Health Happening
The "No-Brainers" for Physical and Mental Health:
Candidiasis is a fungal infection (mycosis) of any of the Candida species. Other technical names for candidiasis include candidosis, moniliasis and oidiomycosis. The most prevalent species involved in yeast infections is C. Albicans.
| Candida Albicans | ||
|---|---|---|
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As a controlled population, the yeast form of Candida Albicans and other species is a normal part of the digestive tract flora (non-parasitic organisms that live inside our mouth, throat, intestines and genitouriniary tract, such as L. acidophilus, B. bifidum, L. bulgaricus, S. thermophilus and L. salivarius) One of Candida's functions is to recognize and destroy pathogenic bacteria Candida does not like an acid environment Candida thrives in damp, moldy places and after consumption of foods rich in carbohydrates - such as sugars, refined carbohydrates and starches. When its numbers get out of control, it is the most frequent of the yeast fungi to cause damage, which can affect the whole body -some experts estimate that ~ one third of the industrial nation populations suffer from diseases attributed to candida albicans ! (Yeast represents only 1% of fungal species); |
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The common unicellular yeast form of candidiasis
Yeast appears as a whitish plaque, discharge or rash
Is limited to mucosal membranes in the mouth or vagina. It is usually easy to cure in people who are not immuno-compromised;
High risk groups. Include newborns and adults over 65 years;
Vaginal thrush can be caused by frequent vaginal douching (in addition to the causes mentioned above). This disturbs vaginal pH, increasing risk of yeast infection.
Tips to prevent the progression from this level to the next more aggressive level
How to increase body's probiotic presence
C. Albicans in oval yeast form (no hyphae)
In this aggressive form, Candida sprouts long root-like rhizoids. These are called hyphae, which Candida uses to anchor to mucous membranes, such as mouth, vagina, sinuses, ears, nasopharynx, respiratory system, genitourinary tract, warm moist skin areas (incl. under finger and toe-nails) and the GI tract lining.
Symptoms, Include:
Candida Albicans is involved in over half of Interstitial Cystitis (IC) cases. There are also other emerging species causing IC, such as Candida glabrata.
Often no longer visible like white thrush. Candida can not be medically detected in the small intestine, at least, not until after you're dead, when the intestine can be cut open.
C. Albicans in mycelial form (with hyphae)
Candida releases toxins to many parts of the body, further weakening the immune system. Candida Albicans produces ~100 different toxins putting a great strain on the liver. The liver can then no longer adequately detoxify the body, resulting in extreme fatigue and a general feeling of discomfort. These toxins produce pathological changes in tissues and organs and interfere with proper immune function. Candida toxins also cause allergic reactions and are responsible for the debilitating symptoms of Candidiasis.
Rarely, Candida can penetrate the intestinal walls, and gain access to the bloodstream (called candidemia) and thus can travel to the central nervous system or organs - where, if untreated, it is fatal in a matter of days.
Widespread throughout body. Candida can contaminate the glands, kidneys, bladder, lungs, heart, liver, skin, mucous membranes and the brain and nervous system producing a large number of symptoms.
Statistics. According to the Center for Disease Control, the blood of ~ 8 in every 100,000 people become infected with invasive Candidiasis (IC) each year in the U.S., and a review of data from the National Center for Health Statistics and recent literature determined that IC-associated mortality has remained stable since 1997, at approximately 0.4 deaths per 100,000 population.
Persons at high risk for candidemia. Include low-birth-weight babies, surgical patients, and those with immuno-deficiency (E.g. AIDS patients)
| Symptoms of mycelial candidiasis by body areas | |
|---|---|
| CNS | Apathy, confusion, dizziness, poor concentration, spaced out |
| Digestive | Food allergies, gas, abdominal pain, gastritis, rectal itching, sugar cravings and ulcers |
| Genitourinary | Recurring bladder infections (cystitis), burning urination, kidney infection, urethritis. |
| Respiratory | Bronchitis, chronic cough, clogged sinuses, excess mucous, nasal itching, sinus infections, wheezing, sneezing, pneumonia, chronic congestion |
| Skin | Diaper rash, eczema, red rashes, itchy patches, sores |
| Eyes | Floaters, blurred vision. |
| Candida Albicans is associated with several health problems | ||
|---|---|---|
| (Here are just a few) | ||
| Fibromyalgia | CFS/CFIDS | Asthma |
| Food intolerance | Psoriasis | Multiple sclerosis |
NOT Reliable. "Spit Test"
Originally promoted by a $multi-billion company recommending their product (ThreeLacâ„¢) if one "fails"the test. One spits into a glass of water and if an hour later there are strings dropping to the bottom of the glass, you have systemic Candida.
