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Tom (Yonkers, Ny, Usa) on 02/23/2010
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I heard a lot of good things about spirulina and decided to take 3 grams a day- as it was recommended on the bottle. I stopped taking it after 5 days because i think Ive had a bad reaction towards it. Ive had headaches, brain fog, a feeling of pressure in my head, hot flashes, a depressed mood and an ear infection. I think its either symptoms of my body detoxing or i might be allergic to it or coincidentally i caught a virus with some flu like symptoms. It has been 5 days since i stopped taking spirulina and my symptoms have lessened but are still there. I personally feel it is my body detoxing and was thinking that i should start taking it again but at a lower dose but i want to feel better first. Any advice, comments, and hopefully remedies are much appreciated.

Thanks so much

p.s. The brand i bought has a quality assured GMP stamp on the label

Replied By Adrienne (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) on 03/03/2010

I have been doing research on spirulina. While it is considered to be #1 super food, many people develop sensitivity to it in high doses. Spirulina removes toxins and metals from the brain, brings the body into an alkaline state of balance, aids cognitive functioning such as improving hearing and memory, and is helpful with many ailments. I would try reducing the amount of spirulina taken to see if that makes a difference. There are many different types of spirulina also and you may be sensitive to not only the large amounts taken, but also to that particular brand.

Replied By Anonymous (Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Usa) on 05/06/2010

Try adding or dandelion root tea to your daily intake. It's supposed to help your liver and kidneys function better, which should help eliminate the detox reation, if that's what it is. Then you could continue taking the spirulina. I have had no adverse reactions to spirulina. I take a chlorophyll supplement that also contains wheatgrass and spirulina, it helps my mind work better. Chlorophyll is supposed to help clean your system, too.

Replied By Anonym (Anonym) on 01/17/2011

I have read that some studies indicate that spirulina might be toxic to the liver. Are there any scientific studies that you know for using Spirulina and on its benefits?

And on other point- one friend of mine for his use produces them in a glass bottle with distilled water and seasalt- I am worried about it as well. Do you know anything about this procedure?

Thanks again

Replied By Anon (Anon) on 07/07/2020
Here's a study:

Gargouri M, Magne C, El Feki A. HYPERGLYCEMIA, OXIDATIVE STRESS, LIVER DAMAGE AND DYSFUNCTION IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC RAT ARE PREVENTED BY SPIRULINA SUPPLEMENTATION.

Nutrition Research. November 2016; 36(11):1255-1268. DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2016.09.011

Sweet little summary courtesy of Spirulina.News: https://spirulina.news/2019-04-26-hepatoprotective-anti-hyperglycemic-anti-diabetic-properties-of-spirulina.html

Replied By Bri (Roseburg, Oregon, Us) on 07/19/2011

Also read a study were spirulina helps prevent heart damage in chemo. There are many many more studies showing Spirulinas benefits. It makes me feel good :-) Ran out a few mo. ago and got strep throat, which I haven't even gotten a cold since I started taking it which is extremely out of the ordinary for me.

Replied By Debbie (Melbourne, Australia) on 07/19/2011

Bri, not only Spirulina but also Chlorella is wonderful to take. There is a great ebook on both.. Chlorellafactor.com. My skin has never been so clear and I wake up refreshed every day. I take both. Great for digestion as well. Health begins in the gut so that is a good thing.

Replied By Bri (Roseburg, Oregon, Us) on 07/25/2011

Thanks for the infor Debbie!

Replied By Muffet (Slo, Ca) on 09/27/2011

Remember that Spirulina has detoxing effects, and that what is termed as "die off" could happen. This die off will give you slight headaches, upset tummy, etc. , but just for a few days.

Replied By Jen (Bozeman, Mt, Us) on 10/12/2011

I read an interesting book about this kind of thing. The author discovered that there are certain fruits, grains, and veggies that contain something called lectins. These are toxic to some of us and can actually cause autoimmune disorders. I haven't actually followed the books suggestions but it did say that spirulina has this self defense mechanism and some of us cannot tolorate it while others have no issues. I think it seems very logical that plants would have a way to fight back. The book is called "Cure your Autoimmune and Inflammitory Disease" by Gregory Barton. I thought it was very interesting. Would love to know if anyone else has heard of it.

Replied By Faith (Forest Park, Ohio) on 01/06/2012

The SIDE EFFECTS are just detox, nothing more but detox. If you think about it, the body is very toxic from everyday exposures, so when we finally attempt to cleanse it detox happens. You can do enemas or detox baths or even take activated charcoal or psyllium or eat HIGH FIBER FOODS TO SOAK UP THE TOXINS.

