Eliminating Chronic Systemic Candidiasis.
What is Candida?
Candida is yeast that is considered part of the normal flora of the alimentary canal and is also, commonly found in the genitourinary system. By six months of age, 90% of infants test positive for Candida and almost all adults test positive. Candida is an opportunistic organism and exists in a competitive environment with other organisms to control its growth. This equilibrium in the gut and genitourinary tract can be disrupted by changes in the pH, high levels of simple sugars, hormone imbalance, antibiotic exposure that alters the make-up and quantity of the flora constituents and suppression of the immune system by toxins and drugs such as steroids. If this happens, overgrowth of Candida can occur and this organism can burrow through the walls of the intestine, enter the bloodstream and make its way throughout the body.
A predisposed host is one who is on broad spectrum antibiotics, immunosuppressive drugs, parenteral nutrition (feeding a patient through IV) and central venous catheters. There are no pathognomonic signs or symptoms (Horn DL et al. 2009). The clinical clues are fever of unknown origin or signs of severe sepsis while on antibiotics, and multiple, non-tender, nodular erythematous cutaneous lesions. The evaluation of new antifungal agents and the precise role of prophylactic therapy are needed. (Singhi S. 2009, Perltroth J, et al 2007)
Eliminating Chronic Systemic Candidiasis: How is Candida Diagnosed?
Due to the increasing presence of Candida, diagnostic testing is of little help. There are a variety of tests that practitioners use to diagnose yeast overgrowth, that may include stool tests, blood tests, live blood cell tests, dark field microscopy etc., but none of these tests are reliable. They may or may not detect an infection of Candidiasis. (Pappas PG 2004)
Therefore, practitioners often diagnose and individuals often self-diagnose a list of common symptoms associated with the gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems, immune, endocrine and the neurological system, including mental and emotional symptoms.
Symptoms of Candida
May include: thrush, indigestion, acid reflux, abdominal gas and bloating, diarrhea, constipation, rectal itching, vaginitis, headaches, migraines, excessive fatigue, inability to think clearly or concentrate (brain fog), poor memory, hyperactivity, mood swings cravings for alcohol or sweets, anxiety, depression, irritability, dizziness, itching, acne, eczema, athlete’s foot, sinus inflammation, persistent cough, sore throat, earache, premenstrual syndrome, low sex drive, muscle weakness, sensitivity to fragrances and/or other chemicals and chronic pain. (Crook W 1983, 2005) This wide-ranging list is significant and indicative of the toxicity associated with Candida.
Eliminating Chronic Systemic Candidiasis
A successful treatment strategy includes killing the organism and correcting the underlying causes for Candida overgrowth and dissemination. Pharmaceutical antifungals agents can be grouped into three classes based on their site of action: azoles which inhibit the synthesis of ergosterol, a major constituent of the fungal cell membrane, are considered fungistatic; polyenes also interact with ergosterol and cause membrane leakage resulting in cell death and 5-fluorocytosine inhibits protein synthesis.
Nystatin is a polyene, oral anti-fungal used primarily for the treatment of oral candidiasis. It is not absorbed out of the gut and has few mild gastrointestinal side effects. Amphotericin B is a fungicidal polyene administered intravenously, which commonly can cause serious multi-organ damage and result in death. It is not frequently used since the development of the azole class of agents. This class has less side effects, ranging from mild nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, headache, dizziness and skin rash to severe blistering, bruising, jaundice and seizures. Side-effects for 5-fluorocytosine include bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal, liver, kidney and central nervous system toxicity. Efficacy and safety issues and development of resistance limits the usefulness of all of these agents.
Historically, non-pharmaceutical approaches to killing or limiting the growth of Candida have not been well-researched. Thai and Ignacio (2005) demonstrated that grape seed extract had comparable fungistatic activity to Miconazole in suppressing Candida growth. They found that tea tree oil, probiotic supernatant and garlic showed no decrease in growth rates of Candida.
The average person in the US has between 400-800 potentially toxic, immunosuppressive, carcinogenic, endocrine-disrupting, and gene-damaging chemicals stored his cells and is therefore at risk for candidiasis. Mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, pesticides, insecticides, dioxins, furans, phthalates, VOCs, and PCBs are just some of the foreign substances that have created an excessive toxic body burden of harmful chemicals.
Of all the toxins, mercury is the most destructive to the neurological, immune and endocrine systems. It is a deadly mutagen causing DNA damage. Mercury contributes to or causes many illnesses including autism, autoimmune diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, cancers, heart disease, endocrine problems, and neurological and behavioral disorders. Murray and Kidby (1975) demonstrated that Mercury is incorporated into the cell wall of yeast. This is the key to the toxic effects of candidiasis and the basis of the Herxheimer reaction. Mercury being released from dying cells is extremely toxic to surrounding tissues. The list of symptoms associated with candidiasis is the same list of symptoms associated with mercury toxicity. It is impossible to cure candida overgrowth without removing the toxic burden of mercury.
Prior to the discovery of antibiotics, health practitioners used colloidal silver to safely and effectively treat infections. In 1914 the medical journal Lancet reported phenomenal results from silver use stating it to be absolutely harmless, non-toxic to humans, and highly germicidal. In 1929, over 5 million prescriptions for silver-based products were issued in the United States alone. In fact, colloidal silver has been proven useful against all species of fungi, parasites, bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. Even to this day, properly formulated colloidal silver is still one of the most effective, safe, antimicrobials known to man with no risk of resistance developing. It is key to the elimination of candidiasis. But it is also essential to eliminate the toxicity problem from die off as toxins are released back into the bloodstream as the yeast is eliminated.
There are many chelating agents available in today’s healthcare world but many have drawbacks that make them undesirable to treat an already compromised system. Perhaps the least problematic is Zeolite, a non-toxic, readily available chelating agent that binds the released heavy metals and transports them out of the body via the kidneys. Multiple trials with Zeolite have shown it to be effective and essentially harmless. In multiple trials patients showed an increase in urinary mercury while using Zeolite even though pre chelator urinalysis was negative for heavy metals.
The above protocol, the use of quality colloidal silver combined with Zeolite, is enhanced with the simultaneous application of Neuro Modulation Technique to correct the information state of the mind-body that previously did not recognize and respond to the candidiasis or the toxic state of the body. By increasing awareness of the other than conscious mind as to the presence of the yeast, it’s toxins, and the heavy metals and other toxins, a more effective elimination and detox is achieved. This combination is only available, to my knowledge, at Integrated Wellness in Bountiful, UT.