Candidiasis
Candidiasis, often called candida or a yeast infection, is so common that the medications prescribed by traditional medical practitioners are advertised regularly on primetime television. Although women commonly get these infections in the vaginal area, the drugs prescribed to "take care of" them do nothing to root out the problem at its source in the digestive tract. In fact, any woman with a history of even one yeast infection that was treated with a topical cream rather than a natural remedy or medication most likely still has the fungal infection in her body. And, surprise, contrary to popular opinion, men can be full of fungus, too.

Many of today’s doctors do not recognize a fungal infection like candida because the condition can mimic a lot of different syndromes and conditions. Candida symptoms can include chronic fatigue, body aches, headaches, allergies, loss of balance, sugar cravings, poor memory and depression. One major problem with the failure to correctly diagnose fungal infections is that many doctors will prescribe over-the-counter pain medications to alleviate the symptoms, but these drugs only exacerbate the problem, and can lead to leaky gut syndrome.  Over time, these common pain medications cause inflammation in the intestinal wall, allowing ingested food particles to enter the blood stream and putting the body’s immune response mechanisms into hyperdrive. Between the body using up its energy to fight the yeast and the food particles ingested, the person becomes exhausted and can develop chronic flu-like symptoms.

The Natural Medicine Approach to Candidiasis
Mold, yeast and fungus are everywhere, including on the food we eat and in the air we breathe, so it’s no surprise that many people suffer from the body aches and chronic fatigue associated with fungal infections. Numerous factors encourage the growth of these organisms in the body.  

Rather than treating the symptoms of this condition — which, as we’ve read, can lead to a host of other chronic pains and problems — or treating the infection with topical creams, natural medicine specialists focus on accurate diagnosis and implementing natural treatments to rid the body of the infection.

How Candidiasis Is Identified
If you think you have candida, natural medicine specialists will perform both a blood and a stool test. If the tests are negative but the symptoms are still present, you may be tested for a mold allergy or another type of fungal infection.

It’s important to note that many people who are diagnosed with candida also have a triad of other conditions, called Syndrome H. These conditions include hypoglycemia, hypoadrenal function and hypoimmunity (low immune system function).

How Candidiasis Can Be Treated Naturally
Because yeast infections derive from ingested substances, we know they take root in the intestines. The yeast burrows through the intestinal wall and into the blood stream (another form of leaky gut syndrome), which is how the infection is able to manifest in other mucus membranes in the body.

Since candida feeds on sugar and simple carbohydrates, people with this condition often have very strong cravings for sugar and carbohydrates. The first step to eliminating candida is to limit the "food source" for the fungus (i.e. cutting back significantly on sugars and carbohydrates in the diet).

If you are interested in more information about the natural medicine treatment for candidiasis or to schedule an appointment with one of our natural medicine specialists, please contact Caring Medical at 708-848-7789 or reply to this newsletter.