Candidiasis

Question: What is candidiasis and its treatment. Is there any herbal treatement for this. ? I was diagonized diabetic at 27 and that is the time I started experiencing itch on my private parts. I am now on insulin and candidiasis is really a problem. Any cure?

Answer: Candidiasis is the term used to describe what happens when the yeast that normally populate the gut become pathogenic and reproduce uncontrolled, resulting in an infection that is almost parasitic in nature. The yeast cell is normally round, and at healthy levels they help to keep things moving along in your digestive system. When disbiosis occurs (an imbalance in the normal gastrointestinal flora, or bacteria and fungi that populate the gut) the yeast cells can grow unchecked and may become pathogenic (or cause disease). When this happens, the yeast cells develop rhizoids (or flagellates, little tail like appendages) that they use to burrow into the intestinal walls in search of food. Get enough of them in there and you may end up with leaky gut syndrome, a condition in which the intestine has become permeable and undigested food particles and waste products from the yeast can make their way into the bloodstream where they are treated as toxins and an immune response is triggered. This can make a person feel very sick. The diabetic diet should go a long way toward starving the candida, as it feeds on sugar. It is tantamount that you keep your blood sugar levels under control to have any measure of success in battling a yeast infection. But, that alone isn't a cure. In severe cases, strict adherence to the anticandida diet is required (this includes total avoidance of sugar, both natural and artificial, as well as moldy and yeasty foods such as cheese, all vinegars except ACV, mushrooms, pickles, and alcohol), and may be for several months or even years before a balance is achieved. A good probiotic is also necessary to help repopulate decreased levels of the healthy bacteria normally present in the gut that keep yeast in check. In addition, antifungal therapy may be necessary, such as a prescription medication (like diflucan or nystatin powder) or herbal remedy (such as oil of oregano, pao d' arco, or other herb with antiviral properties). Digestive enzymes can go a long way toward starving yeast because they help to break down food before it reaches the intestine, where the yeast are feeding. Usually a comprehensive (or multitier) program works the best, and long term therapy is required to acheive a good result. Diet, probiotics, antifungals, and digestive enzymes together should give a good result if the program is adhered to faithfully. Keep in mind that if you kill off too many yeast cells at once you may experience what is known as a herxheimer response. This happens when too many dead yeast cells and their byproducts are killed to be comfortably filtered by the system. If this occurs, simply let up a bit on the therapy and go at it a bit more gradually.

Question: Is there a non-over the counter drug to cure cutaneous candidiasis? I have a stubborn case of cutaneous candidiasis (yeast infection), I have been to the dermatologist for it many times have have tried many things. Verdeso was the only thing that worked but it came back after my sample was done. Then he put me on something else that doesn't work at all. I was wondering if there is anything that you could buy non over the counter that anyone has found to treat this. Thank you. DTD, you are correct... it is a skin infection.

Answer: Not yet, there is a couple working their way through the red tape though.

Question: If Oral candidiasis is caused by a medicine will it go away after the medicine isn't taken anymore? If Oral candidiasis is caused by the side-effect of a medicine will it go away after the medicine isn't taken anymore?

Answer: sometimes, but who want's that, it can be painful to swallow, or eat. just get diflucan or nystating or mycelex troches. I like Diflucan, don't like Nystating swish/spit/swallow. I want it gone, but can be caused by steroid inhalers/asthma/ antibiotics/inhaled /oral. some women get vag yeast infect instead. get Rx.

Question: If a person with Candidiasis takes only probiotics will the Candidiasis get better or worse? Thank You for your side note newwavepony. I've tried eating lots of yogurt but did not help much.

Answer: It may be unaffected or go either way. While probiotics can replenish bacteria and yeasts that should exist in your body, they will probably not correct an existing imbalance by themselves. In order to cure candidiasis, you may be prescribed an antifungal drug such as fluconazole (Diflucan). However, since candida bacteria are usually present in and on your body in smaller quantities, your goal isn't to eradicate them altogether: ideally, you just allow other microorganisms to co-exist, and reduce uncomfortable symptoms of candida overgrowth. As a side note, I would like to mention that home remedies such as eating yogurt are generally ineffective in helping candidiasis. While alternative treatments and home care are promising, this is one situation where there isn't really a gentler option than pills.

