Do you suffer from: - fungal infections of the nails - an odourless cottage cheese like vaginal discharge - vaginal burning or itching - discomfort with sexual intercourse - itchy skin, rashes or acne - a weakened immune system or frequent colds - urinary irritation - fatigue or lethargy - bloating or other digestive disturbances - allergies or food sensitivities - depression, anxiety or mood swings - sugar and carbohydrate cravings I think I have Candida.
Of course you have Candida and it's perfectly normal.
Candida is a type of yeast which is found in a healthy gastrointestinal tract along with other bacteria.
For the most part, these microorganisms are completely harmless.
Thankfully, our immune system along with 'good' bacteria that reside within us keeps the Candida organisms under control.
Problems only arise when Candida overloads the body and there exists an overgrowth of the yeast.
When Candida gets out of control, it affects various parts of the system and may release toxins into the bloodstream causing uncomfortable symptoms, such as digestive discomfort, extreme tiredness, skin conditions, recurrent cystitis, diaper rash, oral thrush or vulvovaginal candidiasis.
For the purposes of this article, we will focus on a common condition women suffer from known as vulvovaginal candidiasis or vaginal yeast infections.
An estimated 75% of women will suffer from at least one vaginal yeast infection in their lifetime with symptoms varying from mild to severe.
1 If you answered yes to the symptoms listed and suspect that you have Candida overload or if you suffer from recurrent vaginal yeast infections, consult a health care professional rather than self prescribing an over-the-counter drug treatment.
One study assessed the ability of women to accurately self-diagnose vaginal yeast infections without the use of diagnostic tests such as potassium hydroxide or culture confirmation and two out of three women misdiagnosed their condition.
1 Why do I have an overgrowth of Candida? There are a number of reasons why your internal environment may be overloaded with Candida.
Chances are if you're on the birth control pill, have used antibiotics, have taken immunosuppressive drugs, suffer from high levels of stress or consume excessive amounts of refined carbohydrates or sugary treats, you're negatively affecting your intestinal flora and encouraging yeast to grow.
A Naturopathic Doctor's advice for resolving Candida.
Naturopathic medicine is based on the fundamental principle that the root cause of a condition must be addressed before the symptoms resolve.
Many vaginal yeast infection treatments available on the market give instant relief, which is what many people are looking for.
However, a relief of symptoms does not eliminate the root cause and is really only masking the underlying problem - which may be Candida overgrowth within your internal environment.
Since many over the counter treatments address only symptoms and leave the causes of vaginal yeast infections untreated, there exists a good chance that the vaginal yeast infection will return and the unpleasant symptoms associated with Candida will remain.
Conversely, as noted above, naturopathic medicine seeks to address underlying causes - identifying and treating the causes of a vaginal yeast infection will significantly increase the likelihood that it can be cured, not reoccur and alleviate other unpleasant symptoms which are yeast-related.
Consider the following.
Vaginal yeast infection symptoms are irritating and may be relieved with the one to three day drug treatments available in your local drug store.
These treatments work to suppress Candida albicans; however, other species of Candida exist and these drug treatments may be encouraging the growth of other types of yeast - non-albicans species, which are becoming increasingly more common.
1 In addition, individuals suffering from vaginal yeast infections should exercise caution when self-treating with pharmaceutical anti-fungals, as evidence suggests possible resistance to treatment down the road.
How can Naturopathic Medicine help Candida? A number of naturopathic treatments are available for Candida overload.
By completing a Candida questionnaire, your Naturopathic Doctor will assess whether your health concerns are related to yeast-overgrowth and will determine your treatment protocol.
Naturopathic medicine uses an individualized approach and your ND will first determine the root cause of your symptoms before offering treatment advice.
If your health concerns are shown to be yeast connected, be prepared to use a naturopathic anti-fungal preparation, implement proper hygiene and make some lifestyle changes - poor dietary choices feed Candida and ultimately cause or aggravate symptoms.
Naturopathic medicine treats Candida overload by starving the tiny microorganisms and through lifestyle changes also prevents the overgrowth of yeast from returning.
Your ND may also recommend using homemade garlic tampons and increasing your intake of all natural organic yogurt which has beneficial active strains of bacteria.
