Candida
Background
Though still poorly understood by most physicians, treating this underlying infection can have profound health benefits! Unfortunately, standard medicine does not recognize fungal infections unless they affect the nails, skin, hair or groin areas — or they are in the blood and can kill you. Because there is no test to clearly diagnose overgrowth of bowel or sinus Candida, many doctors say it doesn’t exist.
That there is no blood test does not mean there is no way to tell if you need treatment. You should treat for suspected Candida, yeast, or fungal infections if you have ANY of the problems below:
- CFS/fibromyalgia — If you have either of these, presume the Candida is overgrowing and treat for it.
- Chronic sinusitis — which is usually caused by yeast.
- Spastic colon/irritable bowel syndrome.
When you treat the yeast, fatigue and pain will often improve, and sinusitis and spastic colon will often go away as well. As fringe benefits, most of you will find (if you take the Diflucan medication part of the treatment) that your dandruff and the feeling that you want to stick your finger in your ear to scratch it will also go away!
Treatments
It takes about 3-5 months to restore balance between the healthy bacteria and the yeast in your body, but most people will be feeling better at about 1 month into using the prescription antifungal "Diflucan."
Here is your "recipe" for treating the yeast:
General Diet Advice
Avoid sugar
Except for dark chocolate, which is a healthy food in moderation. Sugar feeds yeast, so substitute Stevia, a healthy natural sweetener. Sugar free chocolate is also an option. (My book "Beat Sugar Addiction NOW!" can make this much easier.)
Recommended Supplements to Optimize Gut Health
Probiotics
Take probiotics (healthy bacteria) to fight the yeast for 3-5 months (take as directed). Use the variety advertised as "pearls," as these keep your stomach acid from killing these healthy bacteria on their way to fighting the yeast.
Antifungals
At the same time, I combine these 2 herbal antifungals with a good probiotic.
Herbals to take 2-3x a day for 3-5 months:
- Berberine 500 mg.
- Chewable high absorption Propolis extract.
Combining the natural products above is an excellent tool to fighting yeast overgrowth and also provides important protection for the liver during yeast treatment.
Medications
Diflucan
After 1 month on the above, add the medication Diflucan 200 mg a day for 6-12 weeks. Get the generic form fluconazole.
For those who would like more detail on the Candida issue, it is discussed at length in my books:
- The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution. This is an easy read, so I would start with this book
- From Fatigued to Fantastic! This is a more technical and in-depth book.