Systemic Candidiasis

Candida albicans is a single celled yeast like fungus, normally present in the body. As physicians we are not trained to treat "yeast overgrowth," unless it is vaginal. But guess what, that's not the only place it is, and patients know it because they study. Usually out of necessity because what we are doing conventionally is not working.

We are seeing more and more chronically unwell patients with so many symptoms. Physicians who trained me would have told me to prescribe an antidepressant and some exercise. Patients who present with a shopping list of symptoms do not do well in a managed cost HMO system. As physicians we are not trained to think panoramically. Those who train us and the insurance companies do not look kindly upon the thinkers. We are trained to think linearly - high cholesterol, prescribe Statin drug (depletes CoQl0), high TSH, prescribe Synthroid (you probably need Cytomel as well)...

Candida can multiply into colonies and immune complexes. Now we have a simple single celled yeast that has transformed into an aggressive fungus. Now we have a fine mess.

Symptoms

Symptoms range from skin rashes, acne, fatigue (candida can block thyroid hormone from entering the cell), asthma, digestive difficulties, joint pains, carbohydrate cravings (especially sugar), weight gain (l5-50 lbs.), brain fog, labile mood, food sensitivities which decrease basal metabolic rate - you get the idea

What Causes Systemic Candidiasis?

• Overeating (especially carbohydrates)
• Antibiotics (via medication and food, as antibiotics are fed to livestock in large quantities to stimulate growth and prevent infection - shop at Whole Foods)
• Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy
• Oral Contraceptives
• Estrogen Dominance
• Steroids

Diagnosing Candidiasis

There is no single diagnostic test since we all have antibodies to candida which is considered a normal inhabitant

Blood PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) for various fungi and blood tests for immune complexes are done by specialized laboratories, CDSA (Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis) testing can actually measure how much yeast is present intestinally

Patient history indicating above symptoms and causes often mandates treatment in my practice

Treating Candidiasis

• Avoid white sugar, white flour, citrus, dairy, fermented foods, and alcohol
• Eat fresh vegetables, whole grains, garlic, olive oil
• Probiotics - billions of units - taken on empty stomach .
• Enteric coated (so it is released in small intestine instead of stomach) Caprylic Acid 3600 mg. a day for two weeks.
• Digestive enzymes - particularly cellulose and amylase
• Chlorophyll
• Whey globulin extract (my patients have whey protein shakes)
• Nystatin 500,000 units three times a day and/or Diflucan, Sporonox, Nizoral - all requiring a physician's prescription (see Healing Leaky Gut).

Caveat