I. Candida Albicans
What is Candida Albicans
Candida albicans is a member of a large group of organism whose cells contain complex structures enclosed within the membranes, including yeast and mold that live among the gut flora in the human mouth and gastrointestinal tract. In fact, under normal circumstances, Candida albicans that does cause harmful effects, but overgrowth results in candidiasis.
Testing Candida Albicans
1. Candida saliva test or the Candida spit test.
If you doctor suspects that you may have Candida, he/she would ask for a Candida saliva or candida spit test. With this test, you are asked to place a glass filled clear water by your bed at night. When you wake in the morning, work up a bit of saliva and spit into it, then check the water every 15 minutes or so for up to one hour.
a) If you have Candida, you will see strings traveling down into the water with the saliva floating on the top, or cloudy saliva sinks to the bottom of the glass, or cloudy specks is suspended in the water.
b) If there is only saliva still floating after at one hour, you have Candida under control.
2. Medical test
With the medical Candida tests, you will visit the doctor and they will order the tests. The specimens will be sent to a lab and the results sent to the doctor. You will then visit the doctor a second time to get your results. The doctor will recommend a treatment program or you can try one of the programs that I recommend.
a) Candida Immune Complexes test
It is a blood test to determine if you have had an immune response to Candida albicansa, large presence of these antibodies would indicate a Candida overgrowth.
b) combination of IgA, IgG and IgM testsb.1. Immunoglobulin A (IgA)
It is an antibody that plays a critical role in mucosal immunity, which is found in high concentrations in the mucous secretions, including tears, saliva, colostrum and particularly those lining the respiratory passages, gastrointestinal and genitourinary tract.
b.2. Immunoglobulin G (IgG),
It is a antibody molecules that corresponds to maturation of the antibody response in protecting our body against bacterial and viral infections, found in all body fluids.
b.3. Immunoglobulin M (IgM),
It is a basic antibody that is produced by B cells, the first antibody to appear in response to initial exposure to antigen, found mainly in the blood and lymph fluid.
By analyzing the the antibody in the combination results of all 3 tests, your doctor can determine that you have Candida or not.
Symptoms of candida
1. Symptoms worse in damp day
2. Persistence drowsiness
3. Lack of coordination
4. Headaches
5. Mood swing
6. Loss of balance
7. Rashes
8. Mucus in stool
9. Betching and wind
10. Bad breath
11. Dry mouth
12. Postnasal drop
13. Nasal itch and/or congestion
14. Nervous irritability
15. Dry mouth or throat
16. Ear sensitive or fluid in ear
17. Heartburn and indigestion
18. Etc.
Factors that cause Candida Albicans
1. Age
Human aging is a biological process. As we age, our immune system is no longer function properly in regulating the balance of microorganisms in the body due free radicals accumulated over the year, that increase the risk of bad microorganism overgrowth, including candida.
2. Serious illness
Serious illness caused by what ever reason, weakens the defense system in regulating the microorganism in the digestive track, leading to over growth of candida.
3. Use of catheters
Catheters is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel allowing drainage, administration of fluids or gases, or access by surgical instruments. Use of catheter might sometime provides the candida with a deeper, easy to get to site, that it finds ideal place to grow in.
4. Inhalant medicine
Repeated use of the steroid inhalant on the oral mucosa can result in the development of fungal overgrowth causing acute pseudomembranous candidiasis.
5. Radiotherapy
Candidiasis is also seen in people who have undergone chemotherapy treatment for cancer or as a side effect of certain types of medication.
6. Low level of stomach acids
Low level of stomach acids increases the presence of undigested food in the small intestine and colon, causing an overgrowth of harmful bacteria and microorganism, leading to candida.
7. Pregnancy
Studies have shown that pregnant women are more susceptible to candida infections than any other time in their lives, especially in the second trimester.
8. Use of contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy
Use of contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy promote the surge in hormones also contribute to over growth of candida, resulting in unpleasant symptoms that come along with it.
9. Drug used for controlling intestinal flora
Antibiotic drugs used to treat intestinal flora kill both good and bad microorganism in the intestine track, leading to severely impairing digestion and assimilation of nutrients that causing fatigue, aggression, depression and toxicity.
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Causes of Candida Albicans
1. Amalgam filling
Amalgam filling is the use of amalgam as a filling material containing mainly mercury to treat cavity of your teeth by dentist. As a highly toxic chemical, mercury causes damage to the kidneys and central nervous system. Chelation therapy can be effective in removing all forms of mercury from the body, but cannot reverse the damage of central nervous system. As it weakens the immune system, it can cause the over growth of bad microorganisms, leading to candidiasis.
2. Anti fungus drugs
Antifungal drug is a medication used to treat fungal infections and serious systemic infections by by exploiting differences between mammalian and fungal cells to kill the fungal organism without dangerous effects on the host. Unfortunately, people successfully treated with antifungal drugs, 15 to 20% develop another infection in the next year. The use of the medication cause serious side effects associated with their use, including liver damage, and liver, weakened immune system and heart failure.