Another thing to do is to drink plenty of water, YOUR WEIGHT IN OUNCES every day and this may minimize your symptoms.

You can also look into the SEA SALT WATER CURE and do that at the same time because TOXINS dehydrate the body, so when we start to cleanse we are already DEHYDRATED so, therefore, the herx or detox symptoms will be intensified. YOu can scale back the dosage of spirulina and increase your water and SEA SALT because both help to hydrate the body.... Drink it daily.... It also cleanses the body... so go slow.

After further thought, I will list the Sea Salt Cure so all the info will be here. Just drink your weight in ounces of water a day. To each quart add, 1/4 tsp. organic sea salt, and this will hydrate you and help your adrenals... You will be SURPRISED at how this alone gets rid of many AILMENTS!

Replied By Laura (Sydney, Australia) on 04/22/2012

I wanted to share my spirulina experience. I'm a fit healthy 29 year old female. A couple months ago I took spirulina tablets for the first time after hearing of the health benefits.

I had 1-2 tablets (the recomended dosage) with a large glass of water at 6am and fell back asleep. I woke up a couple hours later with very sharp and persistant pain in my middle back on both sides (right on my kidneys) the pain going right through to my upper stomach. I was extremely nautious, very week, very short of breath, it actually hurt to breath. My reaction with entirely from the Spirulina tablets because I was feeling great and pain free before I took them.

The pain and nausea went on for a couple hours then vomiting started althought there was nothing to vomit. After 3 hours small amounts of green diarrhoea started. Since the pain in my kidneys felt like someone had a cleaver stabbing into my back poking both kidneys, staying there and also stabbing me into my stomach. It was sometimes like a burning hot pain. After speaking to a Poisons-Help-Line they said to go straight to hospital because I was finding it so hard to breath. 5-6 hours later the pain reduced and the hospital emergency areas was busy so I went home. Had sore lower stomach, nausia and weakness for 2 days.

Last week I bought a new multivitamin and didn't see it contain a small amount of Spirulina. I took the multivitamin at 6pm as directed with food and by 9pm the sudden pain started. After 10 minutes I knew that exact feeling the pain was exactly like my previous experience with Spirulina. I was sad I took the multivitamin without seeing this. Extreme nausea started and within 3 hours of taking it I was writhing in pain again, (and I have a very high pain tolerance) vomiting and within 4 hours severe diarrhoea. Thankfully it was over within 4-5 hours and the tablet must have been out of my system.

Clearly I must be allergic or not able to take Spirulina for some reason.

I just wanted to let others know and would be intersted to hear if anyone else had similar reactions? Please do share.

Replied By Rads (Montreal, Canada) on 05/19/2012

First you have to make sure any unwanted reactions are indeed related to the spirulina. Maybe take it on an empty stomach and see what happens. This is the first time I hear anything bad about it ...(?)

Theres a brand that I cant take cause it feels weak and just weird but I wont go as far as saying theres an adrverse reaction. dunno the brand name but its a hawaiian spirulina and the tablets are realy big and oval, w some whitish spots.

The one im happy with I think is "now" brand (has an orange label). But for some reason I feel like alternate every other week with chlorella - imo they have the same effect.

Replied By Meba (Sandiego, California,usa) on 06/06/2012

I have used Spirulina and it vibrates at 800 on the Hawkins scale. The max is three tablespoons perday I think and it is powerful. It has helped with toxins and pain. I started out with caps at 3x a day and now I use powder and larger dose. I did not have too much detox as I used Fulvic Mineral Water first to remove many things lol it even removed half of a metal filling so it sure works. I used the fulvic mineral water and its like drinking water at night and a good sleep you will have . Oh I use a green drink source that may make the symptoms go away as I've never noticed any side effects with these two products. If you do use these products and start vibrating too hard you can lower your vibration a bit with eating some fish or chicken and you will be more comfortable for a while :) meba

Replied By Kimh (Columbia, Sc, Usa) on 06/18/2012

In reply to Laura from Sydney, Australia: I have also had a terrible reaction to spirulina. The first time, I took 1/2 teaspoon (1/2 the recommended dosage) with dinner; two hours later I started vomiting and didn't stop for over an hour. I did a little experiment this weekend and added 1/4 teaspoon (1/4 the recommended dosage) to my morning smoothie - the exact same thing happened: two hours later, I started vomiting, and vomited every ten minutes for an hour. Both times, the reaction was so violent that I had broken capillaries in my face! I will NOT be trying spirulina again!

