Candida is a naturally-occurring yeast or fungus that inhabits the mouth, gut, vagina, and other mucosal membranes of the body. Ordinarily, it is harmless and exists in balance with the trillions of other bacteria that make your microbiome home.
The concerns arise when that balance is disrupted. This disruption can transpire from stress, poor diet, poor lifestyle, poor sleep, antibiotic use, and oral contraceptives.
There are over 20 different strains of candida that can cause infection. Candida albicans is the most common. Candida albicans is often referred to as “opportunistic,” as it will quickly jump at the chance to overgrow and spread if the conditions are vulnerable.
It will quickly overpopulate and overpower the good gut bacteria, and the symptoms are not fun: low energy levels, interrupted sleep, immunity issues, ringing in the ears, and sluggish digestion.
Western medicine’s approach to candida overgrowth is to completely eradicate the yeast in order to relieve the associated symptoms.
Ayurveda, on the other hand, takes its characteristic approach of identifying and addressing the underlying cause of candida, and only then use herbal remedies to restore a balanced microbiome.
How Does Candida Take Over?
Ayurveda says that the underlying cause of frenzied proliferation of candida is considered to be agnimandya or deficient digestion.
Deficient digestion results in the production of ama, the by-product of undigested food. Ama is then either absorbed into the bloodstream or lymphatic system, creating a toxicity and the platform for many health issues.
Invariably, the ama will accumulate in the seat of vata, found in the lower digestive tract. The seat of vata is governed by the apana (or downward-moving) energy, which regulates the growth of flora in the gastrointestinal tract. As the ama accumulates in the small and large intestines, it will putrefy and ferment, and inhibit the normal flora from proliferating. Under these conditions, yeast has free reign to spread throughout the intestines unchecked.
The next stage of the candida growth process is a result of the intestinal absorption of ama into the liver and blood via the portal system. This can disturb digestion, the ability to detox, and the manufacturing of the body’s major tissues.
In Ayurveda, it is believed that once yeast enters the bloodstream, the step-by-step generation and regeneration process of the seven tissues of the body can become interrupted or imbalanced.
If the seven dhatus (tissues)—which include rasa (plasma), rakta (blood), mamsa (muscle), medha (fat), majja (nervous tissue), asthi (bone), and sukra (sperm and ovum)—are imbalanced or improperly formed, an overall lack of luster and vitality is the result.
The dhatus are formed in a carefully designed succession, and if any one of the dhatus is improperly formed, the production of sukra and ojas will be inhibited. Sukra and ojas are the final culmination of the digestive process and of dhatu development, provides the body with needed ojas for procreation, vitality, luster, long life, and health.
It is this overall lack of vitality, immunity, and ojas that colors the symptoms of candida proliferation.
Reigning it Back In
From an Ayurvedic perspective, there are two important strategies when it comes to controlling candida:
- Restore the integrity of the digestive strength (agni).
- Build immunity back into the body and remove ama.
With both of these in place, the treatment to kill off the excess yeast can safely and effectively be employed.
In Ayurveda, it’s understood that candida overgrowth can present differently based on body type, and can respond to a different protocol depending on whether there is a vata, pitta, or kapha form of candida overgrowth.
Below, I’ll walk you through how to tell which form may match your presentation, and how to support each accordingly. After that, I’ll give you some general lifestyle suggestions that any presentation of candida overgrowth will benefit from.
VATA CANDIDA ISSUES
Vata is governed by air, and can easily become imbalanced from stress and excess anything. The seat of vata, or the seat of the nervous system, is in the colon—making the colon the first place the body is affected by stress. Decreasing stress levels is critical to keeping vata balanced. Your gut houses your microbiome, which is easily imbalanced by vata stress. This makes vata body types somewhat more vulnerable to issues like candida.
Vata energy disturbing the gut’s microbiome environment must always be evaluated when addressing candida, as the gut is the source of candida overgrowth. Balancing vata will be key for all body types struggling with candida.
Vata becomes unbalanced from:
- The excessive intake of pungent, bitter, and astringent foods
- Excess sweets and sugar
- Inability to break down hard-to-digest proteins
- Too much cold food and drink
- Drinking and not chewing meals
- Excessive travel
- Stress and overwork
- The suppression of natural and normal urges
- Excessive sex, irregular eating and sleeping habits
Signs of vata imbalance include:
- Dry skin
- Nervousness, moodiness and an inability to cope
- Occasional constipation, gas and bloating
- Ups and downs in energy levels, and unbalanced sleep patterns
If these are paired with signs of yeast imbalance, this can be considered a vata presentation of candida.
Dietary Support for Vata Candida Issues
- Start with an ama-decreasing diet. This involves avoiding dairy, sugar, bread, and mucus-producing foods. Cold and raw foods should also be avoided.
