The ‘Killer’ Die-Off Toxins of Candida
If you have a Candida albicans infestation in your body and you finally decide that you need to do something about all the problems it’s created for you, and you begin to follow a Candida diet and/or take certain antifungal substances, then sooner or later you will experience what is officially referred to as the “Jarisch-Herxheimer” reaction, also called a “healing crisis” or, in the case of Candida, it’s usually referred to as die-off or die-off toxins. The name Jarisch-Herxheimer is the official name given to the physical reactions from the release of toxins by the dying Candida because the two dermatologists who discovered the die-off reaction were Karl Herxheimer and Adolf Jarisch.
Anytime you are able to destroy a large number of pathenogenic micro-organisms in your body during a fairly short amount of time, as the organisms are dying they naturally release endotoxins which the body and especially the liver and kidneys must work to remove. If you want to see more on endotoxins, please see theTextbook Of Bacteriology. When you have a Candida infestation and you’re going through a detox period, or you’ve started a Candida diet which avoids the food on which the Candida can survive, or you’re taking mild to strong antibiotics and/or probiotics, the Candida in your body will begin to die. When this happens the dying Candida begin to release endotoxins which in this case are aldehydes; the aldehydes are naturally capable of creating mild to severe reactions and symptoms in your body.
In addition to the aldehyde toxins excreted by the dying Candida, the living Candida albicans are constantly releasing other types of toxins and endotoxins in your body. The number of the various toxins can reach as high as 70 to 80 different toxins. Each one of these toxins is harmful to the human body, but two of the strongest toxins produced by the living Candida which normally present the most severe problems are ammonia and ethanol. Ammonia and ethanol can both change the environment of the intestines in favor of the Candida making it easier for the Candida to survive and reproduce.
Acetaldehyde toxins are capable of killing brain cells, damaging the endocrine system and therefore causing an imbalance of hormones, damaging the respiratory system, your immune system and adrenal glands, as well as causing damage to red blood cells which carry oxygen to different organs and the throughout the body in general. This helps you to understand why the die-off symptoms include such bothersome symptoms as fuzzy brain also called brain fog, dizziness, and even the tired feeling; all because your body is not receiving an adequate supply of oxygen due to the aldehydes being released by the dying Candida.
There are so many different symptoms caused by the Candida toxins aldehyde, ethanol, and ammonia and others that all of the various symptoms are not named here, but a sensible list of the most common symptoms are:
depression and/or anxiety or other psychological symptoms- flu-like symptoms sometimes with fever
- joint and muscle pain
- dizzy-headed
- fast heartbeat
- fuzzy headed
- mild to severe headaches
- anger
- flatulence
- gas, bloating, diarrhea or constipation
- skin rash
- swollen glands or lymph nodes
- mouth thrush and dry mouth
- sweating
- fatigue or chronic fatigue
- inflammation
- constant feeling of being weak and tired
- loss of sleep
- nausea
- upset stomach
- itchy or sore throat
In addition, any of your Candida symptoms may become worse as the healing process begins, and as was mentioned previously, this is referred to as the healing crisis or healing reaction, and is a common experience when the Candida are dying by the millions inside your body. In addition, the toxic symptoms and healing reactions are normally exacerbated by the fact that your body is using energy to replace the defective tissue and damaged cells that the Candida and toxins have caused during the infestation.
Of course, not everyone will experience every symptom named above, but anyone who has a Candida overgrowth and manages to destroy a fairly large number of the Candida during a matter of days, will normally experience more than a few of the symptoms named. Candida and Lyme disease both have similar die-off symptoms, and they can be often confused for each other, but there are dangers associated with that.
Living with Candida overgrowth and the Die-Off Symptoms
Sufferers of Candida infestations are constantly asking how long both the Candida overgrowth symptoms and the die-off symptoms are going to last. There may be some websites that will tell you that the die-off symptoms will end within a week or two, but to be honest, no one can give you an answer to either question. The reason for this is because each and every infestation is different and each person will react differently to a Candida diet and treatment; everyone has a different population of Candia albicans in their intestines and colon, everyone’s infestation includes different problems with it such as leaky gut syndrome and crashed adrenals, and everyone will treat a diet and treatment plan differently meaning some people will be more determined and faithful to their diet while others cheat when they know they shouldn’t. All of these factors play a role in determining the length of time that you will be on a Candida diet and treatment as well as how long you will have to endure the die-off symptoms.
In the meantime and while you are treating the Candida infestation, there are several supplements you can take and actions you can perform which will help to lessen the toxins and therefore lessen the toxic effects and symptoms your body will endure.
The Supplements
The most important supplement I can recommend to you in order to prevent further damage from the aldehydes, ammonia and ethanol in your system is an essential element by the name of Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate. (I highly recommend you get it from Amazon.com, I have linked it to the page). You must be certain that the information on the container reads Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate and not simply “Molybdenum” because there is a difference. MAAC is a bis-glycinate (glycinate is a non-essential amino acid) with excellent absorbability and a chelating agent which is capable of removing heavy metals and toxins from the bloodstream by binding the toxins or metals to the amino acid. The chelation process of MAAC will actually change the aldehyde toxins into an acid which is not harmful to your body; in fact, this acid is actually more detrimental to the Candida than it will be for you.
You should try to purchase Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate in pill form like the one I linked above, and preferably 250 mcg per pill (note that this is mcg and not mg), and take one pill three times a day, morning, noon, and night. It would also be preferable for you to take this for three straight days before starting any type of detox, Candida diet, or adding an antifungal to your treatment. Once your die-off symptoms have ceased or lessened to a great degree, you can begin to decrease the number of pills by one pill every three days as long as the die-off symptoms do not return.
