Candida problem~

I can only sympathise with you, I have had the dreaded thing, and its most annoying. I thankfully got rid of it, using acidophillus and capriliac (sp) acid.

Have you looked into Colonic Hydrotherapy? Doctors recommend this, if its severe.

Hi ErinO,

I'd also recommend Caprylic Acid, as it kills the yeast. Also eating fibre e.g. linseeds, psyllium husks, oats, etc and drinking at least 3 ltrs of water a day to flush out the dead yeast. Try coupling this with a mixture of a raw food and macrobiotic diet. Remember you have to cut out fruit too.

Sounds like you need to detox in a big way, so again would agree with spiritualhappiness' suggestion of Colonic or maybe Coffee Enema, to flush out your bowels. Most of the nutrients in your food won't be able to pass through your colon walls, so you're reabsorbing toxins and all of the above should help to cleanse you. Everything going on in your digestive system is stealing all your body's energy, which is probably why you feel so tired.

It won't happen overnight though, it'll take at least a month or so continuing with everything you're already doing plus if you add any other suggestions into the mix.

Don't know if you're already doing this, but would recommend avoiding all caffeine, alcohol (fermented, so contains yeast), and any other stimulants.

I've also been told that Colloidal Silver is amazing at getting rid of fungal infections and boosting the immune system.
Here's a quote and link to a website that describes more:

"Taken internally, colloidal silver can be used to fight infection. It has been shown to be effective against more that 650 disease-causing organisms, including Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the fungus Candida albicans," writes Dr. James F. and Phyllis A. Balch. As you may remember from the hamburger scares of the 1990s, E. coli infections can be deadly, especially among young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. In this sense, colloidal silver is a lifesaver: When all else fails, it can beat infections presumed unbeatable. It is under these extreme conditions that patients may justifiably consider using colloidal silver internally -- but only under the direction of a qualified health practitioner such as a naturopath.

I'd also recommend some Reiki, to help balance emotional and physical. You've got to have faith that you can combat this, so believe in yourself and the efforts you're making. You can do it!

Big Hugs,
pinga

To spiritualhappiness: My plan was to take very heavy doses of acidophilus after I'd been on a strong regimen of yeast-killers. That way, any inadvertent effects of the killing agents of the products won't kill off the acidophilus.

I am taking a lot of organic natural coconut oil, which is very high in caprylic acid and other yeast-fighting ingredients, like capric acid. They both derive from coconut oil.

I'm still having a hell of a time killing off the yeast. That's why I wanted to know if there was a particular ingredient or product that people were finding particularly effective. Since I've had this condition for so long, it's obviously more than your normal overgrowth. Can you recommend a product to me?

Hi ErinO,

I'd also recommend Caprylic Acid, as it kills the yeast. Also eating fibre e.g. linseeds, psyllium husks, oats, etc and drinking at least 3 ltrs of water a day to flush out the dead yeast. Try coupling this with a mixture of a raw food and macrobiotic diet. Remember you have to cut out fruit too.

I am doing all that. I do need to get the psyllium, but I've avoided because of it getting all gummy. It makes me gag.

Sounds like you need to detox in a big way, so again would agree with spiritualhappiness' suggestion of Colonic or maybe Coffee Enema, to flush out your bowels. Most of the nutrients in your food won't be able to pass through your colon walls, so you're reabsorbing toxins and all of the above should help to cleanse you. Everything going on in your digestive system is stealing all your body's energy, which is probably why you feel so tired.

As far as colonics go, I think they would be effective if you could find someone who would give them with yeast-killing agents. Thus far, I have not found anyone who would do this and I'd much rather avoid the humiliation, thank you.

As for coffee enemas, I could do that. I have witnessed their efficacy. However, most of the overgrowth is in the upper small intestine and a regular enema won't touch that. Even high colonics won't go that high!

It won't happen overnight though, it'll take at least a month or so continuing with everything you're already doing plus if you add any other suggestions into the mix.

Don't know if you're already doing this, but would recommend avoiding all caffeine, alcohol (fermented, so contains yeast), and any other stimulants.