Question: How can you tell the difference between leukoplakia and oral candidiasis by inspection?

Answer: Hi. I have seen both patches of oral hairy leukoplakia and oral candidiasis. The lesions of OHL are always darker in appearence and look more like mold on the tongue and the hard pallate. The lesions have rounded edges and are always multiple in numbers. The lesions of oral candida are always pink in the middle with concentric whitty pathces on the edges which gives them a whitty appearence on the edges. They are also round edged and are are more on the hard pallate. The other important observation is that aral candidiasis hurts and the person with it will complain of pain during chewing and swallowing (Dysphagia). while the lesions of OHL do not hurt and sometimes the person does not know they are there untill an oral exam is done or during oral hygiene.

Question: Can Candidiasis produce itch & symptoms of infection on a periodic recuring basis like Herpes? Is periodic recurrance of itch & symptoms of Herpes common to all kinds of Herpes or just the Simplex?

Answer: first off symptoms of herpes are nothing alike, from sexually transmitted to a sore on your lip. Having attempted to point out the difference in Herpes Simplex I and II. The answer is YES to the other question, both can produce symptoms periodically, stress, decrease in immune function and other factors can cause an acute episode of either disease.

Question: Does a deficiency of vitamin K lead to Parasites and Candidiasis or is it vice versa? Does a lack of vitamin K create an environment favorable for parasites and candida, or is it the opposite. Do parasites and candida lead to a deficiency of Vitamin K?

Answer: From what Ann Louise Gittleman states in one of her books on detoxing, Vitamin K is produced in the small intestines. If one had a compromised intestinal flora due possibly to parasites and/or candida, then it makes sense that one would not be able to produce Vitamin K. I've also read that the B Vitamins are responsible for producing strong stomach acid and a lack of adequate stomach acid can allow parasites, and bacteria to grow.

Question: how can you cure candidiasis in the mouth? I was diagnosed having fungal infection in my mouth called "candidiasis" this june 8, 2008 after my canker sore was healed.perhaps i think, it was the antibiotic that i was taking that compromise the candida to over-growth which means it must have caused to bring imbalance in flora.

Answer: You should call your doctor and ask for Diflucan, it works great!

Question: can vaginal candidiasis be transmitted to a male? if i have vaginal candidiasis, will this affect my partner? or is it possible that he is the carrier and he just infected me? i am very worried about this! i don't want him to be infected because of me! i have no idea how to tell him about this! help me!

Answer: Candidiasis is better known as a "yeast infection" and occurs when the pH levels of your vagina (or penis) go a little bit whacko, causing yest to grow a little out of control. In all honesty, your body is covered in a small amount of yeast, and it's healthy for it to be there. But when it gets out of control in those certain areas, it can cause itching, burning, redness, that disgusting odor, and white discharge. There are plenty of creams you can use to treat and get rid of the infections, and many are available over-the counter if not through prescription. Using yogurt also helps, since it has natural bacteria which combat yeast. I've also heard that honey helps, and it did help relieve the symptoms of a yeast infection I had early last year. Almost all women and many men do get yeast infections. They can be caused by douching, poor hygiene, and, yes, they can be "transmitted" through sex. It is not, however, and STD. It's just a very very common (and slightly unfortunate) female problem.

Question: Can a drug designed to cure Candidiasis if ingested by a healthy person, induce it's syptoms by antiibodies? In other words, can the drug create syptoms of Candidiasis by making the immune system produce antibodies which in turn induce syptoms?

Answer: Only if the 'drug' immunologically mimics Candida. I am not aware of any drug that mimics Candida in this manner.