- Sip hot water every 20 minutes and drink eight to ten 8oz glasses of warm lemon water per day.
- Eat a large relaxing lunch and a warm cooked soup for dinner.
- Avoid fruit juice and eat fresh fruit in moderation and separately from all other food groups.
- Use hing, ginger, fennel, cumin, basil, coriander, ajwan, and garlic to spice your food.
- Start each meal with equal parts of ginger juice and honey, and a pinch of lemon juice, salt, and cumin powder.
PITTA CANDIDA ISSUES
Pitta (fire) is seated in the upper digestive organs and is easily disturbed by excess vata and overzealous behavior.
Aggravated pitta can put out or disturb the digestive fire in the same way that a flood of boiling water will put out a flame. Excess pitta, or digestive heat, can pull vata (air) from the large intestine upwards, disturbing the delicate balance of microbes in the gut and fan the fire of digestion, with the vata wind blowing on the digestive fire.
This is called the enteric cycle, where the blood from the gut drains directly into the liver, potentially causing liver and gallbladder congestion—sometimes called excess liver and digestive heat.
Over time, the body can compensate for the excess heat by turning off the digestive heat (stomach acid production). This allows undigested food and toxins to enter the lower digestion, resulting in ama (residue from undigested food) and aggravated candida and kapha.
Pitta becomes unbalanced from:
- Greasy and spicy foods
- Sugar
- Racing through meals
Signs of pitta imbalance include:
- Acidic digestion and occasional heartburn
- Bloating
- Yellowing complexion
- Irritability
- Swelling of the joints
- Yellowing loose stool
- Raised body temperature, and excessive thirst
- Skin issues
Dietary Support for Pitta Candida Issues
- Eat more fresh, raw, leafy green vegetables.
- Avoid sugar and fruit juice.
- Emphasize good, pitta-reducing fats like coconut oil and ghee.
- Emphasize bitter roots and herbs, veggies, and spices.
KAPHA CANDIDA ISSUES
Kapha comes from the words “to stick together,” and is caused by congestion. Kapha body types are prone to holding on to water and becoming congested. During times of congestion, the lymphatic fluid, which is a kapha-based fluid can become sluggish.
The lymph carries the immune system, and when stuck in traffic, immune function can become compromised. This lymph-immune congestion first starts in the lymph around the intestines, then backs up into the intestines, causing a disturbance in the microbiome and allowing opportunistic candida to flourish.
Kapha becomes unbalanced from:
- Eating food that is too heavy, too oily, and cold
- Excess processed and packaged foods, like pasta, bread, and sweets
- Overeating and frequent eating
- Sleeping after meals produces ama and puts out the digestive fire
Signs of kapha imbalance include:
- Slow and difficult digestion
- Sluggish immunity
- Water retention
- Heavy mood
- Tiredness and excessive sleep
Dietary Support for Kapha Candida Issues
- Avoid all mucus-forming, oily, and greasy foods.
- Avoid salt and sugar.
- Eat a 90% plant-based diet that includes whole grains.
- Dandelion, asparagus, kale, collard greens, and spinach are foods to increase.
- Flavor food with pungent spices like cayenne, ginger, black pepper, clove, and curry.
Lifestyle Tips to Keep Candida in Check
If you are experiencing the signs of yeast overgrowth, it can be very helpful to follow a regular daily routine of waking, eating, and sleeping habits. Here are some lifestyle tips to keep candida in check:
- Each day:
- Wake between 5am and 7am
- Take lunch between 12pm and 1pm
- Take dinner between 5pm and 6pm
- Go to bed between 9pm and 10pm
- Make lunch your main meal of the day—the biggest and most satisfying. Dinner should be light. Breakfast should be very light and is optional.
- Favor food that is freshly prepared. Avoid leftovers, frozen, canned, or processed food.
- Perform a sesame oil self-massage in the morning, followed by a warm bath or shower. Learn how to give yourself an Ayurvedic self-massage here.
- Sip hot water frequently throughout the day (every 1 or 2 hours or as often as desired). This keeps the digestive fire alive and flushes ama from the system. If you feel anxious, sipping hot water also settles the nervous system.
- Get fresh air and regular exercise (preferably outdoors), such as a morning or evening walk, sun salutations or other yoga asanas.
Extra Mealtime Tips
- Eat in a settled environment.
- Eat three meals a day and avoid snacking (except for the between lunch and dinner yogurt lassi, below).
- Eat only when hungry, after the last meal has been digested. Stop eating when you feel satisfied, but not yet full (about 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 full).
- Sit quietly for at least five minutes after eating to promote digestion.
