How to beat Candida naturally

CANDIDA - IS IT EATING ME ALIVE?

Cutting edge article by: Dr George Georgiou
Founder of the Da Vinci Clinic

What Is It?
Every person lives in a virtual sea of microorganisms, (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.). These microbes can reside in the throat, mouth, nose, intestinal tract, almost anywhere; they are as much a part of our bodies as the food we eat. Usually, these microorganisms do not cause illness, unless our resistance becomes lowered.

Candida albicans is a yeast that lives in the mouth, throat, intestines and genitourinary tract of most humans
and is usually considered to be a normal part of the bowel flora (the organisms that coexist with us in our lower digestive tract). It is actually a member of a broader classification of organisms known as fungi.

How Do You Get It?
Candida albicans prefers people. Candida enters newborn infants during or shortly after birth. Usually,
the growth of the yeast is kept in check by the infant immune system and thus produces no overt symptoms. But, should the immune response weaken, the condition known as oral thrush can occur as a result. By six months of age, 90% of all babies test positive for Candida . And by adulthood, virtually all humans play host to Candida albicans and are thus engaged in a life-long relationship.
Candida coexists in our bodies with many species of bacteria in a competitive balance. Other bacteria act in part to keep Candida growth in check in our body ecology, unless that balance is upset. When health is present, the immune system keeps Candida proliferation under control; but when immune response is weakened, Candida growth can proceed unhindered. It is an "opportunistic organism," one which, when given the opportunity, will attempt to colonize all bodily tissues. The uncontrolled growth of Candida is known as Candida overgrowth or Candidiasis.
Unfortunately, there are many factors in our modern society that can upset the ecological balance of the body, weaken the immune system and thus allow the yeast to overgrow. Of these, the major risk factors, which may predispose one to the proliferation of Candida, are:

1. STEROID HORMONES, IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT DRUGS such as cortisone which treat severe allergic problems by paralyzing the immune system's ability to react
1. PREGNANCY, MULTIPLE PREGNANCIES or BIRTH CONTROL PILLS which upset the body's hormonal balance
3. DIETS HIGH IN CARBOHYDRATE AND SUGAR INTAKE, YEAST AND YEAST PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS MOLDS AND FERMENTED FOODS
4. PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL MOLDS
5. ANTIBIOTICS and SULFA DRUGS Probably the chief culprit of all, antibiotics kill all bacteria . They do not distinguish good bacteria from bad.

Antibiotics kill the "good" flora which normally keeps the Candida under control. This allows for the unchecked growth of Candida in the intestinal tract. It is normally difficult to recover a yeast culture from bodily surfaces. However, after 48 hours of taking tetracycline, yeast can be cultured easily from anyone. The prevalence today of Candida may be most directly related to the widespread societal exposure to antibiotics - from prescriptions for colds, infections, acne, and from additional consumption of antibiotic-treated foods such as meats, dairy, poultry and eggs. Notably, antibiotics do not kill viruses; they only destroy bacteria. Yet, they are universally prescribed for all colds, flus and other viral problems. Such indiscriminate and extensive use of antibiotics is not only considered a primary cause of Candida overgrowth, but is recently being found to be responsible for the unbridaled development of "killer bacteria."

The rapid and direct proliferation of the yeast following antibiotic use strongly suggests that the problem of Candida is one which stems from an inner state of imbalance, rather than from an outside attack by a microbe or disease. This is a very important point to understand if one wishes to get rid of an overgrowth problem, suggesting that Candida is not so much a problem as is the body's own failure to control it!

A SERIOUS PROBLEM?
Once begun, if not recognized and treated appropriately, Candida overgrowth can result in a self-perpetuating, negative cycle. Large numbers of yeast germs can weaken the immune system, which normally protects the body from harmful invaders. Even though Candida is part of the ecological balance in the body since birth, it is still recognized by the immune system as a foreign body that needs to be controlled. So, when overgrowth occurs, a chronic stimulation to the immune system results -- every second, every minute, every hour, every day, every month, every year -- in an attempt by the immune system to regain control. In time, it is believed that this can exhaust the immune system, predisposing one to more serious degenerative processes. Many believe chronic drains on the immune system such as Candida and parasites can play a direct role in the development of cancer and AIDS. Seen in this light, Candida overgrowth should not be taken lightly.

