBS, migraine, medication reactions and many unrelated conditions, so symptoms alone cannot identify salicylates as the cause.
Aspirin and other NSAIDs can worsen asthma in people with AERD because of the way these medicines block the COX-1 enzyme (2).
Get urgent help for a severe reaction
Call emergency services if you develop trouble breathing, severe wheezing, faintness, or swelling of the tongue or throat.
Do not try to manage a serious medicine reaction with a diet.
Summary: Symptoms can affect the nose, lungs, skin or gut, but they overlap with many other conditions. Severe breathing symptoms or swelling need urgent medical care.
Food sources of salicylates
Many foods naturally contain salicylic acid.
Reported levels of salicylates in foods differ somewhat, likely due to different methods of analysis and the growing conditions and varieties of plants tested.
In general, the highest amounts are found in fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices. Plain cereals, meat, fish, eggs and dairy products contain very little or none.
The examples below come from a 2024 NHS patient leaflet. They are a practical starting point rather than a universal ranking, because measured levels vary between sources (1).
| Examples often listed as higher | Examples often listed as lower | Usually little or none |
|---|---|---|
| Strawberries, cherries, Granny Smith apples, currants, raisins and kiwi fruit | Banana, peeled pear, mango, blueberries, blackberries, honeydew melon, orange and grapefruit | Plain fresh meat, poultry, fish, shellfish and eggs |
| Raw tomato, tomato puree, asparagus, sweet corn, peppers and peas | Cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, green beans, lettuce and aubergine | Milk, butter, plain yoghurt and cheese |
| Curry powder, oregano, mustard, ginger, mixed herbs, cinnamon, cumin, paprika, rosemary and thyme | Garlic, coriander, fennel, chilli and horseradish | Plain rice, oats, wheat, rye, barley, pasta, bread and unflavoured cereals |
| Mint, menthol, wintergreen flavouring, some fruit juices, wine and cider | Levels vary widely in tea and other drinks, so check the specific product | Water |
A food appearing in one column does not mean every person will react to it, or that it must be avoided forever.
Other sources of salicylates
Many health and beauty products and household items also contain salicylates.
They can be used as fragrances, preservatives, exfoliants, conditioners, and anti-dandruff or anti-acne ingredients. Check the ingredient list rather than assuming every product in a category is a problem.
Possible non-food sources to check
Ingredients vary. Read the label rather than avoiding whole product categories.
Medicines
- Aspirin or acetylsalicylic acid
- Products that name a salicylate
- Some cold or pain products
Ask a pharmacist before changing anything prescribed.
Skin products and muscle rubs
- Salicylic acid acne products
- Wintergreen muscle rubs
- Some creams and lotions
Skin exposure matters most when a specific product repeatedly triggers symptoms.
Mint products and fragrances
- Mint or menthol mouth products
- Wintergreen flavouring or oil
- Benzyl salicylate in some fragrances
The ingredient list is more useful than the product name.
Summary: Salicylates are found in many foods, medicines and personal-care products. Foods with the highest amounts tend to include spices, fruits and vegetables.
Does salicylate intolerance cause other digestive diseases?
The evidence is too limited to say that salicylate intolerance causes another digestive disease.
In a small controlled study of 10 people with IBS, the group as a whole did no better on a low-salicylate diet than a high-salicylate diet. Two participants showed a possible response, including one person with known aspirin sensitivity (4).
That result is worth further study, but it does not show that salicylates explain most unexplained gut symptoms.
Summary: Research has not shown that salicylate intolerance causes IBS or inflammatory bowel disease. Digestive symptoms should be assessed on their own merits.
Treatments for salicylate intolerance
Treatment depends on what is causing the reaction.
If aspirin or another NSAID triggers breathing symptoms, speak with a doctor or allergist. Do not stop a prescribed medicine or test the reaction again at home.
People with AERD may need medicine management, sinus treatment, aspirin desensitisation or, in selected cases, biologic therapy (2).
If food seems to be the trigger, keep a food and symptom record before cutting anything out. A short elimination followed by reintroduction is more useful than removing several food groups at once.
