Candida Die Off Symptoms: Risks, Treatment & Prevention

If you experience candida die off symptoms and find them devastating, you are not alone.

When candida starts to die during the treatment, it releases over 80 different toxins. These toxins can get anywhere in the body, suppress the immune system and cause many discomforts all over the body.

The result of this die off reaction can be unbearable. Multiple symptoms at the same time you can see and feel all over the body, often appear as flu-like symptoms. Existing symptoms may become more severe as well.

Most common candida die off symptoms may include:

• Abnormal vaginal discharge.
• Skin rash, acne, itching.
• Sinus infection.
• Fever.
• Brain fog.
• Joint and muscle pain.
• Headache.
• Constipation or diarrhea, yeast in stool.
• Bloating, gas.
• Nausea.
• Increased mucus production.
• Chills
• Fatigue.
• Dizziness.
• Swollen glands.
• Mood swings, unexplained depression or anxiety.

How To Manage Die Off Symptoms

A common misconception about candida die off symptoms, is that they are a sign that the treatment is working. What it really means however, is completely the opposite.

When you have die off symptoms, it means that the amount of toxins released by the dying candida yeast is more than what your body can safely handle. The high level of toxins put a lot of stress on internal organs, especially the colon, liver and kidneys that are involved in filtering toxins in the body.

Here are a few things you can do that are shown to be both safe & effective for candida die off symptoms:

1. Antifungals: Reduce or stop.
   Slow down the pace you kill candida to allow your body to catch up.
   For safe natural antifungals, see: antifungals supplements.
2. Candida colon cleanse: flushes out the dying candida and its toxins.
   Many symptoms usually become much better when you get rid of these toxins.
3. Relieve specific symptoms: (when needed).
   Skin, mood, energy, vaginal yeast infections.
4. Organ support (when needed).
   Liver, kidneys, respiratory.

We’ll cover all these steps below.

For a quick manual of how to manage candida die off symptoms,
see: The candida die-off handbook.

Candida Colon Cleanse

Eliminates the dying candida yeast & its toxins

Oxy-Powder® releases natural oxygen in the colon to detoxify and loosen toxins and waste buildup so the body can eliminate them through normal bowel movements. This can help the body to flush the dead candida and its toxins much quicker, which can help to prevent or minimize many die off symptoms.

“A Great Relief” : Most people report feeling much better, and notice improvements in different die off symptoms. Common ones include a high sense of well-being and mood, reduced pain, increased energy, better clarity and improved bowel movements and digestion.

For die off symptoms:

• take 4-8 capsules of Oxy-Powder ® before bedtime with 16 ounces of water. Always on an empty stomach.

The next day: expect to have a series of bowel movements with many of the toxins being eliminated. Most people feel a significant relief as these toxins are being flushed out.

Effectiveness: In a study with 150 candida overgrowth patients, participants were asked on their die-off symptoms (herxheimer reaction) during the candida treatment and whether or not they used Oxy-Powder®.

As you can see, the results showed that Oxy-Powder ® made a significant difference:

• Only 8% of the patients who used oxy-powder experienced die-off symptoms.
• In comparison: out of the participants that did not cleanse their colon, 70% reported die off symptoms during the treatment.

This natural toxin removal mechanism of oxygen has shown to be very effective and safe, gentle enough even for people with extreme sensitivities, severe candida overgrowth and other health issues. Due to its effectiveness, safety profile and ease of use, oxygen colon cleanse is commonly used and recommended by natural health practitioners to deal with die-off symptoms and candida overgrowth issues.

Relieve Die Off Symptoms

Below are the natural remedies we have found to be the most safe & effective:

LIVER, KIDNEYS & ORGAN SUPPORT

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• Drink plenty of spring or alkaline water to help your kidneys flush down the toxins. The color of your urine should be clear. To help support the kidneys to eliminate toxins, as well as to promote healthy kidney function, kidney cleansing herbs such as Uva Ursi, Chanca Piedra, Horsetail are commonly use. 
• Natural antioxidants such as CoQ10, PQQ, Resveratrol, Alpha lipoic acid and Astragalus are commonly used in order to support the body against the oxidative stress and free radicals damage caused by the candida toxins (up to 80 different toxins).According to the medical literature, chronic stress and reduced antioxidant capacity are considered as risk factors for candida and recurrent yeast infections. The research data suggests dietary antioxidants as a natural way of defense that may also help to prevent.^[1]..When taking antioxidants in cases of candida and die off symptoms, the recommendation is to use natural antioxidants extracts that are backed by science.
  A good example we use in our candida protocol to support these cases of high toxicity and oxidative stress is Cell Fuzion.
• For special concerns regarding liver or gallbladder health or in cases of high candida toxicity, liver cleansing herbs such as milk thistle, dandelion root, and chanca piedra are widely used to help the liver detoxify the candida toxins.