Three days before you start the detox or diet you can also start drinking an herbal tea called Nettle Leaf. This is an antioxidant which will also supply a safe form of copper to your body which sometimes begins to deplete if you should have to take the Molybdenum for a prolonged period of time because of the die-off toxins. Drink several cups of the tea throughout the day, or you can take the nettle leaf herb in capsule form if you prefer. Nettle leaf will also support your kidneys, your thyroid and adrenal glands throughout your treatment. We offer the finest selection of Nettle Leaf Tea specially for candida patients for over a decade.
CandidaOFF is manufactured by us at Probacto. It is a herbal mixture of three different herbs which, together, are capable of destroying the Candida while at the same time either lessens or prevents the die-off toxic effects, or the symptoms of die-off. This type of performance by a mixture of substances is called synergistically or synergy and is explained as the interaction between two or more elements which together produce an effect different from and greater than the effects of each individual component.
CandidaOFF contains Pau D’Arco Bark, Lemon Grass and Marigold. Vitamin C and Milk Thistle are also essential in working to decrease your candida infection.
Pau D’Arco Bark: This is an herb which has been used to treat and cure strep throat bacterial infections, liver disease, eczema, and it kills viruses and fungi such as Candida albicans. It’s also contains properties which lessen the effects and symptoms from the Candida die-off toxins.
Lemon Grass: Since lemon grass contains many anti-oxidant minerals, it’s a perfect herb or tea to use during the process of detoxification of the body, especially the kidneys. It’s also used to cure insomnia and indigestion.
Marigold is full of anti-oxidants which will safely detox the body as well as protect the body’s cells from further damage due to the Candida toxins and preventing oxidation which can produce oxygen-free radicals which are capable of suppressing the immune function. For the dosage of CandidaOFF, follow the instructions on the label.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C contains natural anti-inflammatory properties, is an antioxidant, and a natural diuretic which means that by drinking lots of water along with vitamin C it will to reduce the die-off toxins by literally washing them from your body. Vitamin C is also used to strengthen the adrenals which you will need to be in top performance to aid the immune system in fighting the Candida overgrowth as well as the die-off toxins. During the first one to two months on a Candida diet and treatment, taking 1000 mg of vitamin C three times a day would be a benefit to removing the toxins and protecting your body at the same time. Don’t stop taking the vitamin C all at one time, instead you can slowly decrease the amount to 1000 mg a day once your die-off and Candida symptoms have ceased.
Milk Thistle: The herb milk thistle will protect your liver from Candida toxins and heal the damage that has already occurred. Any supplement of milk thistle should contain at least between 70 and 80 percent silymarin, biologically active component of milk thistle. Most people with liver damage can take up to 420 mg a day with water. Be sure to purchase the capsules containing the powder form.
Actions to take during your Worst Die-off period: One thing that you should already be doing if you have a Candida infestation is drinking more water than you normally do. Water presents a flushing action in the kidneys as well as the tissues and cells of the body which washes the toxins out of the body. Drink as much water as you can especially during the die-off period.
If your die-off symptoms are severe and are making you literally too weak or too sick to continue with your normal daily schedule, you may be using too many antifungals or too high a dose of your antifungal. The natural thing to do is to take away one or two antifungal supplements if you are taking more than one, and if you’re only taking one at that time, you should either cut the amount way back or stop taking it all together until the die-off symptoms have stopped or at least decreased by a large degree to a point where they are no longer bothersome. You can also try decreasing your usage of probiotics until things get under control. Antifungals are used to kill the Candida cells, and if too many Candida are being destroyed at one time, then this will create more toxins in your body and therefore the symptoms of die-off will be worse. Once you feel the die-off symptoms lessen to a large degree or stop, you should wait a few days and slowly begin to increase the amount of your antifungals and probiotics, but try to keep in mind what it felt like when you were taking too large an amount or too many at one time.
Sauna and Tub Soaks: If you have access to a sauna during the die-off period, this is an excellent way to detox the body. Using a sauna can enhance the detoxification processes allowing more toxins to be expelled from the body, plus taking a sauna can also cleanse and rejuvenate the skin as well as relieve stress.
Hippocrates was once quoted as saying, “”Give me the power to create a fever and I will cure any illness.” There’s a specific reason that our bodies produce a fever when we’re sick; when you have a fever the body heat is increased to a higher than normal temperature, and this higher temperature will destroy certain bacteria and viruses. A sauna can be used to create a ‘mock’ fever which will increase the healing factor by increasing your body’s antibodies, white blood cells, and interferon which is an anti-viral protein that will help to protect your body from various viruses.
The first time you use a sauna you should remain inside the sauna for only around ten minutes; this is so that you can become aware how your body is going to react to the new sensation of a sauna. If you are able to handle ten minutes with no aftereffects, then the next time you can probably remain in the sauna for 20 to 30 minutes. You must remember to stay properly hydrated as you will sweat a lot and if you are not hydrated during this period you can cause issues.
If you do not have access to a sauna, the next best action to take is to soak in a tub of medium-hot water for 10 to 20 minutes. The water should be medium-hot but not so hot as to burn your skin, just hot enough to cause your body temperature to rise and to cause perspiring. The room should be very warm and any drafts areas should be closed off so that your body will be more likely to perspire during the time you’re in the tub. Be sure to drink plenty of water whether you’re taking a sauna or soaking in a tub of medium-hot water.
Stress is one of your body’s worst enemies whether you’re suffering from the die-off toxins or from the symptoms of the Candida infestation. Stress can weaken your immune system because it affects the adrenal glands in such a negative way and learning to rest, sleep and relax as often as possible during your die-off period and throughout your treatment will be a huge benefit to the outcome of your treatment.
Hopefully, your die-off period will be short-lived; but whether you experience the toxins for a few weeks or a few months, the supplements and actions described above will help to protect your body from and lessen the effects of the die-off toxins.
The links that are on the Candida Diet and Protocol as well as the links in these articles were placed there by the owners of this website, Probacto.com. Any and all payments that are received via the links as well as all profits from the sales of products marketed on this website are received by the owners of Probacto.com.