Summary: Medicine reactions need medical assessment. Suspected food intolerance is usually tested with a short, structured elimination and reintroduction.
Is a low-salicylate diet necessary?
For most people, no.
Small trials in people with AERD have reported improvements in nasal or asthma symptoms on a low-salicylate diet, but the studies are limited and the diet is only an add-on to medical care (5, 6, 7).
For IBS and other digestive symptoms, the evidence is much weaker. The controlled pilot study mentioned earlier did not find an overall group benefit (4).
Restrictive elimination diets need particular care in children. One review found that salicylate elimination diets can reduce nutritional variety and may make feeding problems worse (9).
Summary: A low-salicylate diet may be worth a short trial for selected adults, followed by reintroduction. Children should not follow one without medical and dietetic supervision.
A low-salicylate diet plan
Adults who have found no relief from other treatments may wish to try a short low-salicylate diet.
Important tips to keep in mind:
- Only foods with the highest levels of salicylates should be avoided.
- Restrict high-salicylate foods for a maximum of four weeks before reviewing the result (1).
- Slowly reintroduce higher-salicylate foods, noting any symptoms in a food and symptom diary.
- Include plenty of fruits and vegetables that are not on the higher-salicylate list.
Here is the original three-day example plan:
Day 1
Breakfast: Cereal with milk and banana.
Lunch: Salad with shredded cabbage, grilled chicken breast, shredded cheese and dressing; peeled green apple.
Dinner: Baked fish with brown rice and roasted Brussels sprouts.
Snacks: Yoghurt and peeled pear.
Drinks: Water and milk.
Day 2
Breakfast: Yoghurt with granola and sliced, peeled pear.
Lunch: Sandwich with wholegrain bread, sliced turkey breast, iceberg lettuce and cheese.
Dinner: Breakfast-style burritos with wholegrain tortillas, scrambled eggs, black beans, cheese and shredded cabbage.
Snacks: Celery sticks with hummus, string cheese and peeled green apple.
Drinks: Water and milk.
Day 3
Breakfast: Oatmeal with chopped cashews.
Lunch: Tuna sandwich on wholegrain bread, lentil soup and peeled pear.
Dinner: Baked chicken with mashed white potatoes and green beans.
Snacks: Yoghurt, banana and wholegrain crackers with sliced cheese.
Drinks: Water and milk.
If you feel a low-salicylate diet plan may help you, see a registered dietitian to help you plan an appropriate balanced diet.
Fish oil for salicylate intolerance
Looking at supplements, only fish oil has been examined for salicylate intolerance.
One small report followed three people with severe hives or asthma attributed to salicylates. After taking fish oil for six to eight weeks, all three reported complete or nearly complete improvement (8).
Unfortunately, a three-person report is far too weak to support a treatment recommendation. Ten grams of fish oil per day is also a very high dose and should not be tried without medical supervision.
Summary: Fish oil has only been tested in a report involving three people. It is not a proven treatment for salicylate intolerance.
We have much more to learn
Salicylate intolerance is a poorly understood condition.
Treatment can be difficult because it shares symptoms with many allergies and other food intolerances.
Salicylates are also present in a wide variety of foods, medicines and personal-care products, making them difficult to minimise.
If aspirin or another anti-inflammatory medicine has caused wheezing, chest tightness or a strong nasal reaction, speak with a doctor or allergist. Do not change prescribed medicine on your own.
If food seems to be the trigger, keep a simple food and symptom record before cutting anything out. Then use a short, structured trial with reintroduction. The aim is to test the theory and get food back in, not to build a longer avoid-list.
References
The numbered citations above link to the matching sources below.
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. Salicylate sensitivity. September 2024. Next review due September 2026.
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD). Updated April 8, 2026.
- Skypala IJ, Williams M, Reeves L, Meyer R, Venter C. Sensitivity to food additives, vaso-active amines and salicylates: a review of the evidence. Clinical and Translational Allergy. 2015;5:34.
- Tuck CJ, Malakar S, Barrett JS, Muir JG, Gibson PR. Naturally-occurring dietary salicylates in the genesis of functional gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: pilot study. JGH Open. 2021;5(8):871-878.
