My apologies for such a long off-topic post, but I've seen several
posts here about Candida, and I thought it would be useful for this
information to be in the list archives.

At 0:57 +1000 7/3/1999, Mary wrote:

>I am trying to find NATURAL ways to combat candidiasis.

My experience suggests it's really, really hard to get rid of candidiasis
without resorting to prescription drugs. My SO and I have been through this.

She was taking (at various times) grapefruit seed extract, hydrogen
peroxide, Pau d'Arco and Caprylic Acid. She took lots of probiotics.
We never managed to find a source for olive leaf extract or MSM, both of
which are rumored to be very effective.

When treating candidiasis, the things you eliminate from your diet are
as important as the things you add. As the yeast thrives on even the
smallest amount of carbohydrate, you need to strictly adhere to an
extremely low-carb diet. After about six months on the diet and taking
natural remedies, my SO had seen an improvement in the candidiasis, but
there was still a long way to go.

We had a number of concerns about the length of time it was taking to cure
the problem. The diet was difficult to adhere to, and it was impacting on
our lifestyle (i.e. no eating out). We had some concerns about the health
effects of staying on such a low-carb diet for an extended period (which
I've since learned more about, and this fear was probably unfounded). The
biggest concern was that the yeast was probably continuing to damage the
intestine, and in order to halt this damage we decided to try to eliminate
the yeast as quickly as possible. We bombed the yeast with Diflucan and
followed up with 4 weeks on Nystatin (Lamisil is preferred, but it is
extremely expensive here).

She's now back to eating a 'normal' low-carb diet, the chronic fatigue has
cleared up, the bloating is much improved, although the damage done to the
gut will take a while to heal, and the yeast infections are under control.


>I'd like to find something like garlic, with similar properties,
>antimicrobial, which does not irritate the GI tract, and which is not
>full of sulfur like garlic.

It may actually be the sulfur in the garlic that makes it so effective
against the Candida! MSM is another sulfur-based compound that is
supposed to be a very effective treatment.

Here's a post from YEAST-L in which Mark from Seattle lists many ways of
treating candidiasis (including a range of natural remedies). YEAST-L is a
really good support list for candidiasis, although they tend to drift into
some pretty dubious treatments at times. If you're not on that list, I
recommend subscribing.

Also check out Don's excellent Candida Page: http://www.panix.com/~candida/

One more problem with candidiasis is that there are a whole lot of diseases
that present similar symptoms. It's worth doing tests for the other
diseases before launching into a candidiasis treatment.

Yours sincerely,
Richard Archer.


Date:         Fri, 4 Dec 1998 13:43:10 -0800
From:         Mark Thompson <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: Questions about Candidiasis
To:           [log in to unmask]

Mark's List 10/8/98

An introduction to the treatment of yeast overgrowth.  The list is incomplete.
It is beyond its scope to explore areas of controversy.  Many can add to the
list; few can detract.

1. Antifungals - Pick one or two at a time.  If you can't take the recommended
dosage, take as much as your immune system can tolerate.  Be aware that they
don't all work the same way.  Some people have needed to experiment.

Drink 8 glasses of water to flush away the dead yeast toxins.  Other ideas
exist to help reduce this "die-off" effect.  Further research would be helpful.

--Nystatin (Prescription only)
--Diflucan or Fluconazole (Prescription only) Do not take with
  erythromycins and some antihistamines.
  http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/flucon.htm
--Nizoral or Ketoconazole (Prescription only) Do not take with
  erythromycins and some antihistamines.
--Sporanax or Itraconazole (Prescription only) Do not take with
  erythromycins and some antihistamines.
--Lamisil or Terbinafine Hydrochloride, Allylamine class (Prescription only)

--Oil of Oregano
--Grapefruit seed extract
--peroxide therapy
  http://www.oxytherapy.com/ or
  http://www.familyhealthnews.com/
--Pau d'Arco
--Caprylic Acid
--SF722 or Undecylenic Acid - http://www.modernherbalist.com
--MSM - http://www.pennysaved.com/
--Garlic
--Colloidal silver
--Olive Leaf Extract - http://www.nutriscreen.com/olivex.htm
--SF722 - http://www.modernherbalist.com

2. Probiotics (non-prescription)
--Acidophilus
--Bifidus
--Saccharomyces Boulardii
--Betaine Hydrochloride (stomach acid supplement)
--Digestive Enzymes

3. Nutritional Suppliments
--Vit. A 25,000 I.U.
--L-Glutamine 0.5-2 g 2x/d
--Biotin 3-15 g
--CoEnzyme B6 (Pyridoxal 5' Phosphate?) 120-150 mg
--Chromium 200 mcg 3x/d
--Zinc 15-50 mg
--TMG http://lef.org/magazine/mag97/july97_cover2.html

4. Diet (in general)
Eat meat and low starch vegetables.  Eat no sugar, very little fruit, and low
amounts of complex carbohydrates such as grains.  Also you may be intolerant to
milk and foods containing yeast, or mold.

5. Top Books to get.  (Read a book!!)
--Optimal Wellness by Ralph Golan, M.D.
--The Yeast Connection and the Woman by William Crook, M.D.
--Back to Health: A Comprehensive Medical and Nutritional Yeast Control Program
  by Dennis W. Remington, M.D. and Barbara Higa Swasey, R.D
--The Complete Candida Yeast Guidebook by Jeanne Marie Martin with Zoltan Rona,
  M.D.,  Prima Publishing
--Enter the Zone by Barry Sears, Phd.
--Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness by Broda Barnes, M.D.
--The Cure For All Diseases by Hulda R.Clark,Phd.,ND.
--No More Allergies by Gary Null

6. Web-sites
-- http://www.healthy.net/LIBRARY/Books/Haas/medtreat/YEASTSYN.HTM
-- http://www.panix.com/~candida/
-- http://www.howdyneighbor.com/jbayliss
-- http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/6285/
-- http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Lagoon/7691/
-- http://www.mall-net.com/mcs/afung.html
-- http://www.cfs-recovery.org/
-- http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/spnt/de_frame.htm

7. To find a doctor

--http://www.acam.org/asp/AssocSearch.asp
--Naturopath or any professional nutritionist can refer you to a
  nutritionally-oriented AMA physician.
--Call the Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory at 1-800-522-4762 or email at
  www.gsdl.com   Ask them for a list of doctors in your area who specialize
  in yeast treatment.

8. Other labels for related conditions:
--Leaky Gut Syndrome (intestinal permeability) caused by either Celiac disease
  (gluten/wheat intolerence), Candida/Yeast, food allergies, too much aspirin
  or ibuprofen, certain antibiotics, excessive drinking, a compromised immune
  system or a parasitic infection.
  http://www.healthy.net/library/articles/galland/Leakygut.htm
--Irritable Bowel Syndrome http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/b43b2.htm
--Low Stomach Acid (hypochlorhydria)
--Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS)
--Fibromyalgia
--Mitral Valve Prolapse (see Health Oct 98 magazine article by Mary Roach)
--Adrenal Insufficiency or HPA axis problems
--Hypothyroidism
  http://thyroid.miningco.com/
  http://www.brodabarnes.org/
  http://www.serve.com/licorice/
  http://www.endocrineweb.com/
  http://www.personal.u-net.com/~my4tune/itg.htm
  http://wellweb.com/altern/diseases/thyroid.htm
  http://www.glandcentral.com/home/
--Wilson's Syndrome  http://www.wilsonsyndrome.com/
  http://www.mall-net.com/mcs/coldbody.html
--Lyme Disease