Comments
Source: http://blog.probacto.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-herxheimer-candida-die-off/
Hello, Thank you for the wonderful information first of all… Second I’m curious to know your thoughts on all of this with an added factor. .. breastfeeding. I’m missing my son of eight months exclusively, and have had to go paleo due to recent celiac disease diagnosis along with early inflammatory bowel disease
I was raised on processed food, lots and lots of sugar. I know the “die off” feeling, I’ve felt this different times and can relate to the discussion about appropriately blaming symptoms on food intake, supplements etc. I’m worried now though, very very much, about these toxins and the milk my sweet son is living on…. Any suggestions? Please and thank you!!
site administrator,
your article indicates to take Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate and not Molybdenum, but the product you link is
purely Molybdenum and not Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate please explain. thank you
kimerlea,
I also wondered about the same thing, but I looked at the douglas labs website.
They list each capsule as:
Molybdenum (as molybdenum amino acid chelate) 250mcg.
So it appears that it is the correct product, molybdenum amino acid chelate.
Does anyone have experience with this…….inside my head & ear noise ? is it the fungus fighting back? I am detoxing & experiencing the herx effect and have ringing going on in my ears and also what I would describe as constant white noise. It makes it hard to get a decent nights sleep. My brain fog makes me feel like an idiot. I can’t leave the house much and sometimes I feel like I’m going to cry but then I pull it together. I think i’ve been doing this detox for 10 weeks. Will i wake up one day and be healed? I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
I too had the white noise and ear-ringing experience at night a few weeks ago. It is not pleasant. I can’t tell you what changed as I don’t know, but it did stop. I may have reduced the amount of antifungals (coconut oil at that time) or something else. I’m sorry you’re going through a hard time with this. I have found the whole detoxing/candida diet a real rollercoaster with some uncomfortable and painful moments. I have faith that we can all fully recover from this beastie but it will take time and a lot of commitment!
Jay, I am using unrefined coconut oil in my diet as well, due to its anti fungal properties. I’m not using much, though (1-2 teaspoons a day for cooking my meals). I think I could benefit by using more. How much were you using, and how were you using it?
Deedee Did you get a Lyme test?, Lyme sufferers get candida. Brain fog and ringing in the ears are symptoms of Lyme also. I have candida because I got Lyme disease first and most people with Lyme will get candida.
Hi the article blog states that Candida & Lyme both have similar die-off symptoms, and they can be often confused for each other, but there are dangers associated with that. Can you tell me what the dangers associated with that are? I am a bit confused and worried about this. THANKYOU I would appreciate all answers.
I am also a breastfeeding mother and therefore I do not take any supplements. The FDA does not regulate supplements in the U.S and therefore we hae no traceable path to their effects and side effects. I am on the Candida diet and I am experiencing die-off and so I believe the anti-toxin suppplements and meds are unnecessary. I know this post is really old. I just started the diet and found the link. What I am doing is eating Fage plain full fat yogurt with almost every meal of veg, cooked and raw, as a dressing–and in between meals as a snack to hold me over–blended with raw garlic, fresh lemon, some buttermilk and fresh herbs and then ground in spinach, kale, and avacado and salt and pepper, sometimes cucumber but not much, or it gets to watery. Make sure there is Iodide in your salt. No supplements. You don’t need them and they may never get to your blood anyway.
Hello Stephanie,
I was actually pregnant when I was diagnosed by my naturopath as having candida. I wasn’t really sure what it was then, but she gave me a modified candida diet and we handled the die-off very slowly.
I was told that I need to keep my die-off minimal, and really just take care of my health as best as possible. I think you need to be careful with any supplement, I was recommended to take probiotics as well as low dosages of a product similar to candidaoff and molybdenum. I didn’t go overboard with antifungals until I was completely done nursing.
Thanks so much, Stephanie. I also am pregnant and have been fighting candida for 2 months, mostly by diet. I’ve also been taking molybdenum, garlic, and coconut oil. I finally started on a topical OTC out of desperation (my lower abdominal muscles seemed weekend, and I was concerned about the toxins). I have been learning mostly about this on my own, as I haven’t fully trusted the medical route.
How were your symptoms with this approach? Did you still carry candida when giving birth?
Would you be willing to provide a way for me to get in touch with your naturopath?
Thanks,
Kristen
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I have a yeast overgrowth due to so many antibiotics. My Dr. has prescribed 1 tablet ketoconazole 200mg every Thursday and 1 Tablet Terbinafine HCL 250 mg. Every Monday for eight weeks. I am into my second week and the die off is bad. I am so tired I can hardly hold my head up. What should I be taking with this? I am taking my regular vitamins+c+b12 and coconut oil capsules. Thanks any help would be appreciated.
Anna,
You clearly have yeast overgrowth because of the strong prescription medication your doctor gave you, and wouldn’t give it to you unless you had a bad yeast infection. Having candida die-off is one of the reasons most people quit a candida diet, and it’s torturous to deal with. If I was you, I would not be looking to take anymore antifungals like whole virgin coconut oil, but I would still use it for things of course.
Instead, I would follow everything that Sean mentions like getting good rest, taking candidaoff works better for me than molybdenum, but both are important. Drink like 4-6 glasses of nettle leaf tea a day, there’s no reason you should hold back it helps clean your body out and is loaded with antioxidants. You might as well make a big pitcher and drink it throughout the day.
If you’re going to take probiotics (which you should), I’d recommend probacto because it digests the yeast which causes less die-off than other probiotics. Other than that, good luck.
Anna – could I enquire what your symptoms were to be on the two antifungal drugs? Most of my symptoms seem to be above the bowel and am going to see an oral specialist this coming week. If the regime worked with you it might be useful information for me to take with me. Only taking caprylic acid at the moment to sort out my bowels, nutritionist says to sort that out first before systemically as apparently the immune system begins from the bowel?? Thanks
Thank you for this information. I have been confused also, because my symptoms seemed to be getting a lot more severe whilst taking the antifungal supplements and being on the candida diet! I was aware of the die-off symptoms, but still wasn’t sure whether it was this that was making me feel so much worse. Hopefully, after reducing or stopping my supplements for a while, until the symptoms decrease, I can then continue with them.