ANXIETY, SLEEP & PAIN

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• Many people notice increased stress, anxiety, joint or muscle pain, and poor quality of sleep. While these may be signs of candida die off symptoms, they can severely affect your quality of life. So you may want to take actions in case you experience these. Among the top safe natural remedies, CBD has become one of the popular ones, that is also extensively researched and studied. If you consider to try CBD, make sure to get yours from a trusted source that guarantees pure and clean formula with low concentration of THC. In our protocols, we prefer CBD derived from organic hemp extract, which is naturally very high in CBD and low in THC.
  A good example is Dr. Group full-spectrum, high-CBD hemp extract that also comes with a 180 days money back guarantee.
  

BRAIN FUNCTION & FATIGUE

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• For fatigue and low energy symptoms, natural energy herbs such as ashwagandha, ginseng and maca have shown to very helpful: these herbs do not have stimulants such as caffeine; however, when used correctly, it is quite common to feel long lasting “clean” energy for hours.
  To avoid potential reactions from low quality herbs, it is recommended to use organic or wild grown herbs from a trusted source. A good example can be found here.
• If your die off symptoms include mind-balance issues such as brain fog, difficulties to concentrate, mood swings, depression, and others, we recommend to review our mind-balance protocol for further info. This protocol has been shown to be very successful and may provide natural relief to many of the discomforts associated with mind-body balance issues.

HEADACHE, PAIN, NSAIDs

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• If you are currently taking NSAIDs or other pain medication for your headache, muscle, joint pain or inflammation, we strongly recommend to read our natural anti inflammatory protocol. NSAIDs use can cause serious health issues that you should be aware of, and in many cases are not needed as there are natural alternatives that can be as effective.

RELIEF FOR SKIN, ORAL THRUSH & VAGINAL YEAST INFECTIONS

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• If you need a relief for painful oral thrush, vaginal yeast infections or skin infections such as candida skin rash, dry/itchy skin, eczema, athlete’s foot or other skin issues, using Ozonated olive oil on the affected areas was shown in multiple published human studies to be very effective in easing these discomforts.
• Taking showers (head to toe) may provide relief as well. The skin is the largest organ in the body and plays an important role in detoxification and toxins elimination.
• Using all natural kelp-coconut soap has also shown to help provide relief. Note that many soaps, moisturizers and other skin care products contain toxic chemicals, synthetic ingredients and allergens that can irritate your (already irritated) skin and should be avoided.

BREATHING & RESPIRATORY ISSUES

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• If you suffer from breathing issues, congestion, sore throat, sinus or respiratory problems, natural lung cleansing herbs such as eucalyptus, lobelia, peppermint and others can provide relief by eliminating toxins from your lungs and airways.

FOOD SENSITIVITIES

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• If you notice you are getting reactions to many different foods, you may want to add aloe vera to your diet due to its soothing effect on the digestive tract and digestion.
  We recommend to only use the inner leaf from organic aloe vera, in order to enjoy the benefits while avoiding a potential reaction to the latex material (aloin) in aloe vera’s other parts of the leaf. A good example can be found here.

TRADITIONAL NATURAL REMEDIES FOR TOXINS REMOVAL

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• Many people that used infrared based japanese detox foot pads before bedtime, reported improved sleep, circulation and higher energy levels. In a lot of these cases, they were actually able to see the released toxins absorbed into the pads in the morning.
• If you have done colon hydrotherapy or water enemas in the past and found them useful, they may help provide some quick relief.