Yeah, because shooting coffee up me bum won't put any caffeine in my bloodstream! *L*

I've also been told that Colloidal Silver is amazing at getting rid of fungal infections and boosting the immune system.
Here's a quote and link to a website that describes more:

"Taken internally, colloidal silver can be used to fight infection. It has been shown to be effective against more that 650 disease-causing organisms, including Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the fungus Candida albicans," writes Dr. James F. and Phyllis A. Balch. As you may remember from the hamburger scares of the 1990s, E. coli infections can be deadly, especially among young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. In this sense, colloidal silver is a lifesaver: When all else fails, it can beat infections presumed unbeatable. It is under these extreme conditions that patients may justifiably consider using colloidal silver internally -- but only under the direction of a qualified health practitioner such as a naturopath.

I'd also recommend some Reiki, to help balance emotional and physical. You've got to have faith that you can combat this, so believe in yourself and the efforts you're making. You can do it!

Big Hugs,
pinga

I've heard you could make colloidal silver yourself by placing a silver wire in water and running an electrical current. Are you people rich (?) because I can't afford a naturopath. What are the recommendations for people who can't afford expensive naturopathic doctors and colonics and Reiki?

As for Reiki, I've tried it before and it didn't help and I ended up spending a lot of money for nothing.

Thanks for your suggestions. Please keep them coming. Especially if you think of any particularly helpful products I could use.

Have you considered the mind body detox ?

the connection between our thoughts sending chemical messages and reactions to our body.

I was in a similar situation and took this path and spent a week in a mind body detox centre for 1 week.It was the best week and best money ever spent as it helped me stop negative thoughts and patterns and adressed my diet.

It really was a turning point for me.

Hope this helps....google Sandy newbigging mind body detox.

candida

try herbal tampons:)

Hi Erin. I recommend you join [url]Bee Wilders [/url]anti-candida program. Bee will probably say that you are overdoing it, and that it is better to gradually kill of your candida so that you dont have such a bad time with all these detox or 'die-off' reactions as she calls them. She also says that it will take one month of healing for every year that you have had candida. There are loads of fantastic articles (is the main one) on her site, and also a discussion forum specifically for candida suffers.

Mike

I too have candida and have noticed improvement since avoiding all sugars, wheat, many cereals, tea, coffee and alcohol.

Is your tongue a yellow white colour? with me before I stopped all the stuff above I had horrible coating.

It seems to me that some food you ingest must FEED the candida, in spite of all the yeast killing stuff you take.
Do you eat oats, millet, rye, bran?? all these cereals feed the candida. Basically I only eat quinoa and buckwheat (not wheat in spite of the name) as in morning cereals and bread.

Mushrooms should be avoided too. but you probably know that already.
I read somewhere that soy sauce and japanese "miso" paste isnt great either.
same for tea. have herbal stuff. fruit juices arent good either...eat fruit at the end of a meal, not on their own.

eat plenty plenty (raw if you can) garlic.

it s all to do with acidity and alkaline environement. basically all food is acidic except:
potatoes (but NOT chips. ban deep fried food)
almond
bananas
vegetables (tomatoes are a fruit apperently, and they re acidic)

Everyday I mix in a blender 2 bananas, a spoon of Almond spread/paste, with rice milk. it s delicious and alkaline.

Since I read that Cloves help killing candida I drink clove tea (just boil the cloves) every day. the days when I was sipping delicious sweet fragant earl grey tea are well over!!

I have no other suggestion sadly apart from this, but I suspect too that mental states worsen conditions. Oh and just to freak out everybody here (well 95% of you live in the UK!) I read that living in a damp environement (with molds etc) feed the candida! I got a bit paranoid when I read this bit in a book so I quickly closed it, I mean, it s not like we all can - or want - to emigrate to Cyprus!

Diet only improved things slightly for me, it did not actually worked.

I kept having recurring Candia about 7-8 times a year and that lasted for 5 years continuously. Eventually one time I was treating it with the normal medicine I took too many times in the past and only worked temporarily, but it just happened to never come back , that was the end. Why I would never know.

This something interesting that happens to me: My tongue turns yellow or white if I drink to much Coca Cola but if I frequently keep drinking it I get used to it and my tongue becomes normal.
I don’t know, maybe you don’t need a diet, maybe you just need a constant amount or sugary stuff to get the body used to it?

hum...I think your suggestion is interesting, naturalhon, but I would definitely say "be careful ErinO" with the sugar, it isnt good for anyone and invites candida as well as parasites.
Maybe your coca cola wasnt the "diet" one and hence the yellow tongue when drinking too much of it = too much sugar.

