Candida 1-2-3: Antifungals (Step 2 of 3)

By Debby Padilla-Hudson and Sarah Wittekind

Am I Ready for Stronger Antifungals?

While the core MOVES diet contains antifungal foods (like garlic, coconut oil, some spices, and antifungal vegetables), you'll eventually want to add stronger, natural antifungals. You're ready for this step if you're feeling well on the diet and supplements, and you're not experiencing die-off symptoms. We recommend starting slowly so you don't overwhelm your body.

Do not add stronger antifungals if you're not following the MOVES plan and a healthy supplement regimen. If you're still eating foods that feed Candida, and if you're not supporting your immune system with optimal nutrients, adding stronger antifungals will be a waste of time and money, and it will likely leave you feeling awful.

Which Natural Antifungals Are Most Effective?

There are a number of natural antifungals that are extremely effective. When used properly, they can help to speed healing without causing debilitating die-off symptoms like the man-made antifungals can do. The risk of side-effects is also much lower with these natural alternatives.

When using natural antifungals, it's important to realize that more isn't necessarily better. Although coconut oil and members of the onion family (onions, garlic, leeks, etc.) should be part of your everyday diet, you should choose only one other natural antifungal. (For example, if you're doing fine with the garlic and coconut oil in your diet, you might consider adding grapefruit seed extract as a stronger, natural antifungal.)

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is an invaluable part of the diet. Not only does it provide an excellent source of energy, but it has antifungal, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties as well. As much as four to six tablespoons of coconut oil should be consumed each day, and it can also be used topically to treat yeast on the skin and in mucus membranes.

Garlic

Garlic too is an excellent antifungal, antibacterial, and antimicrobial. These properties are only present in the freshly-crushed form, however. While cooked garlic might taste great, the antifungal properties of garlic remain for as little as a half an hour after the garlic is pressed or crushed.

To receive the antifungal benefits of garlic, start with one clove of freshly-pressed garlic per day. After 5-7 days, if die-off symptoms aren't too severe, add another clove. Continue this process of adding an additional clove of garlic every 5-7 days until die-off symptoms become too severe or bothersome.

When using garlic for its antifungal properties, some people crush cloves and then swallow them like vitamins. Garlic can be used topically, and drops and teas can be made from freshly-pressed garlic to treat all sorts of bacterial and fungal issues.

Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE)

Grapefruit seed extract is one of nature's best kept secrets. It's antifungal and antiseptic properties set it apart from many other natural substances that are commonly used as antiseptics or Candida treatments. One study in Brazil showed GSE extract to be 100% effective as a pre-surgical antiseptic compared to alcohol's 72% effectiveness and surgical soap's 98% effectiveness.

GSE can be taken internally to treat Candida and other fungal/bacterial/microbial issues. It can also be used as an antiseptic on the body and as a safe, natural, surface sanitizer.

In the article Treating Candida with Grapefruit Seed Extract by Allan Sachs, D.C., C.C.N., the following dosing recommendations are made.

If die-off symptoms are too severe, consider reducing your daily dose of grapefruit seed extract or holding at the current dose until your symptoms stabilize.

Oil of Oregano

This oil has many uses, but its antifungal properties make it particularly useful in treating Candida. It can be taken internally, or it can be mixed with carrier oils (like coconut or olive oil) for topical use. Pregnant women should avoid the use of oil of oregano because some sources indicate it can be a uterine stimulant. Breast-feeding women should also avoid it because it can decrease milk supply for some moms.

For dosing, start out with 1 drop of oil of oregano mixed with a little water. (The undiluted oil can be very irritating to mucus membranes.) Take this 3 times per day. Over time, increase to as much as 4 diluted in water 3 times per day.

Clove Oil

Like oil of oregano, clove oil is effective as a natural antifungal. It can be taken internally, or it can be used topically (although like oil of oregano, it should be mixed with a carrier oil like coconut oil.) Several sources seem to indicate that pregnant women should avoid clove oil, however we haven't yet found that clove oil is contraindicated for lactating women.

Use the same dosing strategy for clove oil that you'd use for oil of oregano. Start with very small amounts and observe your reaction. Increase your dosage as needed

Olive Leaf Extract

Olive leaf extract is another effective antifungal. It's not as strong as GSE or oil of oregano, but it might be a good option for those who experience severe die-off symptoms with stronger, natural antifungals.

For dosing, follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Olive leaf extract comes in many forms and many concentrations, so it's difficult to advise a specific dosing regimen. As with all natural antifungals, it's a good idea to start out with a small amount and work your way up to a larger dose.

Pau D'arco

Pau d'arco is probably the weakest of the antifungals we've discussed so far, but taken as a tea or in capsule form, it can be an effective aid in treating Candida, especially if other antifungals are too strong for you.

Pau d'arco tea is a convenient way to ingest this natural antifungal. Start with 1/2 cup per day and slowly increase your dose to as much as 4 cups per day as tolerated.

Man-Made Antifungals

While it may be tempting to use drugs like Nystatin or Diflucan to treat Candida, we recommend avoiding these substances altogether. These drugs often cause severe die-off because they're so strong, and their package inserts warn of side-effects which can, in rare cases, be life-threatening.

With patience, a quality diet, immune system support, and natural antifungals, you can achieve health and Candida management without risking severe side-effects and drug toxicity.

More on Die-Off

Die-off occurs when organisms like Candida are destroyed by the body. When these organisms die, their cellular contents including all sorts of toxins are spilled into the bloodstream. These toxins often cause symptoms that are similar to the original Candida symptoms, but they tend to be much more severe.

While you do want to experience some die-off (because you want to kill the Candida that's overgrown in your body), more isn't necessarily better. Die-off symptoms that are too severe will not only make you feel absolutely miserable, but they can lead to a person giving up on the protocol that will help them cure their Candida.

So when adding antifungals, always proceed slowly, and pay attention to your die-off symptoms. If the symptoms are too severe to manage, consider backing off on the amount of antifungal that you're using, or think about changing to a new antifungal altogether.

Step 3: Probiotics

Once you've successfully added natural antifungals to your regimen and your die-off symptoms are manageable, you're ready to move on to Step 3: Probiotics.