3. Genetic due to blood types and secretors status
Secretors status and blood types are defined as a person who secretes their blood type antigens into body fluids and secretions such as the saliva, mucus, etc. people with certain blood type and secretor status are susceptible to mold allergies and molds.
4. Steroid in foods
Steroid has been used for commercial profits in order to produce larger food stock both in animals and vegetation. Steroid in foods suppresses the immune response, thereby increasing colonization and promoting the spread of candida.
5. Blood sugar imbalance
Blood sugar imbalance cause fluctuation of glucose in the blood stream, leading to sugar craving resulting in Candida albicans overgrowth, as yeast organisms craving for sugar, their natural diet.
6. Immune system deficiency
Immune system deficiency allows candida over growth as it is not longer perform its function in regulating the balance of all microorganism in the intestine track.
7. Biochemical and metabolic individually
Slow metabolizers' bodies chemistry is often more alkaline due to lower production of lactic acid and low levels of gastric hydrochloric acid, leading to constipation. The combination of these factors can result in candida overgrowth.
8. Drugs due to suppress immune system during transplant
Drugs suppressing immune system weakens the function of immune system in regulating the balance of microorganism in the body.
9. Stress
Stress can cause insulin imbalance and weaken the liver immune function, that allow unchecked of over growth candida albicans.
10. Deficiency of nutrient
Deficiency of nutrient weakens the body systems in performing their function properly, including the immune system in regulating the balance of microorganism.
11. Anti-biotics
Antibiotic therapy use are known to increase the tendency for chronic yeast infection due its effect in killing bacteria indiscriminately, leading to bad microorganism over growth.
12. The pill
the use of the pill can suppress the hormonal balance that can cause fluctuation of sugar levels and significantly increase her risk for candida yeast overgrowth.
14. Sexual transmitting
Sex with several partners without precautions increases the risk of candida, if your partner happens to have a candida infection at the time you have sex then you could get it too.
15. Acidity
Gastric hydrochloric acid deficiency is widespread and allows yeast to survive passage through the stomach, causing over growth of candidiasis.
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Candida albicans consequences
1. What happen if candida become fungus
When Candida growth becomes uncontrolled and become fungus, it metabolites and/or toxins interfere with the functioning of nutrient-uptake and penetrate into the bloodstream, causing
a) Brain allergy
Candida produces toxins in large quantity that affect our brain and interfere with our biochemical processes, leading to upset levels of hormones and many key chemicals, resulting in symptoms of fatigue, aggression, depression and toxicity and schizophrenia.
b) Permeability
As the innermost membrane of the four coats of the intestinal wall becomes permeable due to fungus, partially digested foods, toxins produced by fungus and chemical molecules can enter the bloodstream and reach organs that suppress their normal functions, causing immune dysfunction in a long run and many kinds of chronic illness.
c) Reproductive dysfunction
Overgrowth candida can cause the reproductive tract infection. For female, it leads to infections of the upper reproductive tract (fallopian tubes, ovary and uterus), and/or the lower reproductive tract (vagina, cervix and vulva), for male, it is at the penis, testicles, urethra or the sperm tube, causing reproductive dysfunction.
d) Premenstrual syndrome
As over growth candida binding to hormones, it alters the pathway and their shape by preventing them entering the target receptor sites, that make certain hormones inactive, leading to estrogen and progesterone inability in controlling the function of bladder and bowel functioning, regulating blood sugar, resulting in endocrine disruptor causes of premenstrual syndrome
e) Autoimmune disorders
After entering blood stream, it causes allergies reaction of the immune system, but some of antigens' molecules are similar to molecules of human tissue, resulting of attacking both the antigens and the body's healthy tissues, leading to autoimmune disorders.
2. The main target of candida target
The main target of candida is to evade the body's immune system for their forever survival in the host body by targeting the immune system response in fighting against invading organism as they change the receptors of foreign organism or theirs' form which are displaying, making them difficult for the body's immune cells to react appropriately.
3. Digestive track colonization
The main purpose of Candida is trying to invade the intestinal wall by suppressing immune system responds with inflammation, leading to prolong inflammation, (the prolonged inflammation is called ulceration colitis if it occurs in the large intestine and it is called Crohn's disease if it occurs in the small intestine that can cause of digestive track colonization of the host body.
4. The mind and emotion
If candida overgrowth, it produces toxins (canditoxin and ethanol) that affect our brain and it releases metabolites that interfere with our biochemical processes in hormone production, leading to fatigue, aggression, depression and toxicity.
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Some life threatening implication of candida overgrowth
1. Toxic shock syndrome(TSS)
Candida overgrowth can cause toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a potentially fatal illness by producing toxins to suppress the immune system, leading to infection cause of high fever, accompanied by low blood pressure, malaise and confusion, which can rapidly progress to stupor, coma, and multiple organ failure.
2. Scalded skin syndrome (SSS)
Scalded skin syndrome is defined as a condition of skin infection caused of damage to the skin with marked shedding due to toxins released by candida in suppressing the immune system. Depending its severity, it can causes bloodstream infection and electrolyte imbalance and complications of severe bloodstream infection and electrolyte imbalance.
