Candida Albicans

What Is Candida Albicans?

Candida Albicans is a yeast growth present in all of us and is normally controlled by bacteria in the intestines. But when something destroys helpful bacteria, the yeast begins to invade and colonize the body tissues. These yeast colonies release powerful chemicals into the bloodstream, causing such varying symptoms as lethargy, chronic diarrhea, yeast vaginitis, bladder infections, muscle and joint pain, menstrual problems, constipation and severe depression. The medical term for this yeast overgrowth is candidiasis (can di di' a sis).

Candida overgrowth is not a new problem, but is usually thought of as a minor infection of the mucous membranes, skin and nails. But the increased and sometimes excessive use of antibiotics, birth control pills and steriods will allow candidiasis to become a chronic, systemic infection that causes tissue damage throughout the body. Chemicals produced by the candida attack the immune system and if the immune system weakens, the candida will spread out into various body tissues and colonize.

Causes of Candida

What causes this normally harmless yeast to grow out of control? Several factors can lead to an overgrowth of candida. One is the use of antibiotics for extended periods. Broad spectrum antibiotics taken for respiratory, urinary or ear infections are especially harmful because they destroy the Candida-controlling bacteria, as well as disease-causing bacteria. Steroids such as Cortisone (Decadron or other cortisone-type drugs) suppress the immune system's ability to fight Candida growth. Any hormone imbalance caused by birth control pills or frequent pregnancies also favor Candida overgrowth. There are usually parasites as well somewhere in the body when there is high Candida. Another cause of Candida overgrowth can be from a low Acidophilus and Bifidus culture in the colon. It is imperative that there is enough of these two friendly bacterias in the system in order to control Candida overgrowth. Without these friendly bacteria Candida can and probably will become out of control.

Symptoms of Candida

Both men and women can have candidiasis. However it does occur more frequently in women (especially young women) with more severe effects. Candida symptoms fall into the following four main areas:

Gastrointestinal and Genitourinary Symptoms

These include constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn, PMS, recurrent yeast vaginitis, vaginal burning and itching, vaginal discharge, loss of sexual feelings and prostitis.

Allergic Symptoms

(These symptoms occur with the passing of toxins into the bloodstream.) These symptoms include hayfever, earaches, bronchitis (recurrent), hives, headaches, sore throats, coughing, acne, nasal congestion, chemical sensitivities to tobacco smoke, perfume and foods. The person just feels "sick all over".

Disfunctioning Glandular and Organ Symptoms

These include infertility, menstrual problems, ovarian failure and ACTH deficiency, hypothyroidism, chronic lymphocystic thyroiditis, diabetes mellitus, impotence and endometriosis.

Emotional and Mental Symptoms

These occur because of central nervous system involvement. These include poor memory, fatigue, drowsiness, feelings of unreality, incoordination, tingling and numbness, joint pain, muscle weakness, muscle pain, irritability, inability to concentrate, confusion and severe depression.

Diagnosis of Candida

Candida Albicans is present everywhere, subsisting on the surface of all living things. Since candida germs live in every person's body, especially on the mucous membranes, vaginal and other smears and cultures for the presence of candida are useless. Therefore the diagnosis for candidiasis is made from a person's medical history, score on a candida questionaire or their response to a kinesiology/muscle test for candidiasis. Finally the diagnosis is confirmed by the person's response to treatment for candida overgrowth.

Treatment of Candida

Treatment for candidiasis is simple and effective. The goal is to get the yeast out of the tissues and to build up the body's ability to keep it out. There are several elements used in the treatment of yeast overgrowth. They are based on each patient's history and response to treatment.

1. Use of an anti-fungal herb called Pau d'Arco or Taheebo tea. Pau d'Arco is highly effective against Candida because it can penetrate into body tissues and work on a cellular level. Many doctors prescribe the anti-fungal drug Nystatin which is only effective in the digestive tract.

2. Use of an anti-parasitic herbal combination called Herbal Pumpkin. This combination contains pumpkin seeds, culvers root, cascara sagrada bark, violet leaves, chamomile flowers, mullein leaves, marshmallow root and slippery elm bark which have been proven to help support the immune system, stimulate the elimination system and therefore allow the body to eliminate the parasites.

3. Replace the microflora in the intestinal tract by taking capsules of Lactobacillus Acidophilus. These bacterias have been found to be extremely successful in reducing candida in the intestinal tract. Are you a coffee drinker? Do you drink decaffeinated or caffeinated? The rumors of decaffeinated coffee being less harmful for the body than caffeinated has been disproven by the medical establishment. Caffeine can kill up to 75% of the friendly Acidophilus flora in the colon per cup of coffee. The same goes for decaffeinated. It takes the body approximately five hours to replace that flora depending on the diet and balance of the body at the time.

4. Take a combination of nutrient supplements that build-up the body's immunity and kill off the yeast or make it difficult for it to reproduce. An overgrowth of candida will interfere with the body's metabolism in ways that make normal amounts of nutrients ineffective, so there is an increased need for nutrition.

5. Eat a low carbohydrate diet with no more than 60-80 grams of carbohydrate per day. Because yeast feeds on sugar, wheat and dairy products they should be avoided. Yeasts, molds and fungi cross react so yeast products should be avoided such as vinegar, mushrooms, cheeses, commercial breads and alcohol.

6. Avoid using antibiotics and steriods unless absolutely necessary since antibiotics promote the growth of the yeast germ in the body.

7. Stop using birth control pills and especially if there is discharge or headaches with periods. The progesterone of these pills causes changes in the vaginal mucus membrane which makes it easier for candida to multiply.

8. Follow the Candida Control Diet. Fill out the Candida Albicans Questionaire to find out if you need to do something about the amount of Candida present in your body.

9. Have yourself tested through Kinesiology to find out how much Candida is present in your body and what areas are affected by it.

Many clients notice a great improvement in as much as a few days and many within three weeks. Still it takes an average of six to twelve months to irradicate a candida overgrowth. The candida probably became well established before it was identified which is why treatment must be persistent. The major symptoms to improve are headaches, diarrhea, emotional and behavior problems, vaginitis and chemical sensitivities.

When fighting a Candida infection a person must be systematic and disciplined because the miseries of the problem do not cease immediately with treatment. Candida "die-off" can cause some very uncomfortable symptoms temporarily. These symptoms disappear soon after beginning the diet.

Summary

An overgrowth of Candida Albicans is a chronic, dangerous infection. If left unchecked it will continue to spread and break down the body's ability to fight off disease. Everyone including infants and children are susceptible to candidiasis. The goal when treating a candida infection is to remove yeast from the infected tissue and rebuild the immune system.