I can’t thank you enough for this download. A doctor of Chinese medicine diagnosed me with Candida and Leakey Gut 20issues yrs ago. Taking alot of suggested supplements, herbs, probiotics, but never seen it so easy to understand. Plus the recipes! Thank you”
Hi I am on a chitin synthesis inhibitor program and I have severe die off…..uhhhhh it is terrible….has anyone ever had very sore stomach and colon super bloated and constapated….also I cry and am very health overwhelmed?………anxiety bad about feeling so awful….please ancwer me …thanks…..sisko
I take moderate to high does of this really pure vitamin C I get online.It really helps me cope and helps greatly with the die off stress symptoms.
Which vitamin C is that?
Meditation, light exercise and yoga. Also, surround yourself by supporting people as much as possible. The anxiety you have will make everything feel much worse.
Hi there,am feeling pretty sick right now,I believe from the die off period. I was first suggested about a yeast free diet in a local health food shop. He did warn me I would feel crappy but it has really knocked me. I thought I had flu,but after taking paracetamol and ibprufen i still had bad head and its throbbing and when I cough my whole back hurts.I’ve been drinking plenty of water and resting well. I’m sure I will get there but boy its tough. Good luck with all that try. X
My daughter has had over growth of yeast since she was in diapers. She is now in her early 20?s. We are just now finding out that she has candida. She is doing a detox and is on a special diet. She has always had a discharge, But now the discharge is darker yellow. Can this be a symptom of yeast die off?
Hi Sisko, I, too, have been taking a candida cell wall inhibitor along with coconut oil, fresh garlic, and lots of water and chrysanthemum tea. Initially, I had sore stomach with gas, but learned of magnesium to help with constipation. I use a product called CALM. Take in the evening to help with sleep and in the morning you will also find relief for the constipation. It helped to clear the colon of die off toxins which we’re making me light-headed, dizzy, and anxiety stricken.
I had been suffering from sinus infections and ear drainage for several months which the dr gave me antibiotics….I had to stop antibiotics and nasal spray when I realized they were actually making my symptoms worse!!
I am gradually gaining control of my health as the candida is cleansed from my body, and it is worth the effort. My diet has changed with no wheat products and eating grass fed meats with plenty of veggies cooked with onions and garlic using coconut or olive oil.
Hang in there!!! It is worth the effort and helpful to know that others have endured similar situations especially when MD’s tend to be out of the loop. After all, they are educated by the pharmaceutical companies pushing the drugs which tend to encourage the candida growth.
I hope this info is helpful to you and anyone else suffering with this issue as it is very frustrating when you feel like you are alone in the search to your ailments. We tend to be our best advocate when it comes to understanding what is ailing us.
I have suffered for 15 years with Candida….to find out that I also have Longterm Lyme Disease. Wow! sick I have been….lost many foods to allergy……spent many thousands of dollars. Could no longer work. The previous article on die-off which talks about both dye-off for Candida and Lyme is probably the best information I have found. I can relate to most of the symptoms on the list and the latest to mouth and sore throat which I have never had. I have 2 of the best specialists for my problems, but now with this article made simple; I understand so much of my sickness has been caused from die-off. Every person suffering from this should read this. It is awesome. Now when I go to my doctors and allergists I will take the information I now understand with me. Hopefully I am going to feel so much better.
ann,
what specialist are you seeing for lyme? i have it too.
Hi Kathy,
my husband and I both have Lyme and i have had terrible candida for soooo many years too! i have been seriously trying to rid my body of the candida for at least 5 years. doing the Renew life Candigone cleanse among many other things that would more or less put it into remission for a while but yet still remained in the form allergies and such. Finally i found out about Lufenuron which disarms the parasites so they can be taken-out. i took the Lufenuron from the owndoc.com website for 3 days as instructed and then started the salt c protocol for Lyme which also then kills off the candida. I never really understood before that both Lyme and Candida are parasites. My husband has had Lyme longer than I and has been to “top notched and highly regarded” infectious disease specialists who didn’t really do jack-shit for him. and basically told him since the antibiotics weren’t helping to let time be the cure. Any way just wanted to let you know that the salt c protocol really works for the Lyme. and the Lufenuron with the salt c protocol works for the candida. oh and I think the die-off {herx} recommendations on this site are great. best wishes to you on your road to recovery
I have lived with this disease for 12years now. i was raped while in secondary school and i couldn’t talk to anyone. I have been having a lot of symptoms which includes, smelly discharge, weight loss, itchiness, alarming body temperature (this has been going on for three months), smelly breath, skin and scalp condition (seborrhea dermatitis). I was tested about three months ago with the lab result showing i had staph saprophyticus. after using a host of tarditional alternatives to medicine, i see no improvement and had to redo the lab test and the result now shows i have candida albicans. i am scared as i still experience all my systoms even though i’m on the said medication. (been using this medication for close to two months now). Somebody please help me
I can only say what I would do to me….Activated Charcoal pulls toxins and bacteria from the body. I would bath in a couple cups of it, and drinking a teaspoon slurry of it in water each day for a few days(and then a 1/2 cup of aloe vera juice for both support and keep me from constipation from charcoal). (start slow so I would get that rapid die off sickness). You can read more online about when to take it, as it can interfere with medications and nutrients, since it is absorbing all foreign substances. I would personally also shampoo, douche, and make a body spray with colloidal silver and water. I solve all my yeast/urinary tract and skin problems douching with a tbs of colloidal silver in a douche. Never been to the doctor since. Good luck. I hope you find a natural solution– and damb those shitty and violent people in the world…
Oh, and then I’d follow up with lots of good probiotics.
That colodial silver idea sounds like a good idea.I know My silver infused panty liners help me control vaginal yeast.My environmental MD told me that zeolite clay works better then charcoal for clearing out the endo/mycotoxins from die off so Im trying that route.