3. andida and chronic diseases
a. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
As the condition worsen, candida takes advantage of weakness or imbalances in the digestive system, allowing fungus to overrun the digestive tracts, leading to gases which irritate the intestinal and stomach linings causing pain.
b. Chronic Sinusitis
As candida growth occurs in the sinus cavities, it causes fungal serious infections, leading to nasal congestion, facial pain, pressure, congestion, or fullness, reduced or absent sense of smell. Both chronic and acute fungal sinusitis require immediate treatment.
c. Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic condition that causes intense pain in various places around the body, including muscles, connective tissues and joints, as well as a host of other symptoms, as a result of production of mycotoxins by overgrowth candida, causing autoimmune diseases by triggering inflammation in the intestinal tract. Fibromyalgia syndrome affects more than 6 million people in the United States.
d. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is defined as a health condition of persistent fatigue unrelated to exertion, it interferes with the patient daily activity, causing trouble staying on top of their responsibilities at home and on the job, etc. due to production of mycotoxins by overgrowth candida, triggering inflammation in the intestinal tract. Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome include headache, tender lymph nodes, fatigue, weakness, muscle, joint aches, inability to concentrate, etc.
e. Thrush
Thrush is defined as condition of infection of the mouth caused by over growth candida fungus.
f. Eczema, or Atopic Dermatitis
Eczema is a general term for many types of skin inflammation (dermatitis). The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis in some case caused by over growth of candida as a result of immune suppressive factors.
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What to avoid
1. Fruits
The high sugar content in fruit feeds Candida and artificial ingredients can cause depressed immune system.
2. Aged cheese
Any Cheese containing trans fat and aged for 6 months or more. Candida also reduces the digestive system in processing fat properly.
3. Additive and preservation
Men made chemicals can disrupt the digestive track friendly bacteria and allow the candida to over growth such as citric acid. Non-organic food like meat or eggs can also contain antibiotics and steroids for faster growth.
4. Alcohol
Alcohol beside contains high amount of sugar depress the liver and immune system, causing over growth candida.
5. Caffeine, sugar and sweetener
Caffeine, sugar and sweetener all harmful to the body and feed candida
6. Glutens
Gluten is a protein composite that appears in foods processed from wheat and related species
that can cause immune suppression.
7. Mushrooms
Mushroom which is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source can promotes fungus overgrowth.
8. Condiments
Condiment which is a sauce or seasoning added to food to impart a particular flavor can depress the immune system, causing candida.
9. Vinegar
Vinegar which is an acidic liquid produced from the fermentation of ethanol in a process that yields its key ingredient, acetic acid can deplete the stomach of acids and cause inflammation in the digestive track.
10. Etc.
Treatments and controlling
A. Diet
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar is a type of vinegar made from cider or apple must and has a pale to medium amber color. Beside it is known for treating obesity, rich in natural enzymes which aid in digestion, Apple cider vinegar also balances your body's pH level and contains high amount of antioxidants, that help to restore the natural balance of healthy bacteria in the gut by creating a perfect environment for those healthy bacteria to grow, all while keeping candida in check by enhancing the immune function in regulating the microorganism in the body.
2. Coconut oil
Coconut oil is extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconut harvested from the coconut palm tree, native to the tropical world. While lauric acid found in coconut oil, is antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral and a COX-1-2 inhibitor has been used in traditional medicinal remedies for benign prostatic hyperplasia and anti-inflammatory, caprylic acid, a minor constituent of coconut oil has been demonstrated to inhibit fungal growth, both topically and internally.
3. Garlic
Garlic is species of Allium sativum, belong to the family Alliaceae, it has been used as both food and medicine in many cultures for thousands of years. Garlic cloves are used as a remedy for infections, digestive disorders, and fungal infections due to large number of anti-fungal properties of sulphur, allicin, alliin, alliinase and S-allylcysteine.
4. Ginger
Ginger is a species of Zingiber officinale, belong to the family Zingiberaceae. It has been used in as a delicacy, medicine, or spice in many cultures. The gingerrols in ginger increase the motility of the gastrointestinal tract and have analgesic, sedative, antipyretic, antibacterial and anti- inflammatory properties. Reseacher (Am. J. Applied Sci., 6 (6): 1067-1069, 2009) found that ginger extract containing gingerol inhibits the growth of many bacteria and fungi, including candida ablicans.
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Vitamins
1. Vitamin B2
The intake of Vitamin B2 is required for a wide variety of cellular processes and plays a key role in energy metabolism and enhance the digestive system in absorbing nutrients but also also supports the immune system in fighting against bacteria causes of inflammatory bowel disease, including candida.
2. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and an antioxidant found in high concentrations in immune cells, beside is important in aiding the digestive system in absorbing nutrients, but
also enhances the production of white blood cell of the immune system that protect the body by binding to the harmful bacteria and ingesting them.
3. Vitamin A
Retinoic acid, appears to maintain normal skin health by switching on genes and differentiating keratinocytes (immature skin cells) into mature epidermal cells, it also helps to detoxify liver and enhance the immune system in protecting our body by enhancing its antimicrobial functions, including candida albicans.
4. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is fat-soluble compounds that include both tocopherols and tocotrienols. It beside is an polyphenol antioxidants in scavenging free radicals, but also promotes the immune system in production of B-cells, the immune cells that produce antibodies that destroy microorganisms.
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Minerals and mineral compounds
1. Coral Calcium
One of the richest sources of Calcium beside is an important mineral in building stronger, denser bones early in life and keeping bones strong and healthy later in life and preventing the risk of osterporosis, but also helps to alkalize the body that eliminate the favor environment for candida overgrowth.
2. Magnesium Citrate
Magnesium Citrate is a magnesium salt of citric acid, is a chemical agent used medicinally as a saline laxative. Beside it is important to maintain proper level of pH for the body's organs to enhance their biochemical pathways for detoxification, that limits or reduces the over growth of candida, it also acts as a defecation in stimulating naturally bowel movement.
The mineral, magnesium plays a key role in the immune response, by acting as a co-factor for immunoglobulin synthesis that significantly increases for both IgA and IgG, the antibody molecules that protect our body against bacterial and viral infections and the lining of the respiratory passages, gastrointestinal and genitourinary tract.
3. Lithium chloride
is a chemical compound with the formula LiCl. The salt is a typical ionic compound. While maintaining the proper PH levels, lithium also suppresses the yeast phosphoglucomutase activity by displacing Mg21 target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway, thus inhibiting the candida albicans filamentation and hyphal outgrowth.
4. Sodium bicarbonate
It is an alkaline treatment, important to balance the levels of PH by taking away the acidity environment for candida overgrowth. Reseacher found that 5% sodium bicarbonate on the adherence of Candida albicans to thermally activated acrylic resin proved to be a viable alternative in the reduction of Candida albicans.
5. Phosphonium salts
phosphonium salts with long alkyl chains (C18) were found to show high levels of antimicrobial activity. In the alkyltrimethylphosphonium salts, the bactericidal activity against S. aureus and Escherichia coli increased with increasing alkyl chain length, and the compound with the longest alkyl chain (C18) killed all the bacterial cells (ca. 107 cells per ml) within 30 min. (source)
6. Zinc
Zinc beside is an important mineral in boosting immune system activity, it also used in zinc therapy to treat candida overgrowth by promoting metallothionein (MT) synthesis. Metallothionein (MT) are normally in high concentration in intestinal mucosa.
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C. Herbs
1. Berberis
Berberis is a genus of about 450-500 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs from 1-5 m tall with thorny shoots, belong to the family Berberidaceae, native to the temperate and subtropical regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America. Europe has a few species, and North America only two.The stem, root bark, and fruit of barberry contain alkaloids and berberine have been used in traditional medicine or dietary supplement, to treat fungal infections, candida albicans, yeast, parasites, and bacterial/viral infections.
Berberine may also enhance the immune system by preventing candida yeasts from producing lipase, an enzyme which they use to help them in colonization and improving digestion and reduce gastrointestinal pain.
2. Clover
Clover used as a spice in cuisines all over the world, is the aromatic dried flower buds of a tree in the Syzygium, belong to the family Myrtaceae, native to Indonesia.While ellimagrandin II in clove oil shows anti-herpesvirus and anti-oxidant properties and the antiseptic property of eugenol, eugenyl acetate, caryophyllene and iocaryophyllene kills the candida and boost immune system.
3. Goldenseal
Goldenseal is a perennial herb in the species of Hydrastis canadensis, belong to the family Ranunculaceae, native to southeastern Canada and northeastern United States. It has been used widely in traditional medicine to treat functional disorders of the stomach, catarrhal gastritis, atonic dyspepsia, chronic constipation, hepatic congestion, etc. Since it contains Berberine a compound that demonstrates significant anti-fungal activity by preventing candida yeasts from producing lipase, an enzyme which they use to help them in colonization.
4. Oregano Oil
Oregano is a common species of Origanum, belong to the family Lamiaceae, native to warm-temperate western and southwestern Eurasia and the Mediterranean region. Oregano oil contains a monoterpenoid phenol called carvacrol, which inhibits the growth of several bacteria strains, including candida albicans due to its antimicrobial properties that disrupt the bacteria membrane.
5. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of trees from the genus Cinnamomum, the family Lauraceae. It is used to treat digestive system disorder, insulin sensitive and enhance the immune system in regular cells growth due to its antioxidant activity. The cinnamon essential oil has antimicrobial properties, which can prevent, limit or destroy the fungal overgrowth.
6. Allspice
Allspice also called Jamaica pepper is a spice of dried unripe fruit of Pimenta dioica, belong to the family Myrtaceae, native to the southern Mexico and Central America. It beside has been used in folk medicine in relieving indigestion and gas and as a deodorant, allspice volatile oils found in the plant contain phenylpropene which has an antimicrobial property.