- Sommer DD, et al. A novel treatment adjunct for aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease: the low-salicylate diet: a multicenter randomized control crossover trial. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology. 2016;6(4):385-391.
- Sowerby LJ, Patel KB, Schmerk C, Rotenberg BW, Rocha T, Sommer DD. Effect of low salicylate diet on clinical and inflammatory markers in patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease: a randomized crossover trial. Journal of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery. 2021;50:27.
- Jura-Szoltys E, Rymarczyk B, Gawlik R, Glück J. Low-salicylate diet in patients with NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease: personalization of indications to dietary treatment. International Archives of Allergy and Immunology. 2025;186(1):67-74.
- Healy E, Newell L, Howarth P, Friedmann PS. Control of salicylate intolerance with fish oils. British Journal of Dermatology. 2008;159(6):1368-1369.
- Gray PE, et al. Salicylate elimination diets in children: is food restriction supported by the evidence? Medical Journal of Australia. 2013;198(11):600-602.
The 3 day diet is not low sals. I have sals intolerance and would be ill if I fo,llowed your diet. For example the only low sals lettuce is iceberg, tomatoes are high sals. They basically rip; my stomach apart my reaction is so bad to them. There are many other examples here of high sals. Plesae ensure your information is correct before publishing. The RPAH in Sydney is the world leder in this – but is not mentioned anywhere. http://www.slhd.nsw.gov.au/rpa/allergy/resources/foodintol/salicylates.html
Thank you! I agree this page has conflicting information from everything else I’ve seen.
Actually, you are misinformed about the tomatoes. It is the canned tomatoes that are high in sals. Fresh tomatoes don’t have as much. If fresh tomatoes rip up your stomach, it isn’t because they are high in sals. Other people can eat them in a limited fashion.
I can eat fresh tomatoes only if I peel them!! This was a discovery I made two years ago, and I am enjoying them again after many years!!
Its the lectins in the seeds and skin of the tomatoe that are the problem.
roma are pretty good fresh, no seeds.
I recently been asked to do an elimination diet for three weeks for my 7 years old….heard many mums with ADHD children have found an improvement by removing the high content foods. Not quite convinced as couldn’t find any studies confirming calculates linked to hyperactivity. I can see you haven’t mentioned it at all in your article. I might give him a go with fodmap which is less restrictive.
Hi, A complete elimination diet might be going a bit far but taking all the additives out of a diet would a great idea. I’ve heard a lot of wonderful stories come out of the mouths of mothers who have done this. It’s awful when you think of the things that these people can put into packets these days and actually call it food. I go cross eyed trying to read lables, or I did until I stopped and when onto all natural stuff.
Yours sincerely Toni.
This is the worst list I’ve ever seen. I’ve been salicylate sensitive for more than thirty five years and I know there is probably fifty or sixty items missing off this list. The only one that is nearly right is the herbs which I have to agree with. When It comes to the fruits and vegies it’s only fifty percent right and where there drinks are concerned…..well you can walk through the supermarket with your eyes shut. There’s nothing you can pick up off the shelves except water and milk. All the other stuff which is just frrit and coloured water is off the list. Teas especially.
I recently suffered anaphylaxis after taking 2 soluble aspirin for a headache. For 2 months prior to this I had been experiencing intermittent rashes/hives, headaches, lethargy and occasional vomiting for no obvious reasons. Various food allergy tests have been carried out with the only positive result being egg white. After seeing a dermatologist last week he suggested that I check out salycilates. Wow, what a minefield? I am determined to crack this and would be grateful for the benefit of your personal experience as I find the food lists quite confusing. Many thanks
I am very similar to you last year i went into anaphylactic shock and was passed out by time ambulance came from taking asprin. I never had an alergy before then. Since then i have been experiencing awful stomach pain vomiting, bloating and reactions. Only through my own research i found out about salacites in foods products etc my immunologist never told me anything about avoiding foods or products. Since elimating anything on high list from my diet i do not have any more symptoms.
