A method for a messaging engine to control messaging within a virtual machine having a heap includes creating a list of destinations associated with a messaging engine and receiving parameters associated with the heap. The message production rates are controlled using the parameters and heap usage. For example, the parameters may include a lower limit that indicates that message production should be decreased (i.e., throttled back) and a step-down value. Using the lower limit and the step-down value, intermediate throttle-back thresholds are created, and when the heap usage transitions from below one of the intermediate throttle-back thresholds to above the intermediate throttle-back threshold, the message production rate is decreased. Further, other parameters may include an upper limit and a step-up value, which are used to determine intermediate throttle-up thresholds that indicate when the message production rate may be increased (i.e., throttled up).