Question: candidiasis? i was asked this question for a project: what is the pathogen of candidiasis? does this mean "a fungi" or "Candida albicans" what is a pathogen anyway? im so confused

Answer: Candida albicans is a pathogen The terms yeast and yeastlike are vernacular terms for unicellular fungal organisms that reproduce by budding. This is an inadequate definition, mainly because some yeasts reproduce by fission many yeasts can produce mycelium or pseudohyphae under some nutritional and environmental conditions, many filamentous fungi may exist in a unicellular yeast-like form that reproduce by budding The term "yeast" is of no taxonomic significance. It is useful only to describe a morphological form of a fungus. Most yeasts have affinities to Ascomycota, but a small percentage have affinities to Basidiomycota. In the strictest sense of the word there are no inherently pathogenic yeasts-- those associated with human or animal disease are incapable of producing infection in the normal healthy individual. Some alteration of the host's cellular defenses, physiology, or normal flora must take place before colonization, infection, and disease production can take place. Pathogenicity among yeasts is extremely variable-- the most virulent is Candida albicans. There are also other pathogenic Candida species, as well as pathogenic species of Cryptococcus (especially C. neoformans), Torulopsis, Trichosporon, and Rhodotorula. Most of these have airborne spores or conidia and can be isolated as contaminants from skin, sputum, feces or other clinical specimens. This can lead to confusion about which organism is actually the pathogen. Only a few species in a few genera have regularly been associated with production of disease in humans or animals. In compromised host there are many others that can be opportunists

Question: I am looking for personal experience with treating systemic candidiasis successfully. Thanks? I am very familiar with the topic and google-ing the words only seems to get you one advertisement after another. I am looking for personal first hand or perhaps close second hand information about trials/errors and successes. It seems unclear to me if its possible to tip the scales back to 'normal' after diet and supplemental intervention or is this a lifetime dis-balance?

Answer: First of all you have to be sure if you have systemic candidiaisis, remember the yeast normally is present in all individuals, when you say systemic candidiasis it means you have developped signs and symptoms of the infection involving multiple organ systems which only occurs in old age, stress out individuals, immunocompromised individuals and after long tern antibiotic treatment. The treatment usually involves treating with systemic antifungals which can have side effects so you'll need a doctor for that and treating the cause like improving nutrition, avoiding antibiotics if not needed, managing HIV if you have one, improving stress coping if stressed out etc. Bottom line if you dont have the signs and symptoms don't worry about it, you probably dont have the condition to start with.

Question: Can you recommend a good book for dealing with Candidiasis? I want a book with a good treatment plan, & a book with suitable recipes.

Answer: Through the years I have bought tons of books on Candidiasis, and the one I will blindly recommend as the best is "Who Killed Candida?", by Vicki Glassburn: ISBN 9780945383284. It is an excellent manual, full of no non-sense and practical suggestions, and it approaches the disease addressing the root, and not the branches. It provides you both a rational natural treatment plan with manageable and functional recipes. Good luck! :)

Question: Can having sex with someone cause Tinea and candidiasis? Can having sex with someone cause Tinea and candidiasis?

Answer: Both tinea and candidiasis are caused by a fungus. Normally, our body resistance is capable of resisting the effects of these organisms. Having sex with someone that has tinea of candidiasis will not transfer the disease provided that the body resistance is normal.

Question: How bad can candidiasis be? I caught candidiasis from my ex 4 months ago, the doc gave me 1 diflucan pill and canesten (clotrimazol) to put on my glans for 1 week. I did as he said and all the symptoms went away. 2 months ago I started having moderate chest/lung pain which made me go to the hospital several times, diagnosed with anxiety disorder that would go away with some prozac. I also did a x-ray and an ecg which accused nothing. I've also have shortness of breath, headaches, congested nose and the described chest/lung pain stills here. Today, i noticed that horrible red spots that i had from candidiasis 4 months ago were in my glans again, and i figured that maybe my treatment wasn't so successful after all because there was still some redness after i ended the treatment. I also performed fellatio on the girl that got me candidiasis. Is it possible that candidiasis is the responsible for my chest pain and the other symptoms? If so what shall i do? Can it spread from the genitals to other organs? Thanks!

Answer: You can get a systemic yeast infection. This can be seen in chronic fatigue sufferers also. Your partner needs to be treated for yeast also. Diflucan is a powerful anti-fungal but yeast is also hard to kill completely. There is a probiotic called Three Lac ( buy on-line) that will help kill the yeast infection. Start with one packet and work up to 2 packets a day. Don't take any probiotics at the same time as your anti-fungal medication. I suggest removing yeast from your diet and lowering the amount of sugar also. You can find yeast-free -bread at the whole foods market. Doing this will help starve the yeast.

