Posted by Miguel (4.40.20.153) on October 18, 2000 at 10:19:47:
In Reply to: Candida and Sex...LOL...Don't Eat Out? posted by Miguel on October 18, 2000 at 10:01:26:
Yet another article...Notice the symptoms...
I am not supportive of the Candida theory.
However, there are certain parallelisms that may merit
a second, closer look.
The Canaries in the Coal Mine
by Don Eike
Certified Massage Therapist and Health Educator
Feeling anxious, depressed, or forgetful? Are you the one out of every two Americans who suffers from sleep
disorders? Are you often tired, weak, and have trouble just getting through the day? Or do you suffer from
headaches, allergies, or skin problems?
This isn’t Lucy Ricardo’s cue for Vitameatavegamin, but if you have one or more of these symptoms, you may
be one of millions of Americans suffering from intestinal yeast overgrowth or candidiasis.
Candida albicans, commonly known as yeast, occurs naturally in the body, but when it gets out of control, it
can wreak havoc. Candida overgrowth produces toxins that can affect organs, tissues, and cells in all parts of
the body. It can produce dozens of symptoms that can be difficult to diagnose and are resistant to the usual
medical treatments.
It is relatively simple to treat candidiasis, which usually requires that you take medication for a period of time
and change your diet, aided by establishing an exercise and stress-reduction program. The problem is that
some members of the medical community have a very cavalier attitude toward candidiasis, ranging from
complete ignorance to ridicule, even labeling those who advocate treatment as fanatics.
King Tut’s Curse
Yeast and molds should not be taken lightly. In his book Candida, Dr. Luc De Schepper reports that when
British Egyptologist Hugh Evelyn-White and his archeological team entered the tomb of King Tutankhamen in
Egypt in 1924, they soon succumbed to mysterious deaths and suicides. Their deaths were not due to some
ancient Egyptian curse, as Evelyn-White wrote shortly before he hanged himself, but instead to allergic
reactions to the deadly fungi that lined the chamber walls. The fruits and vegetables placed in the tomb
thousands of years before to “feed” the pharaoh throughout eternity had decayed over the centuries into
toxic molds.
Candida is a fungus that is very similar to the yeasts that cause bread to rise and fruit to ferment into wine. In
fact, no one is sure what purpose it serves, if any. We do know that it helps the body decompose after death,
but we don’t want it to start doing its job while we’re alive.
In a sense, there is a territorial war between candida and the friendly bacteria being fought in our intestines.
Candida (yeast) resides in the digestive tract in a concentration of one candida cell to millions of friendly
bacteria. As long as the friendly bacteria are healthy, they keep candida in check by taking up space and
producing anticandida chemicals. It’s only when the friendly bacteria are destroyed that yeast takes over and
causes trouble.
There are more than 400 species of friendly bacteria living in the small and large intestines. The most
prominent are lactobacillus (in the small intestine) and bifidus (in the large intestine). These amazing “little
creatures” provide many health-enhancing services in return for a home. They not only secrete antibiotics to
aid the immune system in fighting disease, they also produce anticarcinogenic and antitumor chemicals, as
well as assist in the prevention of skin problems, inflammation, osteoporosis, arteriosclerosis, candidiasis,
parasites, and salmonella.
Antibiotics Abuse
Many drugs and toxins can harm the friendly bacteria, but the most notorious culprits are antibiotics,
especially the broad-spectrum ones like Ampicillin, Bactrim, Septra, and Keflex.
While these so-called miracle drugs have been a great boon in treating bacterial infections, one of their side
effects is that they destroy the friendly bacteria. We have grossly abused antibiotics. To compound the
problem, we have also been ingesting antibiotics through our consumption of commercial meat, poultry, and
dairy products since the agricultural industry began using them to “fatten the calf” in the 1960s. If we don’t
replace the friendly bacteria with supplemental doses of lactobacillus and bifidus while taking antibiotics,
candida takes over and colonizes where the friendly bacteria once resided. Then our health problems begin.
Since the friendly bacteria produce their own antibiotics to assist the immune system in fighting disease,
without them we become more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections. This susceptibility often means
that we have to take more antibiotics, which causes further destruction of the friendly bacteria and increased
candida overgrowth. Eventually, our entire immune system begins to spiral downward, with diminished ability
to ward off even the most innocuous cold.
Other drugs that can kill the friendly bacteria include cortisone, steroids (asthma medication), chemotherapy,
AZT and the other AIDS drugs, and birth control pills. Pollution, gasoline, dry cleaning fluid, Xerox ink,
carcinogens, and emotional stress can also destroy the friendly bacteria. Heredity plays a key role, too, and
substance abuse—recreational/hard drugs, alcohol, and tobacco—both kills the “friendlies” and can feed
candida.
The other enemy in the yeast war is sugar. Yeast thrives on sugar, producing alcohol and carbon dioxide gas
in the process. For example, observe what happens when you mix yeast and sugar in warm water: the yeast
bubbles wildly, almost exploding out of the bowl. This is essentially what happens when we eat sugar.