Toni, what would you consider a good source? I was just informed to start this diet and need to know EXACTLY what I can and can not eat. Any help is greatly appreciated! Ericabeth3@gmail.com
HELP Please….I have had severe acid reflux for 8 years and thought I d tried every diet, but had not heard of salicylate, histamine issues. Can someone recommend a diet that has NO allergy/salicylate/histamine/etc.. issues….at this point I just want to rule out that it could be ANYTHING I am eating, but I don’t know where there might be a list that covers it all so I can just jump in and see. Also, if I do this type of diet..how long is a fair time to try it to see if it effects my reflux. Thanks…you all seem to have more knowledge than I do and doctors are just not helping at this point.
Hi,I had acid reflux for around 15 years and took prilosec or some other pill for it every day. If I missed a does I thought I was going to die. due to chronic hives for 24 years I decided to try the elimination diet to see if I could get the hives under control. I had tried other things, juice fast ect. 4 weeks in I stopped taking my prilosec one day. I was just waiting for (all you know what) and nothing happened . I had no acid reflux. It was a miracle. Its been about 2 week off meds and not one bit of reflux. None! I still cant believe it.The the doctor tells me I have to be on this diet for 4 to 6 months to clear and heal my immune system and hives.I pray this helps you. I thought I would be on prilosec forever and it is very dangerous. Its like the doctors want you on the meds . No one had any advice for me. On the diet I was very weak the first couple of weeks …getting off the sugar. I ate a lot of melon that helped me sugar level out . http://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780195371109/pdf/00_Mullin_Appendix_3.pdf
My hives are not better at all but my doctor said 4 to 6 months . I will do anything at this point to heal my body so I am going to keep doing it. Check with your doctor and see what they think. I hope and pray for you . I know how bad reflux is and Im so thankful that I have at least cleared that up.
I am 67 years old. Self-diagnose SALS intolerance about 5 years ago. My life has drastically changed for the better. Here is the site taught me: http://salicylatesensitivity.com/
Much info and it will take a while to comprehend. When I first started the diet I ate only the foods in the very low and low categories. I noticed a difference in a few days. Ate only those foods for the first 2 weeks. Keep in mind that even some of the foods in these categories can have an adverse reaction. I now limit myself to 1 or 2 servings from the medium category a day. There are days I have food that I shouldn’t and I pay dearly for it for 2 to 3 days. Its all trial and error. But once your body starts to feel better there is no going back to old eating habits. You won’t want to. And I need to share. Mom use to say if you are hungry you will eat anything. Believe me, the food may get boring but Mom was right, of course! Wait long enough and the boring food tastes great. Over the years I’ve found Malt Vinegar is delicious. Did not like it at first. Hope this info helps you. Good luck!
Go to salicylatesensivity.com The food list there is accurate and comprehensive. I live by it. Otherwise it’s hives and anaphylaxis with an unpleasant 30 minute sit on the toilet.
Start with Australian RPAH like Joyce said. Also Sue Dengate’s Fed Up and the Failsafe Cookbook, as well as her website Food Intolerance Network. There is also a blog called Cooking for Oscar that would be helpful for anyone dealing with Salicylate Sensitivy/Intolerance. They’ve been lifesavers for me since the end of March when I became histamine and salicylate sensitive in conjunction with my seasonal allergies.
Hello all that feel/know they are salicylate intolerant. I discovered this for myself at 5 yo – some 55 years ago now – but was told I was imagining it and just get on with eating what was dished up. At the ripe age of 40 I finally rediscovered the link between migraines, constant unwellness, and nausea – and it was all the healthy salads and coffee I was consuming topping up my toxic chemical content. I was so over the couple of days off per month without a migraine – and the constant black bags under my eyes from the repetitive toxins I was consuming under the guise of healthy food – that I sought out an allergist.
I was advised that whilst I didn’t have “an allergy”, the nasal inflammation and repetitive migraines – and possibly my lifelong dance with rheumatoid arthritis and being unwell indicated there was something amiss. Having been then referred to a dietitian, I proceeded to undertake the ELIMINATION DIET to determine what my cause was. THIS WAS BRILLIANT – although testing at times – BUT I HAD VALIDATION OF WHICH NATURAL FOODS WERE POISONING ME CONSTANTLY, by my own hand.