Replied By Wendy (Columbus, Oh/usa) on 07/26/2012

I've been taking spirulina tablets alternating with powder (in my smoothies) on and off for a couple of years now. As of yet, I've experienced no adverse effects at all. However, the above comments prompted me to do a little research, and I found this link:

http://www.vitaminsgroup.com/spirulina-side-effects-Ã¢ € “-what-are-they/

It mentions "Taking contaminated spirulina products can cause nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, weakness, shock, liver damage and death."

Replied By Trprosen (Montreal, Quebec) on 08/13/2012

WARNING!! To all those who have had vomitting, etc after ingesting chlorophyll based supplements. This is an allergic reaction! Don't kid yourself into thinking this is detox like I did or let anyone else tell you otherwise. Vomiting, cramps and diarreha are the reactions of the mast cells in the digestive tract. After being rushed to Emergency two nights ago after I again ingested a form of chlorophyll, the medical team warned me that the next time may kill me. Thank god my sister is a physician and insisted my husband to take me after he called her. I thought a food allergy was when you have a anaphalactic reaction but they explained how it all works. See WebMD's page on allergies for a brief but good summary.

Replied By Judy (Cape Cod, Usa) on 01/14/2013

I also had a bad reaction to spirulina pacifica. I took the pure Hawaiian powder type from a natural health food store.

I vomited 2 hours after putting 1 tsp in my green juice drink. I vomited for a whole hour along with diarrhea. I know its the spirulina because the same thing happened a week ago. I didn't think it was the spirulina because my husband had the same drink and he was fine. I must be allergic to it if that is possible. I will never take that stuff again.

Replied By Lynne (Takaka, New Zealand) on 02/28/2013

yep... I am like others here.... The smallest amount of spirulina and I am vomiting within hours.... a no go for me...

Replied By Andrea C (Cardiff, Wales) on 03/22/2013

I too found spirulina powder made me vomit, but an organic chorella and spirulina tablet I bought were fine. Love Andrea c xxxx

Replied By Anon (Anon) on 12/10/2013

I get spirulina powder from the organic bulk spice section of the local grocery store. Don't know the origin or brand. It has a strange mildly unpleasant smell, but it hasn't caused any adverse reaction. I put two teaspoons in a liter of water and drink it throughout the day. I take kelp and hemp seed powder too, so I can't say conclusively that it's done anything in particular. I'd rather fast all day on kelp, hemp seed, and spirulina than eat regular meals. Yay for green food! Oh, I also like to go in the back yard where there is really tall grass and put that through the juicer. That is awesome too. But I have to cut it up small or it gets stuck in the masticating juicer.

Replied By Rhonda (Australia) on 04/21/2014

I've had a bad relation to spirulina as well. I took it in powder form (1/8 teaspoon) and have had severe headache, vomiting and diarrhea for hours after. This has happened again after a break of not taking it so I am sure spirulina is the cause.

Replied By Tianna (Alberta) on 05/09/2014

Amalgam fillings do not leak mercury. A very very tiny insignificant amount is released into your saliva during removal of the fillings. Most white fillings are composite fillings which do not contain amalgam. They do contain BPA but as in the case of the mercury, they do NOT, I repeat, do NOT leak into your body. You always have the option of pulling of your teeth too if you were really that concerned.. Which I stress again is an irrational concern.

I am a dental hygienist who is very concerned about keeping my body healthy in the most natural ways possible.

Replied By Om (Hope, Bc. Canada) on 05/09/2014

Tianna from Alberta --- where did you get that info. from?? Om

Replied By Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 05/10/2014

To Tianna;

Re; Mercury fillings (amalgams)

You state emphatically that mercury (a deadly poison even in the smallest amounts) does not emit from the bond in the filling and into the body. You are totally wrong.

I would suggest you go to sites that discuss how scientist KNOW mercury vapor is leaching into the human body. If you google "the danger of mercury amalgam fillings food matters" you'll find a scientifically PACKED video, with commentary from about ten doctors and scientists. One study sited from Canada took sheep and then monkeys and put radio active amalgams in their teeth. In no time the radio active mercury had leached to the kidneys and intestines.

Drs. Mercola and Oz also have good videos on the poisoning placed in our mouths for the past century by well meaning dentists.

