Candida

Candida is a little fungus that occurs naturally in the blood and which eats and processes excess sugar. Unfortunately, in doing so it also causes a craving for more sugar in the person ----- and this in turn can result in some very dramatic mood and behavior manifestations. Candida species are ubiquitous fungi found throughout the world as normal body flora. Unfortunately, candidiasis is also the most common mycotic infection, causing a variety of diseases.
A hefty dose of inexpensive yeast-fighters and some help in weaning off excess sugar works well to restore a healthy balance.
Sugar is a problem because it occurs in all foods and one does not have to be addicted to candy to have this problem. Often notice if people are having panic that sometimes looks like rage, this can be a sign of candidiasis.
species: Candida albicans, C albicans, Candida tropicalis, C tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, C parapsilosis, Candida guilliermondi, C guilliermondi, Candida lusitaniae, C lusitaniae, Candida krusei, C krusei, Torulopsis glabrata, T glabrata,

Candida Control Five-Point Plan

This needs to be followed for at least three months.

1. Kill it - Orally - Caprylic acid or raw garlic, Pau d'Arco herb, Nystatin (from your GP¹). Tea tree oil applied (diluted) to skin, and a few drops added to laundry conditioner, to help prevent the rest of the family becoming afflicted. Underwear can also be microwaved if you can't use tea tree oil, eg, if you're seeing a homeopath. You can also add a couple of drops of tea tree oil to bath water.

2. Starve it - Eliminate from diet all sugars (including fruit sugar) on which it feeds, and all yeasts, moulds and fungi (which encourages its growth).

3. Scrub it Out - Using Psyllium Hulls or Slippery Elm. These gently remove the dead candida cells from your gut and help absorb the toxins released by them - especially when they are dying, which can cause 'die back'. This is an exacerbation of your symptoms when you start to eliminate the candida. These toxins, re-absorbed, cause your symptoms in the first place. Psyllium and Slippery Elm can be bought in capsules or loose.

4. Replace it - Using multi-bifidus available in capsules, or from live plain yoghurt². When candida proliferates, the yeast cells clump together to form fungal sheets on your mucous membranes. In the gut, this slows down absorption of vital nutrients. When the fungal sheets are killed and scrubbed off, it leaves patches bare of the normal healthy gut flora which help us digest our food. Multi-bifidus or yoghurt encourages the re-growth of these.

5. Strengthen Your Immune System - With regular treatments from your homeopath. Herbs like Echinacea are extremely helpful, as are multi-vitamins and vital minerals, to replenish those lost by malabsorptions due to Candida.

Don't encourage its re-growth. It will come back quickly if you re-introduce sugars, yeasts and moulds too quickly. Avoid IS inhibitors - herbicides and pesticides on food, steroids, etc.

It is worth noting that in the case of Candida Albicans, or thrush, which is sexually transmittable, both partners should be treated, whether or not symptoms show in the other partner.

Twin Labs: Yeast Fighters:

• High Potency Freeze Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotic (milk free) (supplying 2.5 billion viable cells) 1000 mg

• Concentrated Odorless Garlic Extract Powder (equivalent to 1500 mg of fresh garlic) 100 mg

• Natural Caprylic Acid 100 mg

• Biotin 900 mcg

• Fiber Blend (psyllium seed husks, guar gum, apple pectin) 3000 mg

• In a concentrated specially prepared herbal tea extract base of pau d'arco, onion, black walnut, echinacea and golden seal root.

Symptoms include:

• Tired or lethargic
  
• Poor memory
  
• Feel drained, depleted or exhausted
  
• Numbness, burning, tingling
  
• Stomach pain
  
• Joint pain or swelling
  
• Muscle aching or weakness
  
• Constipation, diarrhea, bloating, gas, or belching
  
• Bothersome or persistent vaginal itching, burning, or discharge
  
• Prostatitis
  
• Erectile dysfunction
  
• Loss of sexual desire
  
• Endometriosis or infertility
  
• Menstrual irregularity or cramping
  
• Anxiety attacks or crying
  
• Cold hands and feet, feel chilly
  
• Irritable or shaking when hungry
  

Natural Remedies

Alternative practitioners recommend individualized programs that usually combine diet and supplements. Supplements are introduced gradually to avoid a temporary worsening of symptoms called a "die-off" or Herxheimer reaction. This is because when candida are killed, they release protein fragments and toxins that can trigger an antibody response from the immune system.

Improvement in symptoms is usually noticed after two to four weeks.

Acidophillus
The beneficial bacteria acidophillus is thought to control candida by making the intestinal tract more acidic, discouraging the growth of candida, and by producing hydrogen peroxide, which directly kills candida.

Reasearch has shown that supplementing with a hydrogen peroxide-producing strain of acidophillus, DDS-1 greatly reduced the incidence of antibiotic-induced yeast infections.

These beneficial bacteria also help to restore the microbial balance within the digestive tract.

Fiber
One teaspoon to one tablespoon of soluble fiber containing guar gum, psyllium husks, flaxseeds or pectin can be mixed in an 8 oz glass of water two times per day on an empty stomach.

Enteric-coated essential oils
Enteric-coated capsules containing oregano oil, peppermint oil, and other volatile oils are thought to prevent the overgrowth of candida. It is usually recommended for at least several months. A standard dosage is two capsules two times a day with water, in between meals. Pure volatile oils can be quite toxic in this amount so the liquid form of these oils should never be ingested, and the capsules should not be broken open before ingesting.

Enteric-coated garlic
Garlic capsules that have been enteric-coated to open when they reach the intestines are often be used in combination with the volatile oils. Once capsule two times per day taken with the enteric-coated volatile oil is a typical recommendation.

Other valuable supplements are caprylic acid from coconuts, oleic acid from olive oil, oregano oil, and pau d'arco. There are many combination products formulated for candida that contain these herbs and supplements.


Some experts suggest that an elimination diet is useful. It allows one to pinpoint what foods are exactly causing the reactions. Elimination diets should be followed for a month to allow for accuracy. Not only do they work with excess candida but also for ADD/ADHD, yeast infections, diabetes and IBS - to name but a few disorders.

• Eat only range-fed turkey and lamb, baked or boiled potatoes and sweet potatoes (with salt and pepper only), rice and millet as your only grain, cooked green and yellow squash for your vegetable, and for fruit, pears and diluted pear juice. Drink a rice-based beverage drink in place of milk on cereal or in cooking. Do not yet use soy beverage. Take a calcium supplement. (Rice products, such as rice beverage, rice-based frozen dessert, rice pasta, rice flour, and millet are available in nutrition stores.)
• At the end of two weeks, or sooner if symptoms subside, gradually add other foods to your diet, one every four days, starting with those less commonly allergenic (such as sunflower seeds, carrots, beets, salmon, oats, grapes, avocado, peaches). Wait a while before you add wheat, beef, eggs, nuts, and corn. Avoid for the longest time dairy products, soy products, peanuts, shellfish, coffee, tea, colas and other beverages containing caffeine, chocolate, gas-producing vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, green peppers), tomatoes, and citrus fruits. Vegetables and fruits are often tolerated in cooked form sooner than in raw form.
• Keep a record of the foods you eat and the problem behaviors; try to correlate re-emergence of symptoms with what you've eaten in the past day or so. This gives you a clearer perspective and helps you stay objective.

Do not starve yourself. It may feel, the first day or two, as though there is not enough for you to eat; but you can still eat a nutritious diet. You just have to eat more of the "safe" types of food until you determine what you can tolerate. Make written notes as you go along. Remember that a successful final eating regimen may even include "problem foods" on a treat basis! Good Luck.