I already eat lots of yogurt and take probiotics, isn't that enough? Eating yogurt can help, but on its own, it's definitely not enough.
In fact, most of the yogurt found in your local grocery store, and possibly the yogurt you are consuming, isn't what is recommended.
If the yogurt you like is filled with sugar and fruit, you may be doing more harm than good.
yogurt is recommended for its helpful bacteria which assist in balancing the body's internal environment.
However, some studies have found that only half of all probiotic products actually have the healthy bacteria which is listed on their labels.
My recommendation is to read labels when choosing yogurt and purchase plain, organic yogurt with no sugar or fruit added.
Perhaps you're already familiar with the importance of helpful bacteria and have shopped for probiotics at your local health food store.
This task can be overwhelming and many probiotics available on the market are lacking the amount of healthy bacteria stated on the bottle.
Labels state the number of organisms at the time of manufacture; however, may not always reflect the amount still viable at the time of sale.
Exposure to moisture, heat and oxygen affect the survival of the healthy bacteria.
A Naturopathic Doctor that has experience in treating Candida overgrowth has the training and expertise required to assess the various factors that must be borne in mind when identifying and choosing natural health products that will form part of your treatment protocol.
Consult a licensed ND for information on treatment protocols, which probiotics are right for you and which suppliers are reputable and offer high grade products.
Think empowerment.
Candida can be cured...
Remember, if you are suffering from any of the symptoms mentioned or suffer from recurrent vaginal yeast infections, the health of your immune system needs to be addressed and you should be screened by a health care professional for Candida overgrowth.
Immune boosting advice has recently made headlines; such as "Echinacea can prevent a cold" but really what has the greatest affect on the strength of your immune system is in the foods that you eat.
Your Naturopathic Doctor can provide you with dietary suggestions to re-balance, replenish, and re-start your system.
If you're tired of your symptoms which may be the result of too much Candida, it's time to make some lifestyle changes.
Increase your intake of fresh vegetables and garlic, reduce stress, say goodbye to sugar in all its forms, exercise regularly, practice good hygiene, detoxify this Spring and maintain a healthy lifestyle to restore optimal health and prevent future Candida overload.
Wellness begins and ends with you.
1.
Hudson, T.
Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine.
Keats Publishing, 1999;278.
Of course you have Candida and it's perfectly normal.
Candida is a type of yeast which is found in a healthy gastrointestinal tract along with other bacteria.
For the most part, these microorganisms are completely harmless.
Thankfully, our immune system along with 'good' bacteria that reside within us keeps the Candida organisms under control.
Problems only arise when Candida overloads the body and there exists an overgrowth of the yeast.
When Candida gets out of control, it affects various parts of the system and may release toxins into the bloodstream causing uncomfortable symptoms, such as digestive discomfort, extreme tiredness, skin conditions, recurrent cystitis, diaper rash, oral thrush or vulvovaginal candidiasis.
For the purposes of this article, we will focus on a common condition women suffer from known as vulvovaginal candidiasis or vaginal yeast infections.
An estimated 75% of women will suffer from at least one vaginal yeast infection in their lifetime with symptoms varying from mild to severe.
1 If you answered yes to the symptoms listed and suspect that you have Candida overload or if you suffer from recurrent vaginal yeast infections, consult a health care professional rather than self prescribing an over-the-counter drug treatment.
One study assessed the ability of women to accurately self-diagnose vaginal yeast infections without the use of diagnostic tests such as potassium hydroxide or culture confirmation and two out of three women misdiagnosed their condition.
1 Why do I have an overgrowth of Candida? There are a number of reasons why your internal environment may be overloaded with Candida.
Chances are if you're on the birth control pill, have used antibiotics, have taken immunosuppressive drugs, suffer from high levels of stress or consume excessive amounts of refined carbohydrates or sugary treats, you're negatively affecting your intestinal flora and encouraging yeast to grow.
A Naturopathic Doctor's advice for resolving Candida.
Naturopathic medicine is based on the fundamental principle that the root cause of a condition must be addressed before the symptoms resolve.
Many vaginal yeast infection treatments available on the market give instant relief, which is what many people are looking for.