IMPORTANT! AVOID VITAMINS & MINERALS DEFICIENCIES

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• If you have had candida and yeast issues for over 6 months, we highly recommend to get tested for vitamins and minerals deficiencies. Overtime, research has clearly shown that certain deficiencies that are very common such as vitamin B12 and vitamin D can cause serious health complications that can’t be reversed and may even become permanent.

A summary of this guide: the candida die off handbook

Top 5 Causes Of Candida Die Off Symptoms

Here are the top 5 causes we have found to cause die off symptoms:

1. Congested / Constipated Colon

Common Symptoms: Constipation, mood swings, fatigue, bloating, gas, body odor, flu like symptoms, headache, strong die off symptoms

The colon is the primary organ in the body responsible for removing toxins from the body through normal bowel movements. For this reason, making sure your colon is cleansed so it can quickly eliminate the dying candida and its toxins is the most important step when treating candida and candida die off symptoms, especially since the majority of the candida overgrowth occurs in the colon.

The overgrowth of candida in the colon is the reason why most people with candida issues also suffer from digestive problems such as constipation, bloating, gas and others. If your colon can’t properly digest and eliminate foods, it also won’t be able to effectively eliminate the dying candida and its toxins.

This critical step is the main cause of the candida cleanse side effects, healing crises and die off symptoms so many people experience during the candida treatment (70% according to one study, see below); it just takes your body too much time to eliminate these toxins.

2. Antifungal Supplements That Cause Die Off Symptoms

Common Symptoms: Increased die off symptoms

This is one of the most confused and misused group of candida supplements that very often cause severe candida die off symptoms.
Anti-candida or antifungal supplements contain ingredients that directly or indirectly kill yeast in your body. While this can be very beneficial in certain cases, it can also backfire if not used correctly.

Finding the strongest candida killer is not enough. It also has to be safe.

This is one of the biggest problem we see with antifungals is that many of them are too strong, toxic, contain harsh chemicals. This can actually prevent your body from healing and even damage your organs.

This is a very common misconception:

Many people use antifungal supplements in order to artificially “kill the yeast” where what you really want to do is to restore the natural balance in your body, so your body can safely eliminate the excess yeast naturally – two completely different things.

How to Avoid Die-Offs From Antifungals

Most people are surprised to learn that antifungals are not always needed in order to heal from candida issues. Antifungals do bring the most benefits in cases of “stubborn” candida and yeast issues that were not fully resolved during the initial candida treatment.

If you decide to take antifungals, here are a few important tips for you to consider:

1. Safe natural, from a trusted source:
   Mycozil is a that is a part of our protocol for candida is a very good example. It is doctor formulated, designed to help the body to naturally control candida overgrowth and excess yeast. It is one of the strongest candida killers we tested, that is also gentle and safe. Mycozil contains a blend of potent antifungal herbs, enzymes that break candida cell wall, and probiotics known to kill candida and promote gut health. The purity and quality of the ingredients are exceptional, with exclusively organic and wildcrafted herbs.
2. Dosage:
   Always start with the lowest possible dosage of the antifungals and test your body’s response. Gradually increase the dosage if needed. Some people are more sensitive than others and may get great results using very low dosage. This is also a good way to minimize side effects. More is definitely not better in this case.
3. Already experience die offs?
   Stop or reduce the dosage of the antifungals.

To see our Mycozil review with other antifungals, see: strongest candida killer.

3. Diet that Causes Candida Die Off Symptoms

Common Symptoms: Digestion issues, food sensitivities & allergies

Poor digestion is very common in cases of candida and yeast issues. What many people don’t realize, is that digestion issues may be the reason behind their candida die off symptoms:

Digestion issues typically lead to fermented and undigested food particles in the body that can feed candida, make the overgrowth become worse and cause many die off symptoms.

People with digestion issues such as bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea tend to suffer more from candida die off symptoms. We see many cases where the candida diet is the reason behind these digestion issues; the fact that you eat foods that are considered healthy and good for candida issues doesn’t mean your body can digest them well at its current state.

Adjusting to the candida diet usually takes time, and for this reason, many health providers recommend their patients to take enzymes supplements with their meals to help with the the transition, ease the digestion issues and improve the nutrients absorption from the foods.