The immune system may concurrently be also adversely affected by poor nutrition, heavy exposure to molds in the air, as well as an increasing number of chemicals in our food, water and air, including petrochemicals, formaldehyde, perfumes, cleaning fluids, insecticides, tobacco and other indoor and outdoor pollutants. Over 10,000 chemicals have been added to our food supplies alone that were not there just 100 years ago! We do not have the genetic recognition of these substances as foods or as useful additions to our bodies.

Resulting lowered resistance may not only cause an overall sense of ill health, but also may allow for the development of respiratory, digestive and other systemic symptoms. One may also become predisposed to developing sensitivities to foods and chemicals in the environment. Such "allergies" may in turn cause the membranes of the nose, throat, ear, bladder and intestinal tract to swell and develop infection.

Such conditions may lead the physician to prescribe a "broad spectrum" antibiotic . . . which may then further promote the overgrowth of Candida and strengthen the existing negative chain of events, leading to further stress on the immune system and increased Candida-related problems.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF CANDIDA INFECTION?
The result of heightened Candida overgrowth is a list of adverse symptoms of considerable length. Basically, the characteristics of Candida overgrowth fall under three categories, those affecting:

1. The gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts
2. Allergic responses, and
3. Mental/emotional manifestations.

Initially the signs will show near the sights of the original yeast colonies. Most often the first signs are seen in conditions such as nasal congestion and discharge, nasal itching, blisters in the mouth, sore or dry throat, abdominal pain, belching, bloating, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, rectal burning or itching, vaginal discharge, vaginal itching or burning, increasingly worsening symptoms of PMS, prostatitis, impotence, frequent urination, burning on urination, bladder infections. But, if the immune system remains weak long enough, Candida can spread to all parts of the body causing an additional plethora of problems such as fatigue, drowsiness, uncoordination, lack of concentration, mood swings, dizziness, headaches, bad breath, coughing, wheezing, joint swelling, arthritis, failing vision, spots in front of the eyes, ear pain, deafness, burning or tearing eyes, muscle aches, depression, irritability, sweet cravings, increasing food and chemical sensitivities, numbness and tingling, cold hands and feet, asthma, hay fever, multiple allergies, hives and rashes, eczema, psoriasis, chronic fungal infections like athlete's foot, ringworm and fingernail/ toenail infections.
In addition, 79 different toxic products are released by Candida, which in itself places a considerable burden on the immune system. These get into the bloodstream and travel to all parts of the body where they may give rise to a host of adverse symptoms.
In Candida overgrowth, the yeast colonies can dig deep into intestinal walls, damaging the bowel wall in their colonization.
Candida can also attack the immune system, causing suppressor cell disease, in which the immune system produces antibodies to everything at the slightest provocation, resulting in extreme sensitivities.

Finally, Candida overgrowth can be dangerous if not controlled. The persistent, constant challenge to the immune system by an ever-increasing, long-term overgrowth of Candida can eventually serve to wear down the immune system and cause a seriously weakened capacity for resistance to disease.

Women are more likely to get Candida overgrowth than are men. This is related to the female sex hormone progesterone which is elevated in the last half of the menstrual cycle. Progesterone increases the amount of glycogen (animal starch, easily converted to sugar) in the vaginal tissues which provide an ideal growth medium for Candida. Progesterone levels also elevate during pregnancy. Men are affected less frequently but are by no means invulnerable.

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT IT?
Currently, diagnosis is primarily clinical. Since almost everyone has Candida in their bodies, tests for its presence are useless; confirmation of overgrowth is very difficult through laboratory tests. And, since what it does is to paralyze the immune system against it, allergy tests to determine the system's reaction to it are also ineffectual.
Furthermore, the results of the yeast imbalance -- the combined effects of different hormones, poisons generated and released by the yeast into the bloodstream, and the confusion created in the immune system -- produces such a wide variety of symptoms and which are seemingly so unrelated (such as wheezing, depression and fungus infection under fingernails) that a definite diagnosis cannot be made from any specific pattern of signs and symptoms.

