Strange Story Of Laura Shows Why HRT Can Be Useless, If Not Detrimental, During Menopause...

Read how Laura started managing her strange menopausal reaction without the use of HRT, extreme diets or extreme supplementation.

Case Study: Supporting Perimenopause, Histamine Sensitivity & Poor Detox Pathways - Without Supplements

When Laura (name changed for confidentiality) came to work with me, she was in early perimenopause and feeling overwhelmed by symptoms that seemed to appear and disappear unpredictably. She had tried different supplements in the past, but pretty much all of them seemed to make her feel worse triggering inflammation, skin reactions, irritability and even hives.

She also noted that her weight was creeping, her energy was inconsistent, and her mood became more sensitive around her cycle. Like many women in perimenopause, she felt her body was suddenly reacting to things it never reacted to before.

She needed a solution that was gentle, personalised, and did not rely on supplements!

Understanding Her Unique Physiology

From the very beginning, it was clear that this wasn’t a simple “eat this, don’t eat that” situation. Her symptoms suggested deeper hormonal and metabolic imbalances, so we decided to take a more investigative approach to start with. 

Epigenetic Testing

We ran epigenetics tests to understand how her body processes hormones, toxins and inflammation. 

The biggest finding?

Her detoxification pathways were genetically compromised - especially the pathways involved in clearing oestrogen and regulating inflammatory responses.

This was a huge breakthrough.

It explained why:

• She reacted strongly to many supplements
• Her symptoms varied so much across her cycle
• She was prone to histamine issues and hives
• Her mood and energy dipped sharply at certain times
• Her weight was harder to manage than before

Her body simply couldn’t clear and process things efficiently and in perimenopause, when oestrogen levels are naturally higher in so many women, this was particularly relevant to her.

Why Detoxification Matters in Perimenopause

In simple terms:

Oestrogen needs to be cleared daily (yes even if it comes from HRT)

If detoxification is slow or blocked, oestrogen builds up and becomes “congested.”

This can lead to:

• Histamine reactions
• Hives
• Breast tenderness
• Mood swings
• Water retention
• Heavier periods
• Weight changes around the hips and thighs
• “Wired but tired” energy crashes

This is extremely common in early perimenopause when oestrogen can spike unpredictably.

Histamine & Oestrogen Are Connected

Oestrogen increases histamine release and histamine increases oestrogen.
So when detox pathways are sluggish, this feedback loop becomes even stronger.

This explained exactly why Laura reacted to so many things that never used to bother her.

The Challenge: She Couldn’t Tolerate Most Supplements

Many women manage these symptoms with targeted supplements, but in Laura’s case, this was not an option. Even small doses triggered inflammation, itching or hives.

So we built a plan based heavily on food, habits, herbs and lifestyle tools and although we approached it slowly and gently - it worked.

Our Plan: Gentle, Sustainable & Completely Personalised

Supporting Detox Pathways Without Supplements

Since her genes showed reduced capacity in Phase I and Phase II liver detoxification, we focused on daily habits that boost natural detox:

• Brassica vegetables (broccoli, kale, cabbage)
• Herbs & spices (ginger, turmeric, rosemary, parsley, coriander)
• High-fibre meals to support oestrogen clearance
• Hydration, electrolytes and balanced minerals
• Daily movement for lymphatic flow

But the biggest breakthrough?

Sauna Therapy

Saunas became her most powerful tool.

Because sweating bypasses some liver detox pathways, it’s incredibly effective for women who can’t tolerate supplements.

After a few weeks of regular sauna use, she noticed:

• Fewer histamine reactions
• Calmer skin
• Less swelling
• Better sleep
• More stable energy
• Improved mood
• Easier weight management

This was a turning point - something her body responded to beautifully.

Hormone-Supportive Eating Patterns

At first we tweaked her macronutrient ratios to her menstrual cycle phases so that her body is fuelled and nourished but equally we don’t overdo it. 

We adjusted her nutrition to support fluctuating oestrogen:

• Higher protein to support metabolism
• More carbohydrates during high-oestrogen phases
• Eating patterns that stabilised blood sugar
• Cycle-based nutrition to reduce symptoms at certain times of the month

This helped her feel grounded and reduced the overwhelm around food decisions.

Weight, Mood & Energy Support

As her detox and histamine pathways improved, something else happened:

• Her weight stopped creeping up
• She had more stable energy
• Her mood became more predictable
• She reported feeling “more like myself again”

This wasn’t about dieting, it was about working with her physiology, not fighting against it.

The Transformation

Today, Laura continues to manage her perimenopausal symptoms with far fewer reactions than before. She:

• Has a personalised routine that supports detox without supplements
• Uses sauna therapy as one of her main tools
• Has greater control over weight and inflammation
• Understands the connection between hormones, histamine and symptoms
• Knows which foods and habits calm her system
• Feels more stable across her cycle
• Has improved mood, digestion and energy
• Feels empowered - not overwhelmed

She now sees her body as something she can work with, rather than something that constantly reacts unpredictably.

Why This Case Matters

This case highlights something extremely important:

Many women in perimenopause don’t need extreme diets, medication or heavy supplement routines. They need personalisation.