Question: How do I get rid of a skin rash caused by yeast (Candidiasis)? Argh! I've never had this before and am at the end of my rope! I have a rash on my neck caused by yeast. My dermatologist is having me treat it with diet, supplements (acidophilous, garlic, zinc), and topical clotrimazole. It's working, but s-l-o-w-l-y. It's been over a month, and most of it is gone, but is seems to have almost stopped clearing- there are the same remaining bumps and brown spots where the bumps have cleared. Is there ANYTHING I can do to get over this last "hump"? I've been gently exfoliating and using a salicylic acid antibacterial cleanser, I was told it was safe to use. Anyone? I've searched the web for days and can only find stuff on how to cure diaper rash (almost all of which I've tried), not adults.

Answer: When I was a child, I had yeast infections that became red and raw in my belly button, behind my ears and in my knees and elbows. The creams the doctor gave us did not work for very long. My grandmother took all the processed sugar out of my diet (UGH!) and after bathing, she would douse me in cider vinegar -- the kind from the healthfood store -- the stuff with the "mother" in it. She made sure to get it into the yeast rash spots. OMG -- it hurt!! Makes my eyes water to think of it, but within week or so, all the rash spots cleared up. For a few years I had to keep on with the vinegar, or the yeast would come back, but eventually it pretty much went away. I don't have any lingering scars from it. A few years ago, I had an episode of the same rash in my belly button again. I didn't have time to go to the health food store and chase down the special vinegar -- so I just used generic cider vinegar right out of the bottle from my cupboard -- the same thing I use on salad. It went away in a few days, but I kept splashing on the vinegar after my showers as a deterent. Once it dries on your skin, there is no smell. Also -- if you are putting it behind your ears you invariably get some in your hair, that's fine, it helps rinse out soap suds. Which reminds me, Gram had me stop using bar soap. In general, I am an itchy person with allergy prone skin. When I am having any kind of rash, I stop using bar soap (the things that help the bar keep it's shape are harsh on skin) Currently, I use Cetaphil a non soap water rinsable cleanser. YMMV, but I often head off trouble with Tea Tree Essential Oil and/or Lavender Essential Oil. Just a drop of either one in your neck and face washing water may help. Tea Tree is anti-fungal. It is also a little harsh smelling, so I use it together with Lavender. Lavender helps heal burns and cuts without scarring, perhaps it will do the same for your rash. Get the rash under control, and then worry about the brown spots left behind by the rash. Until the yeast is under control, battling the spots will be a losing battle. Maybe they will go away on their own, but don't freak out if they don't. When you are ready to start fading the brown spots -- don't use a product with hydroquinone in it, don't use it even if your doctor prescribes it. Google "hydroquinone dangers" to see for yourself. Don't use HQ. There are lots of safe natural ways to lighten spots and fade scars. I have been using the Skin Lightening Report to fade rash scars with good results. You can find this at http://ladyh68.clarion8.hop.clickbank.ne… I think the garlic and zinc are a fine idea. Garlic is good for just about everything, remember to macerate the garlic well, the more you crush it, the more allicin it will release. If you think you can bear it, cut out the sugar -- I mean ALL the sugar, in your diet. Gram really believed in the sugar-yeast connection, and I've seen nothing to disprove it. Good luck with your rash. -- oh -- if it is itchy, bathe in oatmeal -- just regular oatmeal. Put a cup of it in an old sock, and let the sock hang in the water as you fill the tub with warm water. Use the oatmeal sock to rub oatmeal juice all over you, concentrating on the itchy spots. Pat yourself dry with a clean soft towel. Oatmeal baths can be done over a sink, too -- same procedure, just hang over the sink while you douse yourself. The person above is mentioning "gentian violet" -- yes, I have heard of that as a yeast cure. BTW, Gentian violet is an ingredient in angostura bitters. I do believe that I have heard it stains, but it is very gentle, gentle enough for babies. Ask your doctor, it's an old fashioned remedy, but some docs will go for things like that. I hope you feel better soon!