Hi Tolulope,
Did you change your diet? it’s the key to cure this yeast. And above all, take care of yourself, your emotions. You might need to talk to someone who is trustworthy.
Hope that helps!
Hi Tolulope,
I am so sorry that happened to you. I have just started seeing a homeopath to address my candida symptoms. I believe that my candida is related to my 10-12 year old self and coping with certain situations (or not coping with them), as that is when all my symptoms seemed to start. My first session was like therapy and the treatment seems to be helping.
All the best with you journey,
Stephanie xXx
Dear Tolulope,
The thing that I have found that helps the most to get rid of Candida is to NOT EAT SUGAR! This is so hard to do, but you have to give up cookies, ice cream, Cokes (sodas), cakes, and anything that is sweet (for me-even fruit). I have found that I can eat potatoes and other starchy foods like rice (I know starch turns into sugar), but these foods don’t bother me. It’s only the foods that have sugar. If I will stay off sugar for at least 3 weeks, I start to notice a remarkable improvement in the way I feel, and the diarrhea goes away and/or gets much better. I also take a probiotic, but sometimes you have to experiment with which one will make you feel better, or at least, not make you feel bad. I have taken some probiotics which make me feel worse – like the ones that have Bifidobacterium (and these are supposed to be good for you). I can take acidophilus, and right now am taking Kyo-dophilus, but there are many good kinds. Also, this doesn’t mean I can start eating sugary foods after 3 weeks; it just means that I feel better. I once stayed off sugary foods for 6 months, and my health improved. Then I had a delicious dessert with friends, and I was fine; I went back to no sugar. But later, I backslid and started eating the sugary foods again whenever I wanted, and the problems returned. So I know that I can only have a treat once in a great while, and then it’s back to avoiding sugar again. It’s very hard, but getting rid of abdominal pain is worth it. Remember, Candida loves sugar. I wish you well.
I recently have started having really bad candida over growth symptoms and have started using super strength oregano oil along with coconut oil as my anifungals.I eat a really pure diet as I have many food/chemical sensitivities and am finding it challenging to know what foods are left for me to eat.My MD who is an environmental specialist says whole grains(gluten free) are ok but sugar and fruit(except lemons,limes & coconut) is out when killing candida overgrowth,but others say rice & sweet potatoes are not.I’m feeling a bit confused as most of my food staples include brown rice,sweet potatoes and legumes but no potatoes.I’ wondering if brown rice especially is good or bad when trying to ‘kill the beast’ that is candida.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
AJ
ive read approximately a thousand articles on candida and leaky gut. it is clear to me now that ALL GRAINS ARE OUT. no potatoes either. these high carb foods just feed the candida. i am not saying never again, though i will never go back. you need much time to kill of the candida before introducing these foods again, and then with caution. i know it’s tough. i have been addicted to cocaine, cigarettes and caffiene in the past, and quitting carbs has been more difficult than all three put together. hang in there.
How do you take the coconut oil?
I have been wanting to try it but I’m not sure how to take it.
You could eat it right off a spoon. I started that way but as I eat it more often it has become harder to stomach. I now mix it with almond milk that is close to room temperature. Sometimes I add a little stevia but today I ran out and realized I could drink it without.
Try it in a smoothie or mix it into green tea!
I see a Chinese herbalist/ homeopath. She had me do a stool test and muscle test which determined I have yeast overgrowth. She has already had me on a strict diet for about 6 months. For those who are wondering you can google candida diet and follow the list of foods to eat. Go week by week for 4-6 weeks. Some do it for 6 mons I’ve read.
Recently she did a muscle test which showed the yeast is back. She has me taking garlic forte by standard process am and pm on empty stomach and prosynbiotic with every meal as well as a digestive enzyme hcl. I have noticed I have loose stool, stomach bloating and overall stomach upset. Is this part of the die off? My energy is better and I just want to get rid of this damn pest! I also drink 1 glass of water with lemon juice and 1 glass with ACV daily. The rest is plain filtered water…or very little kombucha. Thanks
hay just wanted to say that kombucha is TERRIBLE AND FEEDS YEAST, any yeast, in breads,and nutritional yeast, as well as mushrooms, and nuts (all organic nuts are already rancid in the store) thanks
Hi there,
Firstly, great article and it is really awesome to read everyone’s posts on here. I say that I have chronic candidiasis and very few people take me seriously.
I wondered if any woman noticed whether her die-off symptoms coincided with her menstrual cycle? I have been doing the candida diet for about 3 months now and I have noted that my die-off symptoms occur between ovulation and the first day of my menstrual cycle. This is when females have high levels of progesterone. I have read that progesterone actually aggravates/stimulates candida, maybe it does something to cause die-off as well? If anyone else has had this problem then please share.
Stephanie xXx
Hey Stephanie,
I can say, without question, that my die-off symptoms no doubt intensified with my monthly visitor. I had lost a lot of weight so I wasn’t getting my period at all, but when I managed to put some weight back on, and resumed my period, I defiantly noticed only what I could describe as intensified symptoms. I’m certainly not happy you’ve experienced the same, but I am grateful to see I was not imagining or over-reaction to what I was experiencing. I do hope you are feeling good and sticking to the process of ridding yourself of this pest. By knowing what we are dealing with and facing it accordingly, we are ahead of the game. I wish you strength and healing and again, hope you are doing well.
All my best,
XO
APG
I noticed the same thing!
I’m lying here miserable and not wanting to get out of bed. I’ve been sick with so many ailments for YEARS and I honestly had no idea what it was. I’ve been to so many doctors and the emergency room so many times that I’m afraid to even think about what my medical records look like. I just gave in and agreed that I had generalized anxiety disorder because I assumed that was the only explanation. I went to a naturopathic dr that recently diagnosed me with parasites in nearly every area and organ of my body. Even my eyes. Research the Internet for hours a day and it makes sense. The die off has been completely awful. I feel like I’m dying and am so surprised when I wake up alive each morning. I stopped taking my parasite pills 6 days ago and waiting for die off to stop but I am still feeling very debilitated. I’m wanting to know if stopping will be bad, does candida build up a tolerance for treatment similar to antibiotics. Will they mutate and become more resilient to being killed because I’m stopping my treatments until I can handle die off symptoms better?