I had my amalgams removed thirty years ago as the evidence piled up. The replacement is non mercury and non toxic. Since there are perfectly good alternatives to amalgams, then WHY would one take a chance on having mercury inserted.

From an anecdotal point of view, my wife had amalgams placed in her teeth, seven in one day, after going decades without any amalgam dental work prior to that. Six months later she experienced her first MS attack. Two lesions in her dorsal. Coincidence? We had all her amalgams removed and there has been no more progress of the MS for 20 years.

Your association with the dental industry makes your absolutist commentary (dental hygienist) suspect as inherently a conflict. The dental industry keeps on fighting the FACT that they are involved, inadvertently, in causing so much misery and disease.

Replied By Scott (Omaha, US) on 06/06/2014

Add me to the list of those negatively affected by Spirulina. Here's how we 'accidentally' figured it out.

A while back I tired of doing spirulina powder. I just couldn't do it anymore. So I tried Pacifica pills. The first time I took the pills I felt uneasy after an hour or so and proceeded to vomit more violently than I have in my life (39 yrs old). A firehose out the other end and I was miserable for a day. I vowed off spirulina.

My wife made me a smoothie this morning and I went to work as normal. An hour later I clearly remembered the same feeling happening. I was deja vu back in the bathroom at work violently vomiting and having diarrhea . I texted my wife to ask what she put in the smoothie and sure enough she put in a green powder mix that had spirulina as an ingredient. So if anyone wants to play a bad joke on me, they can slip me my smoothie with spirulina. It's just strange that it happened after I switched from the full powder.

Replied By Hani (Malaysia) on 08/08/2014

I consume Elken Spirulina few days ago. I took 7tablets daily. I noticed that I got a sore throat after taking the pills. I think it is the side effect. Should I reduce the amount of the pills?

Replied By Kristin (Naperville, Il) on 05/27/2015

I just started taking spirulina (Now brand, certified GMO free) about a week ago, recommended dose on label is 6 tablets, on the 4th day of taking it I got flu like symptoms including vomiting for 3 days, I stopped the supplement during that time, not sure if this was from the spirulina or not, now I am afraid to take it again. This was the worst sickness I have had ever, whether it was the flu or reaction to the spirulina. It gave me a strange, uncomfortable feeling in my stomach and as a result I could not sleep.

Replied By Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 05/27/2015

Kristin, sounds like a LOT. I put less than a teaspoon in a big smoothie once a day or once in a few days.

Replied By Saima (London ) on 06/23/2015

I used spirulina in past few years. At the start days these symptoms happened to me as well. But after a week or so magic will start. I felt so energetic, all dizziness gone. I notice personally that whenever I start taking spirulina I feel weak headache, light headed for few days. But after that all the goodness will come.

Replied By Carmel (England) on 07/13/2015

YOu can be allergic to anything at all, even if it is effective and helpful with no side effects for other people. Over the past few years I have found I am allergic to garlic, which is a great shame, cannot take curcumin because it gives me bad headaches and the list goes on. Iodine is one of the only things I can take which helps me without side effects, but it is different for everyone.

Replied By Liza (Toronto) on 08/07/2015

Hello there!!!

I've been taking spirulina in capsules for couple of weeks... started from one a day now I am up to 3... First week I did not feel anything different...but last 4-5 days I have very bad headaches and have no energy... not sure if I have to just keep going and it will go away...

But I do not want to take one pill .. and then take another to get rid of side effects of previous pill..

How long you supposed to feel side effects till your body adjust to it? I know everyone is different but I am close to giving it up!!

Thank you )

Replied By Me (Mt) on 04/03/2017

YES-amalgams ARE toxic. Dentists have to handle it as toxic material before putting it into your tooth. Do they magically change when put into a tooth? I think not. There is a reason that dentists have been slowly and methodically removing these kinds of fillings and replacing them for the last decade. My Dentists didn't even charge me to do it. If that's not proof, I don't know what is.

Replied By Spirulina35 (Placerville, Ca) on 07/17/2017

I don't believe that Spirulina was intended to take to replace meals or be taken at 3 tbsps. once or more a day. It says right on the bottle 6 - 500mg tabs (or heaping tsp. powder). Too much of anything will cause negative reactions. You can die of drinking too much water in a short time.

Be sensible about Spirulina. I've taken 6-7 (500mg) tabs per day for 35+ years and I feel that I've gotten the optimum results from taking Spirulina.

I do believe that 3 tbsp.. (or more) a day could prove to be harmful to anyone. Why would you do that to begin with. Doesn't make sense. Stick with common sense.

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