Candida

	*CANDIDIASIS*

Many people who suffer from allergies and immune disorders are plagued with yeast and fungal infections. These infections , called candidiasis or candida, are a growing problem and are related to imbalances in our modern-day lifestyles.

Symptoms of candida include:

fatigue
a craving for sugars and bread
sensitivities to food, chemicals and other allergens - especially tobacco smoke, perfumes, insecticides or chemical odours
cravings for sugar, sweets, alcohol, beer, wine or bread
worse on damp days or in musty, mouldy places
menstrual complaints such as PMS, irregular periods
depression
insomnia
poor memory and mental confusion
digestive complaints such as constipation, diarrhoea, bloating or abdominal pain
skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis, rashes in the groin area
digestive disturbances such as IBS
muscle aches
In women, vaginal discharge, burning, premenstrual syndrome, cramps
In men, prostatitis, impotence, burning on urination
fungal infections, such as athlete's foot, jock itch
decreased libido
sexual dysfunction and infertility
rectal itching

YEAST OVERGROWTH

Candida albicans is the most common fungal infection, but other species of candida, moulds and other fungi can pose problems as well.

Candida, along with other bacteria and other friendly infectants, exist normally in our gut. When our body is weakened by use of antibiotics, steroids, and/or a diet high in sugar, candida can become ovegrown in the system and give rise to an allergic reaction.

People can have high levels of Candida in their systems but no symptoms, while other people can have very little Candida in their systems but experience very severe symptoms. The people with the allergy to the yeast or fungus are the ones which develop the symptoms. These symptoms become more pronounced as one eats more and more of the foods that feed it.

This, in turn can cause dysbiosis, an imbalance in the gut flora, and to leaky gut syndrome, in which undigested food permeates through the gut wall generating still more allergic reactions.

CAUSES OF CANDIDA

The main factors that can contribute to development of candida are:

Repeated doses of broad-spectrum antibiotics (especially ampicillin, tetracycline, amoxycyllin)
Use of the birth control pill
Hormone replacements
Use of steroids for conditions such as asthma
A diet high in simple carbohydrates (breads and sugar are the main culprits)

DIAGNOSIS OF CANDIDA

Traditionally much of the diagnosis of candida has been through the symptoms experienced by the patient and taking anti-fungal agents which would normally provoke a die-off (also called a Herxheimers Reaction), which confirmed the diagnosis. Filling out a questionnaire with various symptoms and indications can help in identifying whether there is a yeast problem or not. Howeverit is important to know that there can be other reasons (such as a bacterial overgrowth) that can contribute to symptoms.

In my clinic I have various ways of testing for candida.

Firstly, the acid test is whether the person is suffering from an allergy to candida - so, along with NAET testing for general allergies and sensitivities, I test for reactions to yeast, candida, fungi and moulds. If NAET testing shows up allergies to Vitamin C, Vitamin B, sugar, as well as to yeast, candida - then this is an indication that the person is likely to have a yeast problem
Secondly, I use electrodermal testing using various Vega filters to confirm the presence of a dysbiosis problem.
Thirdly, Great Smokies Laboratories in the United States, are able to do stool tests which indicate whether there is dysbiosis, bacterial and/or yeast overgrowth.

OTHER FACTORS

Yeasts are single-celled organisms that live normally on the outside of mucous membranes. They need to consume sustances such as sugars and fats to survive. When the immune system is depressed by the candida is is unable to fight fungi, viruses and bacteria. The yeasts can change form, from a single-cell yeast form to a branching fungal form that can burrow deeper into the system, spread through the blood to different organs and create sickness.

When the yeasts multiply they produce toxins which are experienced in the body as symptoms such as bloating, headache, fatigue.

While you have candida, birth control pills, the consumption of large amounts of carbohydrates and sugars increase the number of yeast in the body. Until it is eliminated, these substances will continue to pose a problem.

If you are allergic to fungus or moulds, these can play a part in affecting or aggravating your symptoms. Moulds occur naturally in the soil, air and water and can be found on vegetables and fruits. Mould is a problem in New Zealand houses and be a major contributor to coughs, bronchial infections and asthma. Moulds thrive in damp conditions, especially in bathrooms, as well as in old, sweaty clothing. It can grow in mattresses, carpets, bedding, old books and newspapers, flowe r pots, plants and soil.

People can respond to moldy environments by becoming spaced out, incapacitated and depressed.

TREATMENT OF CANDIDA

Traditionally candida is difficult to treat because it becomes very embedded in the system and it is necessary to combine avoidance of foods that feed the candida with avoidance of yeasts and moulds, while at the same time taking medications to kill off the candida. This would involve a very strict diet that could go on for many months and chances of relapses with relaxing of the diet are common.

The difference is the treatment of the allergy to the candida.

My approach differs from this and would consist of the following:

Treatment of allergies - NAET forms the cornerstone of the treatment. It is important to treat allergies to basics such as Vitamin C, Vitamin B and sugar - to give the body a chance to restore the immune system. This would be followed by treatment of any of the main food groups and by allergies to yeast, candida, moulds, fungi as well as to alcohol and acetylaldehyde (one of the metabolic by-products of candida), hormones etc.The treatments involve the complete avoidance of exposure to the allergens for a 25-hour period

Dietary restrictions - It is important to keep strictly to an anti-candida diet for at least 10 days after the treatment of the candida. This involves complete avoidance of:

dairy products
yeast products such as bread, baked goods, pastries, beer and wine
simple sugars - including sugar, fruit, milk, malt, honey, molasses
pasta, corn and corn oils
fruits and juices
fermented products
processed meats such as sausages, bacon, ham etc.
fast foods
condiments such as tomato sauce, soy sauce, mayonnaise, MSG
coffee and all teas, including herbal teas
leftover foods in general and foods that may have moulds

Generally the diet consists of one that is high in low-carbohydrate vegetables, low in high carbohydrate vegetables (such as potato, kumara, carrot, sweetcorn, pumpkin), high in proteins (such as lean cuts of meat, fish as well as dried beans and pulses), limited amounts of whole grains (such as oats, millet and barley)

Killing off the candida organism

As well as treating the allergy and starving the candida organism it is essential to kill off the organism itself.

There are pharmaceutical antifungals available, such as nystatin. However these often simply suppress the candida.

Natural means are often best and common medicinals used to kill off candida include: caprylic acid, pau d'arco, black walnut, oregano oil, garlic, olive leaf, citrus seed extract.

All of these can cause yeast "die-off" reactions lasting up to a month in which the metabolic by-products of the death of the yeast have a toxic effect on the body. The NAET treatments for the candida allergy minimises the die-off reaction.

Balancing the gut flora

Because the candida infection is linked with an imbalance in gut flora it is essential to rebalance with a good quality probiotic formula containing acidophilus and bifidus strains

Support of the immune system

To completely rid the system of candida it is important to reduce the toxic load on the body.

One important part of this is to clear any allergies that the body. This can be done with NAET.

Detoxification

Because the candida produces toxins that have to be neutralised by the liver, it can be beneficial to undergo a short programme of liver detoxification, which involves taking supplements that support the Phase 1 and Phase 2 liver detoxification, supported with a diet low in carbohydrate and fat and vegetable juices.