As a headache sufferer and one who enjoys a glass of red wine at dinnertime, I am not happy about the fact that I often get a headache upon drinking a glass of red wine. My research shows that I am not alone.

What causes this, and how can we avoid the headache without giving up the wine?

One theory holds that the culprit is histamine, found in grape skins. Red wine contains more histamine than white wine because it’s made from the whole grape (including the skin), not just the juice.

Dictionary.com defines histamine: "A physiologically active amine, C5H9N3, found in plant and animal tissue and released from mast cells as part of an allergic reaction in humans. It stimulates gastric secretion and causes dilation of capillaries, constriction of bronchial smooth muscle, and decreased blood pressure."

(This would explain why I also sometimes get a hay fever-like reaction to red wine.)

Celeste Robb-Nicholson, Editor in Chief of Harvard Women's Health Watch, says, "Some people have a shortage of an enzyme that breaks down histamine in the small intestine. Alcohol also inhibits the enzyme, so the combination may boost histamine levels in the blood, which can dilate blood vessels and cause a headache."

Well, that makes sense.

Tannins, another compound found in grape skins, could be to blame. Tannins stimulate the release of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which causes headaches in some people.

Some experts think that sulfites, a preservative used in wine, are to blame. But many white wines and other foods also contain sulfites, so this explanation isn’t very satisfactory.

Any alcoholic beverage can dilate blood vessels in the brain and cause a headache.

On a positive note, the incidence of each of these potential headache triggers varies from one wine to another, so if one wine gives you a headache, try another. When trying a new wine, start with a small amount and wait 15 minutes for a reaction. Don't drink alcohol on an empty stomach, stay hydrated, and don't over-indulge.

And, as a fan of inexpensive good wines, I can assure you that it isn't the "cheapness" of a wine that makes it more likely to give you a headache.

* * *

Try one of these butterbur preparations I've found for you at Amazon.com. To learn more about butterbur and its value for headache sufferers, go here:

©2007 Lisa J. Lehr

Graphic images ©2006 Noelle Dodd

All rights reserved.