4. Die-Off Symptoms from Anti-Fungal Foods

Common Symptoms: Increased die off symptoms

Many foods that are recommended for the anti candida diet have naturally occurring anti fungal components in them.
Coconut oil is a great example: it is actually one of the most known foods that kill candida due to its antifungal properties. Caprylic acid, a fatty acid found in coconut oil is responsible for its strong antifungal properties, and can be found in many anti-candida supplements as well.
If you have candida overgrowth, and are not used to coconut oil…taking as little as 1 tablespoon (15ml) of coconut oil at once can cause a strong herxheimer reaction and die-off symptoms.
Other common antifungal foods (notice how common some of them are!) include coconut oil, olive oil, ginger, cinnamon, garlic, cloves, cayenne pepper and seaweed.
Conclusion: gradually introduce these foods to to your diet, and watch how your body responds!

5. Making Drastic Changes

Common Symptoms: Increased die off symptoms

Many people are so eager to start, they switch from one extreme to another and very quickly lose control and stop before any significant healing took place. This often creates such a shock to the body, that it makes it impossible to continue, either because of feeling really bad due to high toxins overload, hunger, strong craving for bad foods or the lack of support to current lifestyle.
This is a very common cause for candida die off symptoms.

FAQ

How long do candida die off symptoms last

Candida die off symptoms can last anywhere between a few hours to a few days, sometimes up to a week.

Most people feel a relief in less than 24 hours. The main factor that usually impact the time of the symptoms is how well the plan fit to your individual state of health and current condition. The better the fit, the less die off symptoms you will have.

Die off symptoms from probiotics

Many people are surprised to learn their candida probiotics supplements caused die off symptoms. Typical side effects may include digestive issues such as bloating, gas (flatulence), constipation, diarrhea and abdominal pain. In some cases, skin rash and even acne. In many cases, the cause of these side effects was that the probiotic supplements had dairy, gluten or other common allergens.

This is a common problem we see in many probiotics for candida. Many use probiotic strains that contained dairy or gluten. While these may be OK for a healthy person, when you have candida overgrowth, you may have sensitivity to these.

The fact that a supplement causes die off symptoms is not an indication that it is effective. When using Probiotics supplements for candida, it is important to make sure the strains used are effective for candida but also safe, so your body can balance the yeast overgrowth at a rate it can safely handle. A good example can be found here.
For more information on Probiotics, see our candida supplements experts guide – probiotics.

What is a good probiotic for Candida?

Different probiotic strains have different properties and as such, they have different uses, benefits and side effects. Taking the wrong probiotics can cause die off symptoms and side effects such as bloating, gas and other digestive issues.

Great examples of probiotics which we use in our candida protocols are:

• To treat candida overgrowth, a great example is the Brevibacillus laterosporus (BOD) strain.
• To prevent yeast infections, support your immune system for overall health, a great example is FloraTrex. The formula combines Lactobacillus strains with additional highly studied probiotic strains for immune system health, optimized with inulin prebiotics.

Candida die off stool

Many people that followed our oxygen colon cleanse reported seeing the presence of yeast and dead candida in stool. In some cases with mucus and other parasites.

While this may not look very pretty, this is usually the point where people start to feel better. Think about it this way; as disturbing as candida may look like when it comes out of you, it is still much better to have the dead candida yeast in the toilet rather than inside your body.

To learn more, see: candida in stool.

Vitamin C and candida die off symptoms

Vitamin C has many health benefits. We are not aware however, of any specific study or research indicating its effectiveness for die off symptoms relief. It is still important to meet your daily recommended values of vitamin C from your diet eating foods high in vitamin C.
If you can’t reach the recommended daily values of vitamin C from your diet and are looking for vitamin C supplements, look for natural extracts from of acerola cherries or camu camu berries; both are the world’s richest natural food sources of vitamin C, so rich that it takes only 1 cherry or berry (5 grams) to meet your daily values of vitamin C! With such high potency natural extracts available, we see no need to supplement with synthetic versions of vitamin C.

Candida die off itching and skin rash

Candida die off itching, skin rash or other skin issues are very common die off symptoms. The skin is the largest organ and a window to our internal health. Many medical conditions appear first as problems visible on the skin. In many cases, the body eliminates toxins through the pores. So you may notice symptoms such as rash, eczema, acne and others. If you have candida skin rash, dry/itchy skin, eczema, athlete’s foot or other skin issues, you may find the skin issues section on this page useful.