For years I was scared of opening my mouth and people seeing my tongue because it was actually yellow and horrid looking. I am amazed that cutting out sugar and tea (somehow Im the only person I know who has yellow or white tongue exactly 2 hours after drinking tea; that is black tea(with or without milk) or green or white tea) especially has this result: NORMAL TONGUE! means something down there is happier without the tea and sugar. coffee has same roughly the same results on my tongue so I cut it out too.

What I forgot to say ErinO in my last post is that it s GLUTEN you have to totally remove (ie: oats, wheat, etc). Candida loves gluten, sugar, yeast and dairy as well as coffe+tea+alcohol and acidic drinks (basically pub life is over, there s just water one can ask for).

Also it came to my mind that you are probably suffering from parasites (worms) invasion. this actually in my opinion must cause most of the severe symptoms. Im copying the link here I already posted on another thread:

<a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href=" http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/cond.../Parasites.htm "> http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/cond.../Parasites.htm )

Like me you may find yourself shouting "no way" feeling quite offended at the idea that you re told you have parasites. I even shouted my nutritionist "cant be Im eating garlic!" but she said unless it s everyday and raw then thats probably what Ive got, and the treatmenst are so much simpler and with quicker results than with the candida ones.

At last, I dont think you should wait til you ve got rid of the candida to start taking probiotics. Im taking some high potent ones (5 billion candisis, it s French, so probably different amount and name in the UK) every morning 20 minutes before eating.
Also Im taking a gut sealing stuff (acting as plaster, to stop leaking gut), again it's French ("Permealine") but there must be something similar in the UK.

These 2 supplments are ESSENTIAL for your present health otherwise toxins will keep pass through your intestine walls and there wont be the good bacteria to act as Immune System (I was told 80 or 90% of the immune system is in the intestines).

good luck, please keep in touch and let us know how you re doing.

Jesus!

just read the whole article by Bee you posted Mikeoc, and Iam now all paranoid with fear of brain lesions and bad diseases!
Ive got memory loss and sometimes find it difficult to concentrate (but feel a bit better since starting the anti candida diet) and Im really hoping it s not brain lesions as they say candida can do this.

I went through it and it is really impressive the depth it goes into. I was already taking some essential oils internally as in capsules (tea tree, thyme, cinnamon) but I am going to get this clove oil (I take it the American "oil" means essential oil?), coconut oil, much more garlic, Pau d'Arco and...

STOP MY SOYA MILK intake!!

:speechless-smiley-0

Very scared here, they say soy products are very damaging to the body and since 2000 I drink it in the morning. Ok, Im going to obsess about this for the next few weeks now...

ErinO I recommend you read the whole article, not that I wish you to become scared and stressed like me (!) but it is a mine of amazing information.

Calm down Fadette - I am sure they are worst case scenarios! I too had terrible 'brain fog' at the height of my illness to the point I could barely speak coherently. It all passes with time once you start healing yourself.

Do be careful you dont overdo it on the anti-fungals, I did when I first started the program, eager to heal myself - but ultimately it isnt worth it.

Not sure where I stand re the soy products. There is one school of thought that says it's bad for you, one which says it is good for you - there must be lots of informtion on this particular 'controversy' on the inernet. I dont eat soya proucts myself, but if you find yourself not progressing as much as you would like, I guess you could try eliminating them for a period and monitor your progress?

And like I said to Erin earlier, there's a discussion forum on that website, so I would recommend that you ask your questions there as you'll get a much more informed answer I'm sure.

ps with you on the "no" to intaking sugars while you have candida, sorry naturalhon!

thanx mikeoc; went to the post office and food shopping etc thinking about that brain damage thing and the soy toxicity, was thinking "just what I need to hear!" :dft002:

about the sugar issue, Im finding it is viciously bleeding planted in every food and even when you dont expect it, it s there!
I was happily patting myself on the back for having removed it (ok, a bit of a confession here, I did buy a typical french patisserie loaded with the wrong stuff recently, I was very stressed) from my diet just to find out after reading the label of my "buckwheat" Gluten-Free Organic packet (and expensive!) that it s 20% honey (it s the same as sugar for candida) and with added sugar. Jesus, these cheeky money making organic companies.

anyway, I dont want to hijack ErinO's post so enough about me and soy toxicity etc etc.