7. Lavender
The lavender is a genus Lavandula of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, originated in Asia. It has been used in herbal medicine to treat microbial infection for the skin and reduces inflammation. Its essential oil components linalool and linalyl acetate show both fungistatic and fungicidal activity against C. albicans strains, thus reducing fungal progression and the spread of infection in host tissues.
8. Chamomile
Chamomile is a common name for several daisy-like plants, genus Matricaria belong to the family Asteraceae, native to Europe and western Asia. It has been used in traditional medicine to aid sleep and reduce stress. Chamomile beside contains high amount of flavonoids which is best known for its antioxidant against virus bacteria invasion anti septic and anti biotic properties in its essential oil help to fight against such infectious organisms, including candida ablicans.
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Anti fungal products
1. Manuka Honey
Manuka honeyhas been known to benefit humans by healing wounds and injuries but causes no damage to cell and also contains hydrogen peroxide claimed to have antimicrobial property.
2. Undecylenic acid
Undecylenic acid is the common name of the 10-undecenoic acid, an organic unsaturated fatty acid derived from castor oil, it is a natural antimicrobial property against fungal skin infections and Candida albicans.
3. Caprylic acid
Caprylic acid is the common name for the eight-carbon saturated fatty acid found naturally in coconuts and breast milk, used used in treatments for a variety of conditions, including Candida.
4. Echinacea angustifolia
Echinacea angustifolia is a herbaceous plant species Echinacea angustifolia, belong to the family Asteraceae native to Northern America. Echinacea angustifolia beside enhances the immune system function, antiviral, and antioxidant effects, it also used to treat urinary tract infections and candida in herb medicine.
5. Horopeito
Horopeit is a genus Pseudowintera, part of family Winteraceae. It contains a compound polygodial, a chemical compound used to suppress the growth of candida by damaging the permeable cell membrane of yeast.
6. Oregano
Oregano is a genus of the mint family Lamiaceae, native to southwestern Eurasia and the Mediterranean region. It beside promotes digestive health, clear skin and a healthy immune system, but also contains Carvacrol and Thymol that dehydrate candida by reacting with the water in the bloodstream.
7. Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a genus Aloe belong to the family Asphodelaceae, originated in the Sudan. It beside contains contains significant amounts of amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which help to enhance the immune function in fighting against virus and bacteria infection and inflammation, it also helps to maintain a proper PH levels that inhibit the growth of candida and repairs and seals the intestinal wall, which stops Candida from actually penetrating through into your blood stream.
8. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is a pale yellow color to nearly clear essential oil extracted from the leaves of the Narrow-leaved Tea-tree, native to the northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia.
9. Tannate plant extracts
Tannate is the salt or ester of tannic acid. Tannate plant extract is a powerful anti fungal agent by destroying candida selectively without harming the good flora in the body. It is said that Tea tree oil is effective in treating bacteria, viruses, fungal infections due to its antigungal, anti-inflammatory property.
10. Biotin
Biotin or viyamin B7 is a coenzyme in the metabolism of fatty acids and leucine, and it plays a role in gluconeogenesis. It helps to treat candida by preventing yeast to change into its fungal form, which is the vegetative part of a fungus consisting of a mass of branching thread-like filaments, thus limiting the overgrowth of candida.
12. Probiotics (friendly bacteria)
Probiotic is live microorganisms which benefits the host. Intake of probiotics enhances the production of hydrogen peroxide that plays a important role in preventing candida overgrowth and through self-multiple mechanisms.
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Healing the intestinal membrane
1. L-glutamine
L-glutamine is one of the 20 amino acids encoded by the standard genetic code and used to treat certain gastrointestinal disorders by serving as a source of fuel for the cells that line the gastrointestinal tract, thereby maintaining the health and integrity of it.
2. N-acetyl-glucosamine
N-acetyl-glucosamine is a monosaccharide derivative of glucose that supports the digestive track function and maintains healthy intestinal lining by stimulating cell growth in the intestinal track.
3. Rice-bran oil
Rice-bran oil is the oil extracted from the germ and inner husk of rice. it contains a compound gamma-oryzanolto which reduces the risk of gastric ulcers caused by stress while at the same time maintaining gastrointestinal motility.
4. Pancreatic enzymes products
Pancreatic enzymes allow for more bacteria to grow in the intestine enabling the food to be digested a lot easier. it can be found as supplements and in certain foods.
5 . Butyric acid
Butyric acid is a fatty acid occurring in the form of esters in animal fats and plant oils. It inhibits pathogenic organisms, improves digestion and promotes intestinal health by producing bacteria to feed on lactic acid, then multiplying and revving up their production . Butyric acid also contains anti-inflammatory property and strengthens the intestinal mucosal barrier.
5. Fructo-oligosaccharides(FOS)
Fructo-oligosaccharides(FOS) is a class of oligosaccharides used as an artificial or alternative sweetener, extracted from fruits and vegetables such as bananas, onions, chicory root, garlic, asparagus, barley, wheat, tomatoes, and leeks. It is inulin-type prebiotics, that helps to stimulate the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestine track to counter react to other bad bacteria such as candida but it may cause gas formation.