Science can not explain the logic behind the test. Yields both false positives and false negatives.
Antibiotics are a major cause of candidiasis. By killing the controlling probiotic "good"bacteria, Candida, which is unaffected by antibiotics, is free to grow and spread. We also get a low-level, but constant source of antibiotics added to animal feed, when we eat the animal's flesh.
Excess
sugar consumption is also a major factor in GI candidiasis.
Includes refined carbohydrates and starches, which your body turns
into sugar. Candida ferments and rapidly proliferates in the presence of
simple sugars, which significantly increase Candida's ability to adhere to
epithelial mucous cells.Other causes include:
Follow the NEWSTARTS protocol. All aspects important, but to emphasize just a couple - try and reduce stress and get enough sleep. Candida is only present with a weakened immune system.
This starves the Candida by taking away its food source:
Protein metabolism produces alkaline ammonia conducive to Candida growth
Increases undigested proteins escaping the GI tract through a leaky gut - making extra work for immune system
The beneficial(Candida fighting),intestinal flora need feeding
Sea vegetable, olive oil, citrus fruit, herbal teas and unsweetened cranberry juice.
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria, which compete with Candida, produce antifungal enzymes that control Candida population, and aid re-colonization of other beneficial bacteria;
How to increase body's probiotic presence
Involves some simple remedies, but to prevent recurrence, you should apply the general recommendations against candidiasis mentioned below.
Specific Remedies for Vaginal Yeast Infection
Experience has shown that the mycelial form of Candida is very difficult to eliminate, especially if has broken through the intestinal wall into the blood stream and on into other body organs. Anti-fungal "tools"are available to help kill Candida, but to prevent its return requires:
Also, be aware:
Fungi living within the mucous membranes of the mouth may be eliminated by daily, oral swishing with an anti-fungal solution. MMS, Lugol's iodine, wild oregano oil, grapefruit seed extract, tea tree oil or other anti-fungal, for several minutes just before bed.
Lugol's Solution. Dose: 8 drops Lugol's solution /day (contains 50mg of iodine/iodide)
Iodine -The Universal Medicine
Virgin Coconut oil
Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE)
Powerful antifungal foods. E.g. garlic, cinnamon
Grape seed extract. Although it is antifungal when used alone, when combined with amphotericin B (the drug often used for treating fungal infections, but with severe side-effects ), it has produced a significant growth retardation of Candida with a lower dose of this drug, according to a 2007 "Phytomedicine" study. Dose must be high enough to be effective:
Wild Oregano Oil
Olive Leaf Extract
Tea tree oil. Can be used EXTERNALLY. E.g. in the mouth or vagina
Lufenuron - Non-toxic, OTC veterinarian anti-fungal to kill Candida
Lufenuron as a Candida treatment
Effective ADJUNCT supplements to treatment of Candida infection. In the intestines, these supplements counteract the unpleasant "die-off" Herxheimer reaction by adsorbing (chemically absorbing) toxins produced by Candida and dying Candida (that would otherwise be absorbed by the blood and carried throughout the body) and dead Candida. Enables people to continue treatment rather than give up
NOTE: Do NOT take required medications within 2 hours of taking Activated Charcoal.
Contrary to popular advice, mushrooms are NOT a problem food for Candida, and some species actually fight it. Such advice does not hold up against scientific scrutiny. Some wild mushrooms picked in Turkey were found to have strong anti-Candida activity. Fungi expert and mycologist for more than 30 years, Paul Stamet, author of MycoMedicinals, says that mmany fungi fight Candida. Mushroom catalogs with a "mycomedicinals"appendix list anti-Candida mushrooms (all, except Schizophyllum, also boost the immune system):