Mikeoc, how long did it take you to recover? did you follow the diet strictly (as no grain, fruits etc?) was it you who once on another thread linked it to mercury teeth amalgams (Im having them removed in a few months).

It wasn't me who linked candida to tooth fillings, but again that is something that Bee Wilder maintains. I did the diet 100% for a year (I was also working with a nutritionist at the time). At the end of the year, the only symptom I had remaining was my skin condition - very mild acne and facial redness. But overall I felt so good about myself, that a year on that dietary regimen was enough. I didnt want to spend the rest of my life living so restrictedly, so I switched to a 75% good food/25% relaxed food regiment, and started to get on with life. I probably stopped too soon. I'm not cured. My skin problems have gotten worse and worse over the last few years, to the extent that I am now seeing an acupuncturist and chinese herbal medicine practioner. I'm making my diet more strict too. None of my other symptoms have come back though, so I should be grateful for that - it is possible my skin problems are due to other factors, such as a weak liver or stress.

thank you for replying.

O jesus, one year. I hardly lasted one week of "pure" diet. As soon as I socialize, travel or get stressed (or am very happy) I ingest a nice cake.

I went to see a doctor yesterday who is very familiar with candida and he said I have to stick to the strict diet for 2-3 months. but now with what you re saying Im not that sure he s right anymore.

sorry for asking again but did you take essential oils, plants, plenty garlic, stuff that killed the candida?

I recently treated someone with candida, she had a candidia count of 99 when first tested so she went on the 'usual diet' removing the things she loved and trying to keep her energy up.

When she came to me she had a count of 46, after 4 sessions of Tui Na massage it fell to 9, which as i understand anything under 9 is good.

I followed up with 5 sessions of acupuncture and at her last visit to the nutritionalist her count was 0! and her wheat intolerance had vanished.

Since then she has practically eat things she wouldn't have dreamt of before , she has been to the states holidaying, not noticing the things she ate and alltogether a different person, with bags of energy.

I feel that westen medicine has no simple idea of this condition, but in Chinese medical Terms it is an energetic deficiency. Diet plays a good part in recovery, but removing the endless list of foods that they recommend can leave sufferers feeling very low, and not enjoying thier food which starts the cycle of abdominal and digestive problems.

I would recommend to anyone suffering to get regular abdominal massage, even acupuncture, along with a visit to a decent nutritionalist, or someone who deals with chinese dietetics and even more helpful a chinese herbalist.

Hope this can help

INDO

wow, thanks for that!

I want to have a go at Tui Na and acupuncure now. but do you know what they worked on in the acupuncture sessions? and would a tui na therapist do the same stuff that you did, ie: abdomen massage (did you do anything else?)?

ErinO, you started the thread and sorry for diverting it (again, as I often do), I hope you ve read the replies, have a go at tui na and acupuncure...

ErinO,

re reading Mikeoc's "bee" article, Ive noticed birthcontrol pills, fluoridated water, teeth amalgams (ie mercury), stress, and pollution (in the air, water and food) can be partly blamed for it.
Is your city putting fluorite (not sure thats the correct chemical name) in water, like they do in Scotland?
are you on the pill?
do you take other pills/drugs?
do you have amalgams?

personally everything went wrong digestive-wise the day I started taking the pill, basically diarrea and big nausea. then I was put on a different one but roughly the same symptoms. I had to stop taking it, it actually worried me how harmful this pill can be in the long term...

thank you for replying.

O jesus, one year. I hardly lasted one week of "pure" diet. As soon as I socialize, travel or get stressed (or am very happy) I ingest a nice cake.

I went to see a doctor yesterday who is very familiar with candida and he said I have to stick to the strict diet for 2-3 months. but now with what you re saying Im not that sure he s right anymore.

sorry for asking again but did you take essential oils, plants, plenty garlic, stuff that killed the candida?