Conclusive laboratory tests have not yet been developed, even though there are a number of tests that can help in the diagnosis. The patient’s history and symptoms are usually the key to arriving at a diagnosis, and Dr. Crook’s Candida Questionnaire is extremely helpful as it enables the patient to score their symptoms and arrive at a number – anything above 180 for women, and 140 for men is highly significant and represents the majority of symptoms that relate to this condition. There are other testing procedures that I use in clinical practice, mainly bio-dermal screening using the VEGA Biodermal screening.

When an ampule of pathogenic Candida is placed in the honeycomb of the VEGA EXPERT and the probe placed on an acupoint of a finger, it is very clear when a patient “resists” as the conductivity drops. What I have also found time and time again in over 1,000 Candida patients that I have tested to date is that not only do they register positive on the VEGA to Candida, but also all other yeast families such as yeast, mushrooms, wine, beer as well as vinegar products that have all undergone fermentation. In fact, many times I stumble upon Candida while conducting food intolerance testing using the VEGA, and when finding that mushrooms and yeast come out positive, I immediately test for Candida, which most of the times is also positive. I personally find the VEGA a very useful diagnostic device that can answer a lot of questions that more traditional laboratory testing cannot.

Another method of testing for Candida is to use a form of Kinesiological muscle testing called AUTONOMIC RESPONSE TESTING.

CANDIDA TREATMENT PROTOCOL
The Candida Treatment Protocol, which my patients have named the G-Candida Protocol that I have used successfully for a number of years, has five basic objectives:
1. First, starve the Candida by eliminating the foods mentioned above that feed it.
2. Second, kill the Candida through the use of anti-Candida products mentioned below.
3. Repopulate the bowel flora with a high-potency probiotic such as Culturelle that contains 30 billion live bacteria and has been well researched in university trials.
4. Regulate the dysbiosis and convert the pathological, mycelial form of Candida back to the normal form by the use of Sanum remedies (see details below).
5. Restore biochemical balance to the body and strength to the immune system, which will allow the body once again to regain and maintain control over Candida growth by optimizing the diet – this would involve avoiding food intolerances and following the Metabolic Type Diet by Wolcott.

KILLING CANDIDA
I have found that it is literally impossible to treat Candida if one does not cut out ALL forms of sugar, and that includes fructose from fruit sources for a period of 3 months. The foods that should be strictly AVOIDED for a 3-month period include:

1. SUGAR – and all foods that contain sugar. These include white and brown sugar, honey, syrups, liquors, lactose, fructose, all confectionary and sweet cakes, chocolates, ice-creams, home-made sweets and cakes, biscuits, fizzy beverages, all fruit drinks.
2. YEAST – and all foods that contain yeast including breads, vinegar, ketchups, mayonnaise and pickles.
3. FRESH AND DRIED FRUIT – all fruit whether fresh, cooked, tinned or dried. These should be avoided for the initial SIX WEEKS ONLY – your health practitioner will advise you when to begin eating fruit again. Obviously this includes fresh fruit juices (vegetable juices are OK), as well as marmalades.
4. MUSHROOMS – all types, including Chinese mushrooms such as Shitake.
5. REFINED FOODS – all white flours, white rice, white pasta products, cornflour, custard and white cereal products, unless they are wholemeal or organic.
6. FERMENTED PRODUCTS – all alcoholic beverages, vinegar and all vinegar products such as ketchup, mayonnaise and pickles.
7. NUTS – all types of nuts that are cleaned and packaged without their shells – these have a tendency to collect fungal spores and moulds from the atmosphere which will antagonize the Candida. Nuts that are fresh with their shells are OK.

This successful treatment protocol has taken more than 10 years to develop during the concerted efforts of Dr. Georgiou, Ph.D.,ND.,DSc (AM) who tried to cure his own Candidiasis. This lead him into studying Natural Medicine with many practitioners around the world until he finally cured himself of chronic fatigue, ME, leaky gut syndrome, immune compromised and systemic Candidiasis using Natural Medicine.

Consequently, the Da Vinci Natural Health Centre in Larnaca, Cyprus - www.naturaltherapycenter.com - has successfully treated more than 1,000 cases of Systemic Candidiasis presenting with symptoms as diverse as chronic fatigue, ME, MS, severe eczema, chronic coughs and sore throats, recurring vaginal discharge and thrush, halitosis, polycystic ovaries, sterility and much more.