However, a relief of symptoms does not eliminate the root cause and is really only masking the underlying problem - which may be Candida overgrowth within your internal environment.
Since many over the counter treatments address only symptoms and leave the causes of vaginal yeast infections untreated, there exists a good chance that the vaginal yeast infection will return and the unpleasant symptoms associated with Candida will remain.
Conversely, as noted above, naturopathic medicine seeks to address underlying causes - identifying and treating the causes of a vaginal yeast infection will significantly increase the likelihood that it can be cured, not reoccur and alleviate other unpleasant symptoms which are yeast-related.
Consider the following.
Vaginal yeast infection symptoms are irritating and may be relieved with the one to three day drug treatments available in your local drug store.
These treatments work to suppress Candida albicans; however, other species of Candida exist and these drug treatments may be encouraging the growth of other types of yeast - non-albicans species, which are becoming increasingly more common.
1 In addition, individuals suffering from vaginal yeast infections should exercise caution when self-treating with pharmaceutical anti-fungals, as evidence suggests possible resistance to treatment down the road.
How can Naturopathic Medicine help Candida? A number of naturopathic treatments are available for Candida overload.
By completing a Candida questionnaire, your Naturopathic Doctor will assess whether your health concerns are related to yeast-overgrowth and will determine your treatment protocol.
Naturopathic medicine uses an individualized approach and your ND will first determine the root cause of your symptoms before offering treatment advice.
If your health concerns are shown to be yeast connected, be prepared to use a naturopathic anti-fungal preparation, implement proper hygiene and make some lifestyle changes - poor dietary choices feed Candida and ultimately cause or aggravate symptoms.
Naturopathic medicine treats Candida overload by starving the tiny microorganisms and through lifestyle changes also prevents the overgrowth of yeast from returning.
Your ND may also recommend using homemade garlic tampons and increasing your intake of all natural organic yogurt which has beneficial active strains of bacteria.
I already eat lots of yogurt and take probiotics, isn't that enough? Eating yogurt can help, but on its own, it's definitely not enough.
In fact, most of the yogurt found in your local grocery store, and possibly the yogurt you are consuming, isn't what is recommended.
If the yogurt you like is filled with sugar and fruit, you may be doing more harm than good.
yogurt is recommended for its helpful bacteria which assist in balancing the body's internal environment.
However, some studies have found that only half of all probiotic products actually have the healthy bacteria which is listed on their labels.
My recommendation is to read labels when choosing yogurt and purchase plain, organic yogurt with no sugar or fruit added.
Perhaps you're already familiar with the importance of helpful bacteria and have shopped for probiotics at your local health food store.
This task can be overwhelming and many probiotics available on the market are lacking the amount of healthy bacteria stated on the bottle.
Labels state the number of organisms at the time of manufacture; however, may not always reflect the amount still viable at the time of sale.
Exposure to moisture, heat and oxygen affect the survival of the healthy bacteria.
A Naturopathic Doctor that has experience in treating Candida overgrowth has the training and expertise required to assess the various factors that must be borne in mind when identifying and choosing natural health products that will form part of your treatment protocol.
Consult a licensed ND for information on treatment protocols, which probiotics are right for you and which suppliers are reputable and offer high grade products.
Think empowerment.
Candida can be cured...
Remember, if you are suffering from any of the symptoms mentioned or suffer from recurrent vaginal yeast infections, the health of your immune system needs to be addressed and you should be screened by a health care professional for Candida overgrowth.
Immune boosting advice has recently made headlines; such as "Echinacea can prevent a cold" but really what has the greatest affect on the strength of your immune system is in the foods that you eat.
Your Naturopathic Doctor can provide you with dietary suggestions to re-balance, replenish, and re-start your system.
If you're tired of your symptoms which may be the result of too much Candida, it's time to make some lifestyle changes.
Increase your intake of fresh vegetables and garlic, reduce stress, say goodbye to sugar in all its forms, exercise regularly, practice good hygiene, detoxify this Spring and maintain a healthy lifestyle to restore optimal health and prevent future Candida overload.
Wellness begins and ends with you.
1.
Hudson, T.
Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine.
Keats Publishing, 1999;278.
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