Herbal Treatment for Candidiasis

Herbal treatment of candidiasis

Many naturopaths believe that a common yeast can be the cause of a wide range of problems, from chronic fatigue to joint pains or PMS. They claim that thousands of patients have had their health transformed by appropriate treatment killing it off

Candida albicans is a normal coloniser of human digestive systems and usually exists in small clusters which cause no problems. It's believed however, that under certain circumstances it can grow out of control, and become invasive. This most commonly happens after the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, which are known to dramatically alter the normal bacterial flora of the digestive system and kill off many of the normal protective bacteria that should live in our large intestines. Yeasts and fungi such as Candida are unaffected by the antibiotics and are able to proliferate in the place of the dead bacteria. Other possible causes of an unhealthy bowel flora include steroid drugs, the contraceptive pill, consumption of meat from animals reared using antibiotics, and diets high in refined cereals and sugars.

What does Candida do?

The effects of Candida are many and varied. It produces at least 79 known toxins. These can alter the balance of certain chemicals in the brain, resulting in mental and emotional disturbances such as depression or anxiety. They can also destabilise the immune system and disturb metabolic processes in the body, leading to symptoms such as headaches, muscle or joint problems, fatigue and food intolerance. Candida alters hormonal balance and may cause PMS, irregular periods or infertility in some women. In the colon, Candida may cause indigestion, wind, bloating or even IBS type symptoms. Candida may also become overgrown in other parts of the body, causing persistent athlete's foot, vaginal thrush, eczema and sore throats.
How do you treat this problem?

A professional herbalist or naturopath will be able to assess whether Candida is causing any discomfort, and suggest a suitable treatment plan for you. If embarking on self-treatment, try reading of one or more of the books listed at the end of this article to widen your knowledge of the subject, as a fairly strict regime must be followed for good results.

Firstly, you need to kill off the excess Candida. This is achieved by starving them of their favourite nutrients - refined sugar and carbohydrates. Unfortunately, the fructose in fruit and the lactose in milk are also used by Candida as a food source, so these should also be avoided. You need a strict diet free of any refined cereals or any form of sugar. Other banned foods are yeast in any form, including bread; vinegar; alcohol; cheese and mushrooms. Such a strict diet is not healthy in the long-term and as the Candida is eradicated, you should gradually return to a more varied diet.

In the early stages of this treatment, antifungal agents may be used to ensure eradication of the Candida. Caprylic acid, a fatty acid that occurs naturally in breastmilk and coconut oil, is one of the most useful. The herb calendula is also an effective antifungal agent. Garlic supplementation will also suppress Candida albicans. Other useful herbs for more difficult cases include barberry bark and thuja. As some of these may also inhibit growth of some of the friendly bacteria, they should be discontinued after six to eight weeks.

At this point, you may experience an apparent worsening of symptoms -- the so-called "die-off". This is caused by a temporary increase in toxins freed by the Candida as they are destroyed. Although this is infact an encouraging sign, it can be demoralising if it seems to be getting worse. Persevere and it will soon improve.

As the Candida is gradually destroyed, the last part of the treatment becomes increasingly important - reseeding the gut with friendly bacteria using "probiotics". A combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacteria bifidum seems to be the most effective, preferably in a milk-free base to avoid lactose. Live yoghurt contains other helpful bacteria, and so may also be added to your diet, provided there is no milk allergy.

Whether the underlying theory is proven or not, strict adherence to anti-yeast regimes have certainly helped a large number of people with a very wide range of problems. Perhaps it could be the answer for you.

References: Candidiasis by Erica White; Candida albicans Leon Chaitow; The Yeast Connection by William Crook.
About the author

Medical herbalist Robyn James BA(Oxon) MNIMH runs a busy practice in Sheffield, as well as providing ThinkNatural with her expertise and experience on all herbal matters.