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WHAT IS IT?
Candida albicans is a form of parasitic yeast which thrives in warm-blooded animals. Candida normally populates the bowel, vagina and mucous membranes. In those with healthy immune systems, it is kept in balance by friendly bacteria such as acidophilus and bifidophilus bacteria. If the balance is upset, the Candida proliferates.
As it multiplies in a hospitable environment, this single cell can rapidly develop into new strains, which is why target- specific drugs have limited effect. Researchers have identified multiple species of Candida, including C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, and C. dubliniensis. Canvas bulgeris as a secondary fungus that can cause many of the symptoms that accompanies Candida albicans.
Researchers who follow the polymorphic philosophy, believe that these are forms of the same organism as it progresses through different stages. It is known that Candida albicans can change its structure and metabolism into a fungal form, with a mass of filaments that can penetrate into surrounding tissue. These filaments are called mycelium. These mycelium can penetrate the lining of the colon, where Candida overgrowth usually begins, and enter the bloodstream. This is how Candida can spread to other organs and systems. When it enters the blood stream, it can travel to any weaker areas of the body, creating infectious – type responses.
At this stage it is now considered to be “systemic yeast infection”. At this systemic stage, it can severely affect your health. As the fungi multiply they also produce toxins which circulate in the blood stream & cause all kinds of sickness & illness, known also as Candidiasis.
SYMPTOMS:
Candida ferments glucose, maltose, sucrose, and lactose to produce gas, acids, ethanol alcohol, as well as acetaldehydes, which can inactivate our body’s enzymes. These and other toxic by-products produce an intoxicated effect if they reach high levels in the blood. Symptoms can be so far reaching that until a few years ago allopathic doctors refused to believe that Candida could be responsible for so many diverse symptoms and refused to recognize its dangerous potential. The symptoms will often fall under one or more of the following categories:
Allergies: partially due to the inactivation of enzymes and therefore the body ends up absorbing incompletely digested dietary proteins. Allergies can range from food sensitivities, to debilitating environmental hypersensitivities. Chemical reactions, pet allergies, continuous nasal congestion or drainage, dark circles under eyes are some examples.
Gastrointestinal: digestive and intestinal problems: 3Bs: belching, burping and bloating, gas, fatigue after meals, diarrhoea or constipation or both, irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut.
Immune deficiency: yeast infections, thrush or mouth sores, frequent infections: ears, tonsils, bronchitis, diaper rash, bladder infections, vaginal or rectal burning or itching, discharge.
Nervous system: difficulty concentrating, poor coordination, mood swings, depression (both unipolar and bipolar), hyperactivity, poor attention span, mental confusion and anxiety.
Skin: constant skin problems, pimples on cheeks, rashes, athlete’s foot, ringworm, cradle cap, jock itch, psoriasis.
Nutritional deficiencies and imbalances: cravings for junk foods & sugar, dry mouth or throat, fatigue, difficulty getting pregnant, PMS problems including menstrual cramps.
Nails, Toenail fungus: read Fungus Among Us for specific solutions to this common yeast challenge, including athlete’s foot..
CAUSES:
Antibiotics: promote the growth of Candida by killing friendly intestinal bacteria that control Candida, plus destroy Vit B and K.
Birth control pills: weaken the immune system, alter hormones, release toxins & destroy folic acid, Vitamins C, B6, B2, B12, B1 and E.
Cortisone and other steroid hormones: suppress immune system and destroy Vit A, B6, D, C, zinc and potassium.
Hormones: Progesterone suppositories produce a hormonal imbalance & cause yeast infections. Repeated pregnancies can increase changes in hormonal balance.
Sex: partners can re-infect each other, so both should follow treatment to eliminate Candida.
Stress: weakens overall immunity, making it a prime target for opportunistic yeast infections.