This is not a quick fix, but if you have the same problem as me, this process helps find your triggers and helps you become well again. I have been on a very low salicylate diet now for 20 years, and I know that when my stress levels go up, my tolerance levels drop rapidly, and then if I eat the wrong things, I’m back to migraine and nauseous territory for days/weeks.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND that when you eat something your body reacts badly to, it can take days/weeks to get this out of your system. Prevention is better than cure, so find your trigger/s and drastically reduce or eliminate those triggers. MELONS are not anywhere near my diet these days or gravy/sauces, and DON’T FORGET, if you’re eating off a fruit platter – with mixed fruits – the juice is just as toxic to you as the fruit itself. So don’t eat off anything that is not separated to meet your needs.
I hope this helps,
Jacky
melanieAvalon.com has a fantastic compiled food sensitivity comparison guide that lists whether a food is low, medium, or high in histamines, amines, glutamates, oxalates, salicylates, sulfites, thiols, and nightshade. It’s proven accurate when compared to lists like the RPAH and the SIGHI list of histamines. I went through and compiled a list of low lows, then low mod foods that saved my sanity when shopping for things I could comfortably eat. A big part is definitely removing the food additives, food colors, and extra sugar that so many commercial products contain. Good Luck.
HELP Please….I have had severe acid reflux for 8 years and thought I d tried every diet, but had not heard of salicylate, histamine issues. Can someone recommend a diet that has NO allergy/salicylate/histamine/etc.. issues….at this point I just want to rule out that it could be ANYTHING I am eating, but I don’t know where there might be a list that covers it all so I can just jump in and see. Also, if I do this type of diet..how long is a fair time to try it to see if it effects my reflux. Thanks…you all seem to have more knowledge than I do and doctors are just not helping at this point.
Reply
What is the best option for pain relief. I cannot take aspirin due to severe breathing problems, but I seem to also struggle with paracetamol. Am I imagining the paracetamol reaction or is there a definite connection between paracetamol and silicylates. I’ve tried codeine but it makes me nauseous and seems to be a weak pain killer. Any options would be grateful
Hi Alan, best to talk to a pharmacist about that one. Thanks 🙂
Hi Alan, Iv’e been allergic to NSAIDs for years and me Dr. gives me a prescription for a muscle relaxer for times when my back or neck are sore. These probably wouldn’t work on headaches though, luckily I don’t get those.
I have the same problem and I’m desperate for a pain killer for headaches! Any ideas would be much appreciated! Thanks.
I got the intolerance for over 7 years, every time I eat tomato or drink too much coffee, honey, the asthma will attack and I must use the Prednisolone at least 20mg per day.
Around an half year ago, I just tried to take 2 pills fish oil daily after read your post, it’s really helpful. Thanks a lot for your information.
You’re welcome Tam 🙂
I am so glad that others have jumped in to note how ill-informed the list of salicylates is in this article – I would be really ill if I ate that 3-day diet! And the comment about “plenty of fruit and veg for kids” if kids are sals sensitive this would not help at all. I cannot eat any fruit even ripe green pears which are supposed to be the lowest sals fruit.
I used the Fed Up web site to work out what to eat – if you have kids with issues it is good to work with a dietitian who is completely familiar with FAILSAFE diet. FAILSAFE stands for: Free of Additives, Low in Salicylates, Amines and Flavour Enhancers. I do have to say the Fedup web site is not easy to use but once you work out how to use it the info is the best out there (the program is the one that Sue Dengate from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney Australia has worked on). There are books you can get with clearer info. Yes, cooking for Oscar is good.
I am also sensitive to amines which the FAILSAFE diet deals with that too.
Really important to eliminate non-food sources of Sals (especially for kids) – toothpaste and even the mildest soap is a problem for me. I use charcoal tablets for brushing my teeth (which is the best tooth cleaner there is) and use DermaVeen products for body and hair washing. Perfumes must be avoided at all costs!.