Dr. Dennis Remington and Barbara Higa report in their book, Back to Health, that the average American
consumes 125 pounds of sugar a year. What compounds this somewhat mind-boggling statistic is that a diet
high in refined foods deprives us of vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients that support the friendly
bacteria and help keep candida in check. It’s time to reclassify sugar, which is a chemical, not a food, as a
drug; it’s addictive and alters consciousness (sugar highs).
The Symptoms
The symptoms of candidiasis are numerous, cover an extremely wide spectrum, and can indicate other health
problems as well. To complicate diagnosis, tests for candidiasis tend to err on the side of false negatives.
One of the chief byproducts of candida is alcohol (ethanol). This may cause the spaciness, foggy thinking, and
forgetfulness that many candidiasis patients experience: they’re living with a chronic, low level of
intoxication.
So how do we and our health practitioners determine whether or not we have an unhealthy level of candida?
The following lists the potential causes of a candida imbalance:
1) A course of antibiotics for eight weeks or longer or for a number of shorter periods four or more times in
one year;
2. Antibiotic treatment for acne for one month;
3. A course of cortisone, prednisone, or ACTH (steroid treatment);
4. The use of birth control pills for a year or more;
5. Treatment with immunosuppressive drugs (chemotherapy, AZT);
6. More than one pregnancy;
7. Chronic multiple infections (viral, bacterial, parasitical) such as those that anyone with AIDS, chronic fatigue
syndrome, or other immune disorders may get; or
8. A diet high in sugar and refined foods.
Next are the symptoms, which can be both physical and emotional:
1. Skin infections (acne, rashes, psoriasis, excema, hives, boils, athlete’s foot);
2. Headaches, migraines, sinus trouble, sore throats;
3. Frequent upper respiratory tract infections, colds, post nasal drip, and so on;
4. Recurrent bladder, prostate, vaginal infections;
5. Extreme and/or increasing sensitivity to chemical fumes, tobacco smoke, perfumes;
6. Multiple allergic symptoms;
7. Asthma;
8. Arthritis;
9. Swollen or aching joints, muscle aches for no reason;
10. Abdominal bloating, distention, gas, diarrhea or constipation, anal itching, hemorrhoids;
11. PMS;
12. Fatigue, lethargy, forgetfulness, foggy thinking, inability to concentrate;
13. Depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, irritability, insomnia, mood swings, low self-esteem;
14. Weight gain or loss; and
15. Cravings for sweets, alcohol, and bread.
That’s quite a handful to sift through, but if you have several of these symptoms and can check off at least
one of the causes from the first list, you might want to try a candidiasis treatment.
The Treatment
The treatment for candidiasis is relatively simple, although it does take some discipline on your part as well
as support from friends and family.
The most common prescription medications used to treat candidiasis are Nystatin, Nizoral, and Diflucan. Since
candida cells are almost identical to human cells, the medications tend to kill off human cells in the process.
Candida cells also release toxins as they “die off.”
These two side effects can make the first few weeks of antifungal therapy physically and emotionally difficult
and can even exacerbate the symptoms. But hang in there; it gets better. Goat’s milk is recommended during
this period to soften the often-accompanied edginess. The downtime required in the healing process will
vary depending on how long the candida has been present and how pervasive it is. You can usually count on
losing some weight.
There are also several nonprescription yeast-killing products (antifungals) that are available
over-the-counter at most health food stores. The most effective is Capricin, but others include Caprinex,
Caprystatin, Kaprycidin-A, Candistat, Tanalbit, Cantrol, Garlic, Pau d’Arco, and Mycocidin.
The primary foods to avoid are sugar and yeast. Substitute honey and maple syrup sparingly for sugar.
Replace yeasted bread with Spelt bread and Wasa crackers. Read the labels on everything because most
processed foods have sugar in them.
There are a number of other foods to avoid when treating candidiasis: anything fermented or moldy, like
cheese, alcohol, vinegar, and soy sauce; mushrooms; bottled fruit juice; or anything that sits in jars that can
get moldy, like nut butters, canned fruit, tomatoes, and preserves. Avoid refined grains and caffeine.
A diet high in fresh, cooked vegetables, especially leafy greens, which are alkaline and balance the acidosis
of candidiasis, is highly recommended. (Doctors have found abundant candida in stomach ulcer craters.) Any
meat, eggs, poultry, or dairy products should be organic and antibiotic-free. Fish and lamb are raised without
antibiotics or hormones and are a safe bet if you eat out. If something is labeled free range, it’s most likely
antibiotic-free. Beans are a good alternate source of protein, especially if you’re vegetarian.
Antifungal supplements include garlic, grapefruit seed extract, and extra virgin olive oil. Always use
cold-pressed oils and avoid hydrogenated oils (margarine).