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Reducing intestine dysbiosis (A condition with microbial imbalances within the body)
1. Probiotics (See Above)
2. Prebiotics
Prebiotic is non-digestible food ingredients and the most prevalent forms of prebiotic is nutritionally classed as soluble fiber, that stimulate the production of number and/or activity of bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria and/or activity in the digestive system in ways claimed to be beneficial to health of the host, by counteracting to the overgrowth of bad bacteria, including candida albcans.
3. Foods rich in FOS
FOS is the standard acronym for fructooligosaccharide, a class of oligosaccharides used as an artificial or alternative sweetener. These are complex carbohydrates, or sugars that come naturally from high fiber foods such as bananas, onions, chicory root, garlic, asparagus, barley, wheat, jícama, tomatoes, and leeks and used as an additive to yogurt and other dairy products. It enhances the digestive system in making good bacteria to counter balance the bad bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.
3. High fiber food
Fiber is the indigestible portion of plant foods having two main components soluble and insoluble fiber, consisted non-starch polysaccharides such as arabinoxylans, cellulose and many other plant component. While it is beneficial for alleviating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, such as diarrhea and/or constipation and abdominal discomfort, it is also a prebiotic which is beneficial to health of the host by enhnacing the production of good bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and counteracting to the overgrowth of bad bacteria, including candida albcans.
4. Avoid allergic foods
Eating allergic foods often cause symptoms of digestive disorders, including gas, stomach pains, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, etc. can weaken the good bacteria in our digestive systems from working as effectively, leading to overgrowth of bad bacteria quickly.
5. Regular intake of Allium satvum (garlic)
Allium satvum is a species in the onion family Alliaceae, native to Central Asia. Garlic beside is best known for its effectiveness in preventing heart disease, blood thinner and cancer, it also contains high amount of phytoncides that inhibits the growth of microorganisms and phytoalexin called allixin was found to have anti-oxidative and anti-microbial effects that would be helpful to keep a healthy digestive system and prevent the growth out of control of bad bacteria.
6. Enhances immune system
Living healthy and eating healthy foods such as such as whole grain, fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, beans and legumes (see more of Over 100 Healthy Foods List http://healthy-foods-index.blogspot.com/) provide your body with necessary nutrients, including antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, that not only optimizes the digestive absorption but also enhances the immune in fighting against inflammation and infection caused by virus and bacteria and balances the microorganism in the gastrointestinal track.
7. UVC therapy
Light therapy is considered as a type of treatment of exposing to daylight or to specific wavelengths of light, used to accelerate wound healing, hair growth, acupuncture, improvement in blood properties and blood circulation. Statistical analysis found in vitro candida strains studied were sensitive to photodynamic therapy with malachite green.
8. Exercise
Exercise is important in enhancing the immune system that helps to reduce the likelihood of getting yeast infections but also put your body in a better position to fight off the candida.
9. Reduce stress
Signs of stress may be cognitive, emotional, physical or behavioral, signs of poor judgment, a general negative outlook, can depress the immune system and impair the digestive system, causing psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune disease and gastrointestinal tract infection,leading to more favorable conditions for unhealthy candida to multiple.
10. Sex with several partner
A study in USA revealed that a 75% percentage of women have had candida yeast overgrowth at some point in their lives while a 45% of men have had yeast infection too. Sex with several partner increase the risk of infectious candida, If you must have sex, use of a condom will make the chances of the infection spreading minimal. Since it can potentially be contagious, If you noticed changes in your body like thick, cheese-like discharges, pain during sex and an itchy burning sensation, check with your doctor immediately.
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Recommended Reading
Guide to Cure Candida
Proven Way to Eliminate Candida and
Other Harmful Infections Naturally
II. Candida Albicans In Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective
Candidiasis
Candidiasis is defined as a condition as a results of the overgrowth of a yeast-like fungus called Candida albicans. Candida cells are part of the normal flora of our bodies found most in the gastrointestinal track, in our mouth, vagina, etc. If for what ever reason, your immune system is weakened, it can cause over growth of candida, leading to digestive disorders, nervous irritability, vaginal yeast infections, etc.
Causes
In traditional Chinese medicine, candidiasis is defined as a condition of malfunction of the Triple Burner-related condition due to spleen and stomach disorder, causing excess fluid or phlegm in our system, weakening immune system, leading to damp heat accumulates in the Lower Burner, resulting in candidiasis.
Treatments
Cleansing
The overgrowth of candida in TCM is considered as the accumulation of waste, phlegm and damp heat, toxins due to inability of spleen and stomach in digesting foods properly.
A. Herbs for Lower and Middle burner symptoms
1. Long Dan Cao (Gentian)
Long can cao is also known as Gentian is a genus of flowering plants (Gentiana L) belonging to the family Gentianaceae. The bitter, cold and non toxic herb has been used in TCM as sedative and to treat inflammation, stimulate the digestive system and promotes bile, hydrochloride acid and other digestive enzymes secretion by clearing liver' and gallbladder' damp heat as it enhances the functions of liver, gallbladder and stomach channels.