Fadette, I think the general rule of thumb (according to Herings law of cure) is one month's healing for every year you have had the illness. I would agree for most people, who have candida overgrowth from bad diet, too much alcohol etc, would only need 2-3 months on an anti-candida regime. However, if you've got systemic candida overgrowth with a multitude of symptoms that take over your life, it is going to take longer - and it is also going to take some fundamental lifestyle changes too, in terms of looking after yourself, and eating food with nutritional value and educating yourself about how the body processes food etc. My condition was caused mostly by taking antibiotics at the age of 19, and consistently all through my 20s (I am 36 now). No doctor EVER told me anything about probiotics. I was also prescribed steroid cream for my eczema too by dermatologists. One time my skin was so bad, they gave me 6 tubes of hydrocortisone cream to take away. This is why I think my current skin problems may be due to a weak liver - all these nasty chemicals my liver has processed for many years

ps yes I followed Bee Wilder's program to the letter. It was a while ago now and I don't remember exactly, but I tool oil of oregano, pau d'arco, garlic, coconut oil. Everything that was recommended. I did what I think Erin was doing at first, and overdid it on the anti-fungals in an effort to get better sooner, but it made me quite ill and I soon learned it seriously wasnt worth it.

Interested also in Indo's tui-na massage, but I started to see a chinese herbal medicine and acupuncturist last month, and have explained all about my past digestive problems as well as my current skin conditions, so it is all being treated, I believe.

I took some antibiotic when I was a kid/teenager as this was the norm to treat colds in France then! shocking I know. but it wasnt on a regular or long term basis, maybe once a year.
I can trace back my first digestive symptoms to about 10 years ago but Im unable to say wether it was already candida or just stress etc. Id say it started all about 8-9 years ago. So that s going to be 9 months of hell!
9 months of being untisocial and being the one who cant eat out etc etc.

At home Im fine with all of this, I actually dont really crave sugars or wheat when Im at home anymore (which wasnt the case for many years).
I cook vegetarian healthy food with indian spices, I only drink herbal teas, I take vitamins and minerals supplements (magnesium, calcium, cod liver oil, omega 3 &6, ginko, tumeric, garlic oil...), and none of this (except last week, traveling to London I got a cake): tea, coffee, alcohol, sugar, wheat, mushrooms, acidic or even fizzy drinks.
Not wanting to go into self pity but honestly it is hard work.

Ive read health books (Digestive Wellbeing, and aromatherapy books etc) in the last 10 years.
Do you mean there s more in depth knowledge to get?

I hope I get the strength to keep being this "strict". Christmass is going to be very hard, my aunt is already coming with boxes of chocolate she said, O my, torture...

ErinO, how are you doing?

I was more speaking in general about people having to make lifestyle changes and educate themselves about food, rather than you Fadette - you seem pretty clued up and sound like you're on the right track.

I actually found it quite easy to stick to such a strict diet, what was hard was everyone else had a problem with it, comments like "one chocolate bar wont hurt you", or "have you got an eating disorder" etc etc. Nope, I had a digestive disorder, which is something very different! I certainly didnt miss alcohol, nor did I avoid social situations, in fact it was very good for my confidence overall to socialise without alcohol!

I wouldnt start fixating about how long it may or may not take you to overcome your candida, it could easily take less than 9 months, depending on how severe your condition is, also the healthier you get on the strict diet, the better you will feel, and therefore easier it will all become. It isnt forever. But if you do start on the plan, commit to it, as one cake now and then, is essentially a case of two steps forward, then one step back.

Anyway, I do recommend you join Bee Wilder's forum, as you'll get lots of support and answers to the questions you will have. This is something I once went thru, so am speaking from experience, but I'm by no means an expert

thanks, will do, didnt see there was a forum.

I am in two minds about the christmass situation, it is no big deal really but Ive invited my aunt and I will be the one cooking and she is bringing the chocolates etc. I feel she wont understand the situation and get offended. O how trivial and annoying at the same time!

thanks for the clarifications and everything...

Hiii

I was also suffering from this problem from many days but after using Pessaries I am feeling very well. Candida occurs due to the yeast infection. It can be easily treated by the use of Lavender and Tee tree oil Pessaries. These Pessaries really works for the treatment of yeast infection.
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