Dear Tolulope,
The thing that I have found that helps the most to get rid of Candida is to NOT EAT SUGAR! This is so hard to do, but you have to give up cookies, ice cream, Cokes (sodas), cakes, and anything that is sweet (for me-even fruit). I have found that I can eat potatoes and other starchy foods like rice (I know starch turns into sugar), but these foods don’t bother me. It’s only the foods that have sugar. If I will stay off sugar for at least 3 weeks, I start to notice a remarkable improvement in the way I feel, and the diarrhea goes away and/or gets much better. I also take a probiotic, but sometimes you have to experiment with which one will make you feel better, or at least, not make you feel bad. I have taken some probiotics which make me feel worse – like the ones that have Bifidobacterium (and these are supposed to be good for you). I can take acidophilus, and right now am taking Kyo-dophilus, but there are many good kinds. Also, this doesn’t mean I can start eating sugary foods after 3 weeks; it just means that I feel better. I once stayed off sugary foods for 6 months, and my health improved. Then I had a delicious dessert with friends, and I was fine; I went back to no sugar. But later, I backslid and started eating the sugary foods again whenever I wanted, and the problems returned. So I know that I can only have a treat once in a great while, and then it’s back to avoiding sugar again. It’s very hard, but getting rid of abdominal pain is worth it. Remember, Candida loves sugar. I wish you well.
I wanted to add that I’ve been researching candida and switched from a parasite cleanse to a candida cleanse this past week. I picked up candida support pills and probiotics this past week from a local health food store.
Thank you for the great article as it has answered a lot of my questions. I had candida about about 20 years ago after taking antibiotics, it took me 6 months back then to get rid of this. Although I believe my symptoms were gone I would have flare ups here and there with itching but this time no discharge. My flare ups would happen when I ate to many sweets, I always could get it back under control with a health food store candida detox protocol that came in a box with pills and tincture. This time that box did not work so I went on a quest to find more solutions.
Maybe some of my tips might help some of you. Taking baths with 1/4 c. each epsom salts, baking soda, regular salt and a few drops of turpentine swish this all around and soak for 30 minutes. Turpentine oxygenates the skin ; salt draws out toxins. Please do research on the turpentine as I have, it really does work. You can also buy a aromatherapy oil called terbintine (I think that’s how it’s spelled) which is also made from tree sap as is turpentine. I have used a tincture of Marigold, and have bought marigold leaves from a health store; grind the leaves and use as a tea or use to stop the itching buy adding coconut oil to the ground up leaves. Drink thyme and bay leaf tea this helps also. Douche with food grade peroxide/water or apple cider vinegar / water. Large amounts of probiotics and eat paleo. Do not eat grains!! I have also tried rosemary and thyme tinctures with success. My problem is I do not wait long enough since once I feel better (couple of days to a week ) I cheat just a little and I’m finding out fast I can not do that. Also, sometimes I use to many detox protocols and forget to load up on probiotics or put back into my body the minerals all the detoxing takes out. The die off for me has been the most frustrating because I keep a food diary as to what foods effects me and when I’m doing everything by the book just out of no where I will itch then I have to look back and try to figure out what I did or didn’t do. A couple of times I felt depressed but this passed quickly as I loaded up on some B vitamins. Sometimes when I drink a lot of water I will itch sometimes when I take other oral concoctions that I make I itch so after I read the above article I have a better understanding of what this is I am dealing with. I also love beer but can not drink it right now because it is made from grains and yeast! Well, that’s my story I hope it may help stay POSITIVE as that helps.
3 yrs with guts problems.
multiple tests with6 different gynnys, digestivo department.,urologist, internal medicine.
how come none of these doctors even mentioned a fungal overgrowth.
in desperation I took Flagyl plus probiotic.
I thought I,d cured myself. I didn’t have a clue what was wrong with me.
after 3 months its coming back but this time I,m a bit more savvy.
but how can I tell if its a fungal or bacterial overgrowth.
I know this sounds mad but one time I sat on a strong Jacuzzi jet by mistake.
I,m thinking that could have harmed me in some way.
maybe the chlorine cleaned my rectum out of flora.
I,ve made a half hearted start to my new regime and actually feel a bit better.
I’m going to a barby tomorrow so after that I need to seriously get down to tactics.
got the coconut oil, nettle leaf,garlic etc.
but do I get myself some declofino also?
So far what I have learned is that when it’s a fungal infection, you sometimes may have this cottage looking cheese discharge but it won’t have a bad smell. Maybe you might not see it in your panties, I know this is too much info but I have been able to detect it when I get symptoms by putting your finger up and sort of moving it around like the doctor does sometimes during pap smears. Usually once you take it out you will be able to see the white small pieces. I usually don’t see the discharge in my underwear unless my yeast infection is really bad.
Hi Everyone,
Wow, what an excellent, informative article!! I have been through such hell over the past 2 or so years with chronic kidney problems, including infections. No Dr could establish what was causing these issues and it caused me and my family incredible frustration and heartache. I had lost so much weight that only recently had I gotten my period regularly again. I noticed symptoms that I put together and did a google search and low and behold, I discovered I had Candida Overgrowth. I’ve been faithful to my supplements, probiotics and diet and in addition, I take 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (with a small amount of chopped garlic added) daily. My die-off was not pleasant, but I’ve realized that if you look at the end result as your goal, you will get through it. Be vigilant in your treatment and realize there is nothing more important than your health. You will get through it and as a fellow Candida sufferer, I wish each and every one of you a speedy recovery. Hang in there, my friends.