Am going to try fish oil to see if it reduces symptoms.
“The mechanism by which aspirin and other pain relievers containing salicylates affect asthma is not clear…” FALSE. Many studies have shown that in aspirin-sensitive asthmatics (AERD, Samter’s Triad) are reacting to NSAID medications (including those that are NOT salicylates) because they inhibit the COX-1 enzyme. We are reacting to the “acetyl” part of aspirin NOT the salicylate. Experts on these diseases do not recommend avoiding dietary salicylates because they do not inhibit COX-1 and would not cause a reaction. Please inform yourself.
https://www.samterssociety.org/low-salicylate-diet
I have been salicylate intolerant almost all my adult life.( I was born with severe eczema.) However, I was only diagnosed about 2 years ago, by a frustrated doctor as a throw away line, after I was unable to tolerate the supplements she was prescribing to improve my gut health! As I was leaving her surgery, she suggested in quite a loud voice, that I google salicylates! How my life has changed!!
Just a few warnings…..
Watch manufacturers carefully. If I see ‘new and improved’ on an item now I panic! Recently, have been caught with worrying results. First on was Coles bread which was recommended by the dietitian from the Salicylate Intolerance clinic at RPA hospital here in Sydney. When the loaf was reduced to $1.80 a loaf I thought I was on a winner. But no, after only a few weeks, I knew something was wrong, and discovered they had substituted palm oil for the recommended canola oil. Also Arnotts Scotch Finger biscuits, which were my sweet treat, substituted palm oil in all of their biscuit range ( excluding Cruskits). I can no longer eat Arnotts!
I have found a local doctor here now, a new graduate, who is very interested in my situation. As a last resort, I needed to seek medical advice, because one of my symptoms of salicylate overload is rheumatic like pain in my joints, and my hands had locked up! I now take prednisone when I flare up, but I am only able to take any drug for 2 or 3 days. His parting words to me when I was leaving his surgery were…… C …you are between a rock and a hard place, but you have to get your levels down! Easier said than done! Welcome to my world!
I have had aspirin/ NSAID allergy since my mid 30’s when I also began to have hives and asthma, along with sinusitis and later nasal polyps. Lost my sense of smell 10 years later and started having recurrent respiratory infections in my 50’s. 6 years ago things got so bad – I was wheezing and coughing most of the time and getting itchy rashes, I couldn’t sleep properly and so became fatigued. When I got ear infections and eye infections and became sensitive to preservatives in medicines and foods…especially sodium benzoate, I began to panic. I started a medium to low salicylate diet 5 years ago and it was magic !
I stopped itching; I stopped wheezing and coughing at night; my rhinitis improved as did my hayfever interestingly; nasal polyps began to reduce over the next year and occasionally my sense of smell returns. I have been on this diet for more or less five years. I know how much salicylate foods I can manage. I feel the itching if I’ve over done it. It does mean I can occasionally have a tomato based sauce or a small glass of red wine, as long as I don’t have them together
New information, very critical about why this is happening, read the menopause and allergy article. https://healinghistamine.com/the-menopause-histamine-connection/
omega 3 can heal, extra virgin olive oil can increase the DAO, folic acid other B’s help balance, watch out for the olive oil try small amount on skin first, I put too much on and since my Magnesium levels are high and olive oil is high in magnesium I went over my bucket and got half an hour of drizzle in both my eyes. Like rain on the window in my eyes, very trippy and scary first time in happened when I was driving from soaking in epson salts too much. It is one of my symptoms when I go over my bucket, another is vertigo and of course all the regular stuff like hives, rashes, itchy eyes, skin, diarrhea etc. etc. I’m going to try zinc to lower my magnesium levels, got blood tested it is on the very edge of the high level. Drizzle in my eyes is very annoying! Hard to drive can strike whenever. Luckily it passes. Also going to try natural progesterone as getting a hysterectomy soon and assume my allergy symptoms will get even worse now after reading the link between these hormones and allergies.
Having a healthy methylation cycle also helps dealing with food sensitivity and intolerance. https://histamine.ae/methylation-cycle/