- If dairy tolerant, take a lassi (yogurt mixed with water, 1:1, 1:2, or 1:4) during lunch and between lunch and dinner, as needed to promote digestion. It is best to make lassi with freshly made yogurt. While traditional lassi can be sweet or seasoned, with yeast issues, you’ll want to keep it savory, flavoring with spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom, for example, or salt, ginger, and cumin.
- Avoid cold food or drinks, especially foods and drinks taken directly from the refrigerator.
- Avoid heavy food at the evening meal, including heavy desserts, yogurt, cheese, oily food, and fried food.
Ayurveda is all about flowing downstream with the cycles, rather than fighting against the current. Combining the dietary and lifestyle suggestions in this article with your existing protocol for candida elimination will help your body restore balance which, ultimately, will help your body heal itself.
Khyra Edwards says
Hi Dr, I am wondering about the role of dairy and FODMAPS in candida. A Vata balancing diet generally encourages legumes, garlic, onions, warm milk, yet I have read that FODMAPS and dairy are not advised in a candida overgrowth. Is there an article you would recommend to you about FODMAPS? How long would you recommend someone to follow this type of plan. I’m sure it would depend on the severity and frequency of overgrowth? Thank you kindly for all the informative resources.
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Sandy says
My son gets oral thrush time to time. He is also overweight. I’m pretty sure he has candida overgrowth. He also has problems with sleep. He cannot get up in morning. And he was diagnosed with GERD when he was a boy. He is 28 now and does not know what to do: can you help?
Vacheslav says
the comments above are more than enough to know the answer!
Jk2914 says
Mix cumin apple cider vinegar ginger coconut oil lemon garlic into drink twice daily stop all sugar cut carbs out dairy to after 3 weeks stop and start taking probotics use hydrogen peroxide on external areas
lois samsin says
I used to suffer from from chronic BV yeast infections since I was 12 yrs old. No Rx helped. The most it would do is clear it up for a week but then it would be right back. I did some research online and now use the Lady Soma Candida Cleanse.
To my surprise it worked the first day. During the second day of using the Lady Soma Candida Cleanse I had no side effects and was fresh and odor free. I am now experimenting to see how long I can go not taking it. I have noticed that I need to take it after my menstral cycle and after having sex bc there is a little smell but it clears it right up.
I am getting ready to order my second bottle and I have no complaints. Definitely give this a try if you’re having issues down there that nothing is fixing it’s worth a shot.
Rekha says
Excellent article on candida. I am also suffering from this problem since six months. As i gained so much weight. Candida and trush problem hurt me lot i have to think so many time to eat something. But when i took glance on your blog it really support and help me lot to solve my problem. All the advice you given in this article is quiet good. Can you please suggest me what should i have to eat and what is left in my diet. It could be very helpful for me. Thanks for solving my problem. https://goo.gl/dTVyXc
KASJ says
I have an candida overgrowth with oral thrush of the tongue and middle ear pain. It seems that after reading the article “Candida Care for Your Ayurvedic Type” I’m experiencing Vata Candida Issues and some Pitta Candida Issues. I want to seriously rebalance this and maintain a healthy balance in the future. Im asking for some advice in overcoming some obstacles Im currently
Things to note:
Im currently on, by RX, 70mlg Vyvance for ADD/ADHA and 100mlg of Zoloft for anxiety and depression.
I have an 1hr & 40min commute to work on public transportation.
I cant for the life of me figure out what my parkriti is, every time I try to answer the question its different every time.
Im experiencing the following:
dry skin; nervousness, moodiness and an inability to cope; constipation, gas and bloating; ups and downs in energy levels, and unbalanced sleep patterns. Issues of the joints; raised body temperature also overeating and sleeping after meals(the only Kapha Candida Issue). I have some skin issues, like acne, sores and bumps on my skin and painful sores on my tongue. I have a deviated septum with sinus and allergy issues; severe allergy to both Dust Mites and Grass Pollen and a slight allergy to pet dander and smoke. Also, TMJ with teeth grinding and sometimes painful clinking/ cracking of the jaw.- I’m not sure what dosha these go with.
I’m suffering with many imbalances and to be honest, I have no Idea where to start or what dietary support will be best for me.
Could you help me figure this out and maybe some advice, tips and tricks would you be willing to share on how to fix and maintain this on the go?
John Douillard says
Thanks for reaching out. This would be best discussed in consultation. Please research what we offer: https://lifespa.com/about-lifespa/ayurvedic-clinic/ Tauna or I would be happy to meet with you.
Vacheslav says
Time to visit a chiropractor, would also help going to a massagist for a belly massage followed by castor oil.
Pushpa Choudhary says
Dr please admise some tips to increase glutathione production in the body.