All my best,
XO
APG
APG
Hello
Does anyone experience simple seizures as a die off reaction? Anytime I attempt to start following a low carb/low sugar yeast elimination diet I have simple seizures. It has been confirmed that I have lots of yeast in my bloodstream. If anyone knows of a way to stop the seizures while killing the yeast I will be so grateful!
Hey everyone!
All I can say is, Thanks for this article!!!
Last month I came down with a yeast infection but was misdiagnosed and was told it was an STD. I was so overwhelmed, but decided to go to another doctor and took a STD test and Papamwar test. What do you know, after the Pap smear exam the doctor looked at me and said ” you don’t have an STD, you have a yeast infection.” Thankfully my results came back negative and normal. I was so happy and was given Cipro, but recently this month I started having the same symptoms and the yeast infection is back. I was given the one dose of Diflucan and the 7 day creme. Right now it is my third day after taking the dose and I have been taking some pro biotic and coconut water. I was really worried, that my dry throat, muscle pain, feeling tired and a bit of a sore throat were an indication of my infection getting worse. But I am so relieved to find out that this is only a sign of me getting better.
Jessica, my understanding is that antibiotics make yeast worse because they kill the healthy bacteria too, that’s why the yeast keep coming back. Are you seeing a naturopath doc that will help you eliminate yeast effectively with diet and supplements?
Best Regards,
Julia
I just wanted to say that i agree with the person above that antibiotics makes the yeast worse because it kills the good stuff and feeds the candida. if you have taken a lot of antibiotics in your life that is what could have gotten you into this mess in the first place. Also DO NOT DOUCHE! Your vagina is a self cleaning oven and douching gets rid of your natural discharge. The natural discharge cleans it out and keeps your vag happy and healthy. STAY AWAY FROM SUGAR!!! It feeds the yeast and makes it grow. If you don’t eat sugar then it has no food and will starve. I am on day 18 of absolutely no carbs, no sugar, or even natural sugar because I couldn’t take feeling like crap anymore. I have celiac disease and before they figured out that’s what it was I was told I had leaky gut from Candida so the doctor at the time was half right I did have leaky gut but it was from the gluten. this time it is from the Candida. I have the same symptoms which are from being malnourished like not being able to gain weight and leg pains from not absorbing magnesium or potassium or anything at all, among a long list of other symptoms. my symptoms have diminished substantially since I eliminated sugar and carbs so it will be very hard but worth it in the end so if anyone has any questions about symptoms or anything that I have personally gone through so far then feel free to ask and good luck to everybody
thank you for the very informative site, your tips are helping me a great deal. this die-off i’m experiencing from the candida is so crazy, my ears feel wet & wormy inside with fungus coming out and I hear crackling and a lot of popping. It’s not constant though, it comes and goes. I’ve done ear candling to get rid of the wax and the candida waste {it’s like light gold powdery stuff}. My ears don’t hurt and i totally know all these symptoms are from the candida dying off. I also feel my scalp detoxing, some days it is flaky, oily and itchy, I’ve also experienced vertigo. One night my nose ran non-stop. The brain fog is the biggest burden of this detox but i am hopeful that it will end before too long as i am feeling super worn out. I’ll keep doing this detox as long as necessary because i need to have my health restored and this is what i need to do to make that happen.
Hey everyone,
I am a 42 year old male who has suffered from West Nile virus 2 years ago but fully recovered but have been suffering from Prostate and Sinus infections regularly since then and also have developed allergies. This last infection took over 2 months to recover from and I was on antibiotics for 6 weeks. The last antibiotic I was given was a sulfate and felt like it was working on the infection but I did feel a burning feeling in my sinuses and muscles. I continued to take the pill for 6 days and then developed headaches and burning aching muscles and a bit of fatigue. I have been off the antibiotic now for 10 days but my headaches and pains are worse and I now have body chills and am struggling to get through work as I have been working from home and taking sick days. I noticed 3 days ago I ate some pasta and had immense joint pain and fatigue and had to lay down for an hour. I also had a scenario where I had a slice of apple pie and felt the same way about 2 weeks ago. So I did some research and believe I have developed Candida due to antibiotics, prednisone, NSAID’s and poor diet. I have been on an anti Candida diet for 3 1/2 days now and the first 2 days felt a lot better but the last 1 and 1/2 days my symptoms have come back ten fold. I am suffering from headaches in my forehead and cheek area, burning achy muscles, chills and flu like symptoms. Is this typical to have Candida Die Off this severely? I am concerned that the sulfate antibiotic may have destroyed me inside (Kidneys, Liver and Muscles). How would I know if it is definitely the Candida Die Off and not something else like the antibiotic? How long may this last? Will I begin to feel at least a little better to be functional soon?
I tried to convince my DR about Candida but he is an old school DR who doesn’t believe in it. I finally convinced him to do a blood test for it today and will await results of it. Previous to my sinus infection 2 months ago I felt great. I worked out 5 days a week, worked and took care of my wife and son but since that sinus infection my life has become a tragedy and I am looking for advice and some glimmer of hope that I will recover from this and be back to my normal self.
Currently I am on a strict candida diet, taking a probiotic, Garlic, Vitamin C and am on allergy medicine and Tylenol.