2. Huang Qin (Skullcap)
Huang qin is laso known as skullcap, a genus of Scutellaria, belonging to the family Lamiaceae. The bitter and cold herb has been used in TCM as antihistamine and anti-toxin effect and to promote bowel movements, treat hepatitis B by clearing heat, drying fire, draining dampness as it promotes the functions of gallbladder, large intestine, lung, stomach channels.
3. Zhi Zi (Gardenia)
Zhi zi is also known as gardenia fruit, a genus of Gardenia, belonging to the family Rubiaceae, native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia, Australasia and Oceania. The bitter, cold and toxic herb has been used in TCM as toxicity effects and antipyretic, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory and to treat digestive disorder by dispersing fire, clearing heat, draining dampness, expelling toxins as it enhances the functions of heart, liver, lung, stomach, triple warmer channels.
4. Mu Tong (Akebia caulis)
Mu Tong is also known as Akebia caulis, a genus of akebia, belonging to the family Lardizabalaceae. The bitter and cool herb has been used in TCM as antibiotic and to promote urination, improve cardiac function by calming pain on urination and clearing heat as it promotes the functions of bladder, heart, small intestine channels.
5. Che Qian Cao (Plaintain)
Che qian cao is also known as Plaintain, the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa, native to Southeast Asia and Oceania. The sweet and cold herb has been used in TCM to treat Damp heat in the lower burner channel due to infection of the urinary tract and bowel and damp heat cause of sexual dysfunction due to damp heat by stopping diarrhea clearing the liver and lungs and transforming phlegm as it promotes the functions of bladder, kidney, liver, lung channels.
6. Ze Xie (Alisma)
Ze xie is also known as Alisma, a genus of flowering plants in the family Alismataceae, found in a variety of still water habitats all over the world. The sweet and cold herb has been used in TCM to treat painful and difficult urination, diarrhea , leucorrhagia, caused by damp heat in the lower burner, by used as and eliminating water, clearing heat and damp heat as its enhances the functions of kidney and bladder channels.
7. Chai Hu (Buplerum)
Chai hu is also known as Buplerum, a genus Buplerum of plants of the Apiaceae family. The bitter and cold herd has been used in TCM to treat fever, irregular menses, prolapse of uterus, and prolapse of rectum by regulating and clear heat and resolving depression and liver stagnation as it promotes the functions of the liver, gallbladder, pericardium, triple burner channels.
8. Etc.
B. Herbs for Upper and Middle burner symptoms
1. Huang Lian (Coptis)
Huang lian is aslo known as Canker roots, a genus of Coptis in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Asia and North America. The bitter and cool herb has been used in TCM to treat indigestion, inflammation of intestine and diarrhea caused by bacterial infection by clearing heat, drying damp, dispersing fire and expelling toxins as it promotes the functions of heart, large intestine, liver, and stomach channels.
2. Da Huang (Ruhbarb)
Da Huang is also known as Ruhbarb, is a genus Rheum, belonging the family Polygonaceae. The bitter and cold herb has been used in TCM to enhance bowel movement, reduce blood clots, treat tumor, abdominal-distention and/or pain, hemorrhoidal bleeding and urination burning sensation by clearing heat, dispersing fire, expelling toxins and invigorating blood as its promote the functions of heart, large intestine, liver, stomach channels.
3. Huang Bai (Phellodendra)
Huang Bai is also known as Cork-tree, a genus of Phellodendra, belonging to the family Rutaceae, native to east and northeast Asia. The bitter and cold herb has been used in TCM as antibiotic and anti Trichomoniasis, to lower blood pressure and blood sugar by
clearing damp heat in the lower burner due to bacterial infection, dispersing fire and expeling toxins as it promotes the functions of kidney and bladder channels.
4. Shi Gao (Gypsum)
Shi Gao is also known as Gypsum, a very soft mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate. The bitter, very cod and acrid herb has been used in TCM as antipyretics and to treat asthma, stomach ache, diabetes by clearing and fire and calming anxiety and reducing thirst as it promotes the functions of lung, stomach channels.
5. Lian Qiao (Forsythia)
Lian Qiao is also known as Forsythia fruit, is a genus of Forsythia, belongs to the family Oleaceae, native to Eastern Asia. The bitter, cold and slightly acrid herb has been used as spectrum antibiotic, anti inflammation and to lower fever and to protect liver by clearing heat and toxins, and resolving abscesses as it promotes the functions of heart, liver and gallbladder channels.
6. Jing Jie (Schizonepeta)
Jing Jie is also known as shizonepeta, a genus of Schizonepeta, belonging to the family Lamiaceae, native to China. The acrid, slightly warm and fragrant herb has been used in TCM as anti bacteria, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and to reduce pain and enhances immune system by expelling winds and releasing toxin through sweating and stop bleeding as it promotes the functions of lung and liver channels.
7. Ju Hua (Chrysanthemi)
Hu Hua also known as chrysanthemum flower, a genus of chrysanthemum, belongs to the family Asteraceae, native to Asia and northeastern Europe. The sweet, bitter and slightly cold herb has been used in TCM as anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and antipyretic and to benefit the cardio-vascular system by expelling wind, clearing heat and toxins as it promotes the functions of lung and liver channels.