Diet: Just like the yeast you may use for baking bread, Candida grows rapidly on sugar and flour. Too much acid-forming foods such as meat, poultry, eggs or farmed fish create an imbalanced pH. Antibiotics and hormones are fed and injected into cattle, chicken and turkeys. Aim for a diet of 80% alkaline, (vegetables of every color and shape) and 20% acid forming foods.
Mold in your environment.
TREATMENT:
As with all health challenges, the Four Pillars of Health need to be considered:
1. Nutrition
Follow a healthy diet, which may also be called a Candida Diet. Think of this not as a restriction diet until Candida is gone, but rather as life-long dietary changes that promote ongoing health and build the immune system. Look at broadening your healthy food choices, rather than as an elimination diet. Eliminate causes listed above – replace drugs and improve health with herbs.
Specific recommendation for yeast, fungal and candida can be found here: Optimum Diet
2. Exercise
Energy begets energy. Choose a form of exercise that suits your lifestyle, your interests and level of health, then stick with it and enjoy it.
3. Emotional
Think positively as you begin taking the steps to improve your own health and you will reap the benefits. As you cleanse your body physically, you will find it easier to cleanse emotional toxins.
4. Supplementation
Herbs, enzymes and probiotics work on a two step approach.
First, the climate or environment of the body needs to be changed to eliminate Candida overgrowth, while increasing the friendly bacteria. You do not want to be a good host to Candida and you do want to create an environment that is a great host to the friendly bacteria.
Second, herbs are used to nourish a weakened body and thereby strengthen the immune system
Once the situation is under control, maintenance programs promote strong immunity and are highly recommended.
SUPPLEMENTS TO CHOOSE FROM:
- Candida Clear: A complete 14 day Candida cleanse an effective combination of anti-candida herbs taken with meals, and enzymes taken between meals. (available from US)
- Bifidophilus Flora Force or Probiotics 11: 2 per day upon arising with 1 cup of water, plus 2 tsps. Chlorophyll (optional).
These previous two are a complete herbal program, when accompanied by dietary change, adequate water intake and daily bowel movements. The following are alternatives to the Candida Clear program and effective for maintenance. All of the products listed in this article have complete Fact sheets, as well as the advice of trained herb specialists.
- Digestive Enzymes: 1-2 with each meal.
- Artemisia Combination, Caprylic Acid Combination, Herbal Pumpkin: Artemisiia and Elecampane are specific herbs for aiding the body to eliminate the Canvas bulgeris fungus. Caprylic Acid, from coconut, is a fungicidal for Candida albicans.
- Yeast Fungal DeTox: herbal combination designed to eliminate yeast and support overall health
- Black Walnut: specific for Candida, helps rebuild a low thyroid, eliminate other parasites.
- HRP-C: Chinese immune boosting formula for virus, fungal and yeast infections.
- High Potency Garlic: enteric coated with chlorophyll, low odour, full potency.
- Pau D’Arco (Taheebo): immune booster, inhibits yeast, viral & parasitic infections.
- Cat’s Claw with Astragalus and Echinacea: anti-yeast and immune booster
- Paw Paw (Asimina triloba) is also an excellent anti-fungal herb. This herb is powerful enough to be effective for cancer, as written in my book,” The Paw Paw Program – A Christopher Columbus Approach to Cancer”
N.B. The bowels must move regularly (2 healthy BMs/day) for optimum health. If necessary add Psyllium Hulls Combo with LBS or Cascara to achieve this. Hydrated Bentonite helps to adsorb toxins and carry them out through the bowel as Candida is eliminated and will help prevent too serious a “die off reaction”.
For chronic Candida follow a maintenance/prevention for 5 days a month, after you have cleared it up. Suggested is to take 4 per day of any of the above formulas, or one of the Paks.
If you can do this around full moon, it will be more effective. Doing it 5 days/month means that one set of herbs will last for 5 months, so this is a worthwhile investment.
For optimum nutrition:
- Power Greens added to shakes or smoothies helps provide dense nutrition, and alkaline body pH that one could get from 5-8 servings of green vegetables.