John Douillard says
Hi Pushpa. Thank you for reaching out. Turmeric Plus – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15650394
& Amalaki – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23105810
These will be good to start with — with some studies to back it is — I would take 2 of each 3x/day after food.
To find them in our store visit: http://store.lifespa.com/turmeric_plus.html http://store.lifespa.com/amalaki_amla.html
Be well. John
Joyce L. says
Thanks Dr. John for these study references ! I was listening to the Alzheimer’s Prevention Summit today, and there is now a probiotic by Dr. Ohhira’s group called ME3 (in a product called Reg’Activ by Essential Formulas) that has studies showing it increases glutathione levels. Will have to find out if it is one of the colonizing ones. Do you have any experience using it at all ?
LifeSpa Staff says
Hi Joyce,
Thanks for your comment and question. While we do not have enough information or experience with Dr. Ohhira’s probiotics, we are confident in our own probiotic formulas: http://store.lifespa.com/probiotics_kit.html” and encourage you to research them more on our site.
We also suggest reading an article we put out about probiotics: https://lifespa.com/from-prebiotic-to-probiotic-4-steps-healthy-microbiome/
Be well.
Robert thornton says
This article has some good basics,
but sometimes you need to add in anti-fungal herbs into the diet like Valerian or Pay D’arco.
matt says
What the heck is this going to do? Beside let the fungus live a nice relaxing life florish in your body till it rages out of control when you get sick enough from a cold or flu and then you die when the fungus gets in the blood stream?
Guess I’ll tell people who read the comments in hope to help them.
Systematic fungus infection give off heavy metals that is why you get the brain fog and anxious like panic attacks.
The fungus also give off 100s of different toxins and your liver has to deal with all of that.
Your body’s natural detox is glutathione but when your very sick your body will not make enough or just stop making it.
So best way to over come that is liposomal glutathione. 90% of it gets into the blood unlike pills or powders because they are not bioavaible.
Liposomal vitamin c is also a must it will kill off any other pathogens your body if trying to kill off.
Then your going to want to use olive leaf extract with 20% oleuropein take at least 2 grams a day with warm water
Also take goldenseal 2 grams a day of that as well with warm water. Colloidal silver kills all kinds of different fungus.
Drink one cup a day at room temperature on a empty stumic. You should also look into getting a dr clark zapper.
Good luck I hope this gets posted.
Robert says
@matt You obviously are not familiar with Ayurveda. What you write does not take into account one’s dosha. By the way, it’s stomach not stumic. Your western approach is a one size fits all. This site is recommending an Ayurvedic approach which is tailored for each body type.
Sathiya says
Hi sir
I am having candida in my blood pls suggest me some home remedies to remove it quickly.Already im having coconut oil,garlic and lemon.Thanks in advanve.
John Douillard says
Sathiya, once you know your dosha type you can find some in-depth recommendations for yeast in the body here: https://lifespa.com/candida-care-ayurvedic-type/. And here is a link to an article that will help you discover your dosha: https://lifespa.com/ayurvedic-health-quizzes/body-type-quiz/
matt says
You have it in your blood for crying out loud. You would be dead in 48 hours tops.
Leaving a fungus infection unchecked will lead to the fungus spreading then reaching your blood stream.
By the you will be on the ER and deadly Ill the only thing to save your life then is the most powerful medical antifungals by a IV.
you don’t that to happen they are very toxic to the liver and kidneys.
Gilles DEOM says
Thank you for this beautiful note.
What about loosing nails of the toes because of candida?
Rashmi Singh says
I m having iitching in my outer parts of vagina from last two years.taken lots of medicine but not cured.all my test reports are normal.please suggest some medicine.
Gilles DEOM says
What bad food you eat? Like something you overheat.
Is it red colored?
Which emotions you don’t release, aout the subjet of procreation, or creation (project or art) ?
Do you practice a little exercise?
Sarah says
Apply coconut oil and 100 pure aloe (drinking grade kind) – several times a day and after bathroom/ before bed. Goes away in a day and a half.
Vacheslav says
I am amazed you haven’t heard of soda! It even cures cancer!
LSA? says
LSA?
Nora says
Tea tree oil will cure it immediately. Try it out 🙂
Vickey says
I am a Vata-Pitta with candida, and have a few questions.Could you please clarify:
1) In the 3-Season book, pages 71&72, says the protein soup (kitchari?) is great for what ails you, but it contains Basmati rice. I know Vata should not have rice, but is this soup OK for me??
2) In your 2012 video “The Truth About Gluten and Dairy” you discussed using Ezekiel Bread. Can Vata with Candida have either Ezekiel bread or raw organic cheese?
Thank you for all of the wonderful information on your site.
Sincerely,
Vickey
Gilles DEOM says
Basmati rice is good for Vat.a