8. Bo He (Mint)
Bo he is also known as Mint, a genus of Mentha, belonging to the family Lamiaceae, native to the through the world. The acrid and cold herb has been used in TCM as anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory and to treat wind-heat cause of infection with the symptoms of headache, red eyes, swollen and painful throat and achy stomach by dispersing wind-heat and clearing fire as it promotes the functions of liver and lung channels.
9. Gan Cao (Licorice)
Gan Cao is also known as Licorice, a genus of Glycyrrhiza, belonging to the family Fabaceae, native to southern Europe and parts of Asia. The sweet herb has been used in TCM as anti inflammatory, anti viral and bacterial and anti allergic and to enhance the adrenocortical hormone function by tonifying spleen; Benefiting qi, moistening lung as it promotes all 12 channels.
10. Etc.
C. Tonifying herbs
After cleansing the body with the above herbs, repairing the damage and restoring the balance are vital to prevent the reoccurring of the pathological factors in TCM.
1. Ren Shen (Ginseng)
Ren shen is aslo best known as Radix Ginseng , a slow-growing plant, belonging to the Panax genus in the family Araliaceae. The smells aromatic, tastes sweet and slightly warm herb has been used in TCM as anti cancer, anti aging medicine and to regulates central nervous system, circulatory system and prevent as it tonifies original qi, spleen, lungs and enhances the generation of body fluids by promoting the function of lung and spleen channels.
2. Bai Zhu (Atractylodis)
Bai zhu is also known as Bighead atractylodes rhizome, a genus Atractylodis, belonging to the family Asteraceae. The aromatic, acrid, and sweet herb has been used in TCM to treat liver, liver cancer, Meniere's disease, constipation chronic back pain, acute infection of intestine as it tonifies qi, strengthens spleen and dries dampness by enhancing the functions of spleen and stomach channels.
3. Fu Ling (Poria)
Fu ling is also known as Poria or china root, is a fungus in the genus Wolfiporia, belonging to family Polyporaceae. The sweet and neutral herb has been used in TCM to treat inflmmation of uterus, headache, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, loss of appetite as it eliminates fluid strengthens spleen and calms the mind by enhancing the function of heart, spleen, lung, kidney channels.
4. Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel)
Chen Pi is also known as Tangerine Peel, it is the skin of is an orange-coloured citrus fruit, belonging to the genus Citrus in the family Rutaceae. The bitter, acrid, warm herb is antibotic and has been used in TCM to improve digestion, stop vomiting and hiccups and bleeding, increase blood pressure, stimulate blood vessels and inhibit the movement of digestive tract as it helps to regulates qi and the middle burner, dry dampness and transform phlegm by promoting the functions of lung and spleen channels.
5. Ban Xia (Pinella)
Ban xia is also known as Pinellia Tuber, a genus of Pinellia, belonging to the family Araceae and native to China. The acrid, warm, toxic herb has been used in TCM to stops vomiting, promote vomiting, get rid of phlegm and induce calming as it dries dampness; transforms phlegm and tonifies middle burner that aids digestion by enhancing the functions of lung, spleen and stomach channels.
6. Sha Ren (Amomi)
Sha Ren is also known as cardamom seeds, the tree is belong to the genus Elettaria and Amomum in the family Zingiberaceae, native to in Asia and Australia. The acrid, warm and nontoxic herb has been used in TCM to treat digestive tract infection, bloating, stomach ache, nausea, vomiting and lack of appetite as it transforms dampness, stimulate movement of qi and warms the middle burner by promoting the functions of kidney, spleen and stomach channels.
7. Mu Xiang (Saussurea)
Mu Xiang is also known as costus root, a genus is a genus Saussurea in the family Asteraceae, native to cool temperate helps to and arctic regions of Asia, Europe, and North America. The acrid, bitter and warm herb has been used in TCM as anti fungus and to treat pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, vomiting caused by weak digestion, digestive tract infection and yeast infection as it helps to enhance the movement of qi, regulates the middle burner and relieve pain by promoting the functions of gallbladder, large intestine, spleen, stomach channels.
D. Suggested Acupuncture points
The importance of acupuncture is to perform the same function of herbs by stimulating the movement of qi in the channels of which enhances the function of organs in fighting against the over growth fungus naturally and maintains the optimal healthy by preventing the reoccurring of the diseases. Therefore, it shares the same purposes in treating candidiasis as herbs mentioned above, including tonifying digestive system, sedating, drying dampness, clear excess heat in the intestines, balancing qi and blood, etc.
SP6 (San Yin Zao)
ST36 (Zu San Li),
KD3 (Tai Xi),
KD5 (Shui Quan )
LI3 (San Jian)
SP9 (Yin Ling Quan)
LI4 (He Gu )
LI11 (Qu Chi)
CV3 (Zhong Ji )
CV4 (Quan Yuan)
ST25 (Tian Shu)
SP4 (Gong Sun)