Any advice or help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Hi everyone,
I would really appreciate any insight on my case. I am 32 and have experienced lethargy, brain fog, overly frequent urination, cold and low senility in my feet, stomach bloating and excess gas as long as I can remember. Chocolate and nuts were some of the worst culprits for my excess gas…. I actually thought it was all normal as I can’t remember ever feeling different, and I was told by a doctor 10 years ago (when I complained of perpetual tiredness) that I was fine…. 10 months ago I started taking a strong multi vitamin and began to feel more alert and with higher energy levels, though I would still fall back into feeling very tired. This provoked me to research online about what was going on. I also had a blood test that revealed I was deficient in folic acid. Strange as I have always eaten a very healthly and balanced diet. …I have a friend who has an allergy to gluten, and she convinced me to cut carbs out of my diet for a couple a weeks. I suddenly felt 100 times better. I assumed that I had a wheat allergy and began to add carbs (non wheat based) back to my diet. I generally felt better but some of my symptoms returned. This is when I began to read about candida…. 18 years ago I had an operation for an infection in my bone. I was a child and was intravenously given twice the adult dosage of antibiotic for a month. I was never given probiotics. Maybe this was the cause?… So, for the last 2 weeks I have been taking probiotics twice a day and am avoiding all carbs. A few days ago I started needing to urinate two or three times a night. Three days ago I felt very tired with slightly achy muscles. The following day, the same but a little better, also little sneezy and bunged up at the same time. Today I feel pretty much fine. I am till going to the bathroom in the night, but less frequently. …My question is, was this part of candida die-off? I feel pretty good today, is it possible that I have completed my treatment and can go back to eating carbs in my diet? Thanks!
I’m confused about the variety of diets that I find when I research candida diets. Sometimes I see that whole grans are allowed. My dr said they are (like oatmeal, brown rice, whole grain wheat, quinoa) but only on their own (not processed into crackers or something, etc)…. he said that gluten is not the problem with candida. I am not doing any sugars, dairy, or processed foods, or peanuts. Can someone help me understand the issue with grains? Are they allowed or not?
Halie,
only certain grains are allowable, but that being said, my daughter is still having pain and bloating on the oatmeal that is supposed to be the best and surest thing for Celiacs…We were initially so happy that there was something she could eat that she liked! Today, she has severe bloating and pains again. Also, she is experiencing severe vaginal inflammation- which we are hoping goes away with the yeast die off as there doesn’t seem to be any way to relieve her intense pain. Can someone 22 years old have this problem for life ? It really sounds preposterous.
Keep reading up on Candida and the candida diet. I have found that you get different answers everywhere you look!
Thank you for such a great article! Does anyone else get terrible neck pain and severe headaches? The die off that my son and I are experiencing is horrific. It is so bad that we both have stopped the antifungals. We are still on the diet and probiotics though. I can’t get the pain to stop. Can anyone help us with the pain? We are both practically bed ridden. Every time we take epsom salt baths, castor oil paks, etc. We get neck pain that is so horrible. It makes us never want to continue with the die off plan. My son has lyme and bartonella and I don’t know how to treat it without antibiotics. Please help. Thank you!
I thought I had food poisoininfb. Wed night it startedwith the worst Migraene all through the night. Thirsday I cooked chicken breasts at home. Not much later did I experience the worst illness in my life. My stomach was cramping and in so much pain. I felt something in my stomach area was going to burst. I had the chills perhaps a little bit of a fever. Later finally I throw up with it lots of Bile and also same time diarreha. I m very weak. I m a heart patient. I will make it a point with my doctor to give me something that will lessen my pain and symptoms. Now I m very weak and experience chills, and muscle pain. Has any experienced a die off like that? My body was violently ill.
This is all good information, thank you all for sharing.
I wonder if you can help me understand what happened this morning.
I started a probiotic about 2 weeks ago. I have not been faithful to the schedule because of the fact I forget to take 30 min before eating but I keep trying, and have felt fine when I take it.
I woke this morning took my probiotic and to wait the cursory 30 min before eating I went back to bed and about an hour later while still lying in bed I felt nauseous so thinking it wait due to hunger I went to kitchen. Starting down the stairs I felt lightheaded and began to have abdominal cramping. I started to eat a hard boiled egg- cause it was the quickest thing I could grab and as things went from bad to worse I ended up in the bathroom. Needless to say upper and lower GI were challenged but this went on for an hour along with painful cramping and waves of lightheadedness.
I still haven’t had anything to eat and I’m lying in bed feeling much better and wondering what the heck just happened?? Was it the probiotic??
I came across this article when I googled my symptoms with probiotics.
Any thoughts?
Has anyone ever experienced a worsening of some old Psychological symptoms during “die off” while treating yeast? Years ago I had some intermittent depression, and a total of 2 manic episodes. I have been totally stable for 8 years experiencing no mood issues. I began to treat the yeast and got a feeling of exhaustion, and then I deleveloped a feeling of my mind racing , and severe insomnia (early mania). I have backed off the yeast treatment for now… Anyone else experience an exacerbation of similiar issues?
I`am not quite sure what is going on with me. I live with a chronic Mold condition that creates toxins that can make folks like myself very sick, Along with mold using brings together candida and many other bacterial or viruses that reactivated. I have been ill many many years from mold and know that candida needs to be addressed. I suffer sever fatigue on a regular basis and many many other symtoms. This illnees has me on my knees, I have no desire for food/water (except evenings I cant get enough water) and most of my days are in bed. I decided to try methylation to open up some detoxing pathways that are not working. I have been following a protocol for about a week, Stilll have not got all I need to get started but I a m drinking purified water using cd or mms . This has been a few days with no change in symptoms. I have used nystatin (and diet) shortly in the past without all the other mentioned products and stopped. I started everything up this past week and I have my severe days that I regonize as
severe CFS but something else appears to be going on. I literally feel like Iam dying. There is literally not one spot on my body that is not crying out with pain. Weakness, short of breath, that’s my middle name. But the urination every 5 minutes for the past two days. I cant sleep, eat, I just feel like Iam dying. Then tonite after laying bed for 4 hours I wonder.Could this be die off affect of chronic systemic candida and maybe more? I hope this is whas going on and I wonder if `1am not dying as it feels. (hot to cold, back and forth) the pain is excruciating, Not sure If I should be continuing all these new supplements for methylation. I wonder if my body is overwhelmed. I know I am.. Anyone know if this indeed does sound like what may be going on? If so, how long will this last? Why do I urinate constantly? THanks for any possibly help with this!
Hi Jamietc, after reading your comment all I can say it’s good to see someone who is experiencing the same problem as me only am finding really had to bit the candida as am also coeliac, any tips that I can benefit from?