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What about Candida albicans ?
Like Helicobacter
pylori the resurgence of Candida
albicans in the 1990's is shrouded in controversy.
By simply surfing the
Internet bulletin board in the 'Yeast Connection' the
enormous popularity of Candida albicans and the intensity
with which it is embraced as a real pathological entity
is obvious to behold.
As it is difficult
to verify all the pathological processes that Candida
albicans is purported to cause, this explanation of
disease is not popular amongst conventional physicians
who like their medicine evidence based. However there
is much more substantial support for this approach.
How do you know
whether you have Candida ?
The range of symptoms
include amongst others:
Sugar cravings, fungal rashes, PMT, tiredness, inability
to concentrate, bloating and flatulence, depression,
recurrent sinus problems, rectal itching, frequent vaginal
thrush.
There are now objective
measures, including blood tests, for the levels of Candida
antibodies, which are elevated with the presence of
infection, and go down when the infection is successfully
treated, together with stool cultures which quantify
the presence of Candida organisms in your gut.
Not all laboratories
in Australia carry out these tests, so you have to find
a practitioner who is sympathetic to your cause and
knows about these laboratories.
How does Candida
affect you ?
Candida is known to
be a commensal. It exists inside your body, living in
harmony with the rest of the microbes in your gut.
It is only when it
undergoes transformation to its pathological fungal
form and, by so doing, burrowing through the lining
of the gut thus gaining entry to the rest of the body,
does Candida exert all its harmful effects.
Toxins are released
which weaken the immune system and set you up for recurrent
viral infections. As a result of the breakdown of the
gut lining, incompletely digested proteins are absorbed,
leading to allergies and other conditions such as acne,
eczema, attention deficit disorder, arthritis and autoimmune
thyroid disorders. Increased gastrointestinal permeability
(leaky gut) can be detected by laboratory tests.
Other amoeba and parasites
such as Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica and Blastocystis
hominis will coexist with Candida. These can multiply
and destroy the friendly bacteria in your gut, thereby
allowing the bacteria to grow more rapidly.
Symptoms of diarrhoea
or constipation and abdominal pain indicate the presence
of parasitic infestation. The same stool test that measures
the presence of Candida can inform you whether you have
any ova or parasites,
What predisposes
you to get Candida?
Just like Helicobacter
pylori, ecological disturbances to the normal gut environment
allow the candida organisms to multiply. When the normal
body microflora are destroyed by antibiotics, the yeasts
will thrive unabated.
The use of steroids,
birth control pills, antacids and anti-ulcer medications
contribute to the proliferation of Candida. Diets high
in sugar provide a rich food source for Candida and
an impaired immune system allows the organism a foothold
within in the body.
Some new treatments
for candida
Once again this raises
the controversy of treating the organism vs enhancing
the natural environment.
Some practitioners
consider anti-fungal drugs such as Nystatin, Nizoral,
Lamisil and Difflucan to be potentially harmful to both
the gut and the liver and are reluctant to use them.
A new program has been
introduced which combines herbs, colloidal minerals,
soil based micro-organisms and superior strains of friendly
bacteria, thereby aiming to eradicate the organisms
by natural means while at the same time improving the
internal milieu.
The herbal formulation
includes such agents as pan d'arco, Greek oregano, grapefruit
seed extract and olive leaf concentrates, all of which
have powerful anti-fungal properties.
Colloidal minerals
are minute liquid mineral supplements and the one incorporated
in this program is called Biotic Silver that is very
effective in removing fungi from the body. The introduction
of friendly bacteria and soil-based micro-organisms
create a healthy gut environment which is antithetical
to the presence of Candida.
The most important
of these friendly micro-organisms are lactobacillus
acidophillus, bifidus and bulgaricus. Lactobacillus
acidophillus is specifically effective against Candida
albicans because of its powerful antibiotic properties.
Bifido bacteria species
stop invading pathogens from colonising the intestine
by preventing these from attaching to the bowel wall.
Tannates that are derived from oak and birch bark have
also been found to be most effective in protecting against
gastrointestinal colonisation by Candida.
Digestive enzyme and
hydrochloric acid supplements will also assist your
gut to return to its normal function. Hydrochloric acid
prevents abnormal bugs from multiplying. If any amoeba
or parasites are present these need to be treated with
the appropriate anti-fungal remedies.
If your immune system
is weak, this can be strengthened by a vitamin and mineral
program including, amongst others, vitamin C, vitamin
A, vitamin B complex, biotin, zinc and bioflavinoids.
These days leaky gut
can be evaluated by laboratory tests.
If this is present
a repair and restoration program can be very beneficial
for the eradication of Candida. A yeast and sugar free
diet remains one of the mainstays of treatment.
As you may now be aware,
both Helicobacter pylori and Candida albicans pose similar
problems for your well-being. If you look after your
internal environment, there is no reason why these two
potential pathogens should impact on your health in
any significant way.
The old naturopathic
standard of a healthy gut ecology is just as important
and pertinent now, as it has ever been.
Reference:
Jeffrey S. Bland
Applying new essentials in nutritional
medicine, audio-cassette series, 1995.
Bondi
Family Health Centre
Phone 02 9365 1333
Int: 612 9365 1333
260a Bondi Road
Bondi NSW 2066
AUSTRALIA
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