A daily supplement of probiotics—lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus—is essential, especially while you’re
taking antifungal medication. Otherwise, the candida dies off, and because there’s no friendly bacteria to take
its place, it grows back. In their book Probiotics, Leon Chaitow and Natasha Trenev recommend Natren’s
Megadophillus powder in a ratio of 1/8 teaspoon of bifidus to 1/2 teaspoon of lactobacillus. Acidophilus is
especially important if you have to take antibiotics. It’s also important to exercise and participate in some type
of meditation or stress-reduction program daily. Candida doesn’t like exercise or sunshine. Although this
regimen may seem overwhelming at first, take it one step at a time. The improved quality of life is definitely
worth it.
Candidiasis as an Iatrogenic Illness
The medical community usually classifies candidiasis as an opportunistic infection, but that’s highly
misleading. Keeping candida in balance is a function of the friendly bacteria, not the immune system. While
the immune system and the friendly bacteria work together, the immune system itself can’t control candidiasis
once there is an overgrowth. In most immune disorders, the candidiasis is not the result of a depressed
immune system but a major cause.
Candidiasis is not an opportunistic infection; it’s an iatrogenic illness, meaning that it’s caused by medical
intervention, in this case, antibiotics and other drugs. (Candidiasis can also be considered an allergic
condition when certain foods contribute to it.) Because candidiasis is iatrogenic, the first step to correcting it
is to remove the causes. Thus, candidiasis should be treated as an imbalance, with antifungals, probiotics,
and diet.
Misunderstanding the cause of candidiasis has perhaps caused the greatest harm to AIDS patients, many of
whom are plagued with debilitating candida overgrowth. Although most doctors consider candidiasis to be
caused by a compromised immune system, most AIDS patients have a long history of antibiotic and/or drug
use. Thus, their candidiasis more likely appeared years earlier due to antibiotic abuse, contributing to a
compromised immune system over time. AZT and the other AIDS drugs are particularly virulent to the friendly
bacteria. Moreover, candida can cross-react with the HIV antibody tests to create a false positive result
(Eleopulous et al. “Is a Positive Western Blot Proof of HIV Infection?”, Bio/Technology, June 93).
The Candida “Epidemic”
In 1995, allopathic medicine treated 10 million Americans for yeast problems, not counting those who sought
alternative medical treatments. Millions more may be suffering needlessly from this illness through
misdiagnosis and mistreatment, as well as from poor diet.
We have nearly eliminated acute, infectious epidemics in the industrialized world through improved hygiene
and sanitary living conditions, yet we are plagued by increasing cases of immune disorders and chronic
illnesses. Sleep disorders, Attention Deficit Dysfunction, arthritis, asthma, vaginal yeast infections (on the
rise since the introduction of the “pill”), PMS, hyperactivity in children, environmental illness, obesity, and
salmonella poisoning are all reaching epidemic proportions in America. Not-so-coincidentally, these
conditions are also symptoms of candidiasis. Dr. Remington reports that 50% of his arthritis patients have
been cured when treated for candidiasis. My carpal tunnel syndrome cleared up after candida treatment.
This is not to say that these illnesses are necessarily symptoms of or caused by candida. The symptoms listed
for candidiasis can be symptoms of other illnesses as well, or the result of candida + cofactors. If you have an
ulcer, candida may be contributing to it, but you still must treat the ulcer as well as the candida. All
possibilities should be considered, especially if traditional treatment for an illness produces no results.
The increase in these illnesses coincides, given a little lag time, with the discovery and prescription of
antibiotics, their introduction into our livestock in the 1960s, the proliferation of processed foods in our diets,
and increased environmental pollution and toxins.
Dr. C. Orian Truss began treating patients for candidiasis in 1962 and is the pioneer in candida research.
While candida has been around for thousands of years, only since World War II have the hosts (us) given it
fertile ground to flourish into full-blown candidiasis on such a widespread scale.
If you suspect you have a candida imbalance, talk to your doctor. If he or she won’t help you, find one who
will. If enough patients start demanding treatment from their doctors, they might start responding.
It’s unclear why the medical community and the government tend to dismiss candida. If people understand
that excessive antibiotic use can cause illness, it could hurt drug profits. After all, there’s not much profit in
lifestyle changes. Most European countries banned giving antibiotics to livestock in 1971, and we must follow
their example. Even the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is worried about the excessive use of antibiotics
because so many strains of bacteria are already resistant to treatment.
If you can’t find a doctor to help you treat candidiasis, the following organization can provide a list of doctors
who will treat you:
Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation
P.O. Box 2614
La Mesa, CA 92115
Most people accept diminishing energy, chronic aches and pains, and increasing forgetfulness as the price
of getting older, but that’s a myth. There is certainly no need to go through each day feeling less than your
optimal self.
The people showing up with candidiasis today may be the canaries in the coal mine, warning the rest of
society that our health care system, diet, and environment are making us ill. 35 years ago, Rachel Carson
warned of the dangers of pollutants to humanity, animals, and the planet in her book Silent Spring. Unless we
clean up our act, we may someday fulfill her prophecy of a world in which there are no birds to sing nor
humans left to hear the silent spring.
References:
Dennis Remington, MD, and Barbara W. Higa, RD, Back to Health
Leon Chaitow and Natasha Trenev, Probiotics
Luc De Schepper, MD, Candida
Comments? Questions? E-mail me at deike@mprinc.com