Gut health and Candida;

is yeast overgrowth your problem?

ANTIBIOTICS, ANTIDEPRESSANTS, BRAIN FOG, CANDIDA, ECZEMA, FATIGUE, FUNGAL INFECTION, HOMEOPATHY, IBS, INFERTILITY, LONG TERM ILLNESS, MEDICATION, YEAST INFECTION

What is candida overgrowth and how can you recognise it?

Firstly, it is important to understand exactly what Candida is. Candida is one of the many groups of fungus which inhabit the human body and is essential to the healthy balance of microbiomes within our system. This genus of yeast usually lives in the warm, moist conditions of mucous membranes such as the mouth, intestines, colon and vaginal tract in small amounts, neither harmful nor beneficial, and not enough to cause any problems when in balance with other yeasts. Reportedly, by the age of six months, Candida lives in in and on most of us and is essentially a parasite. Candida is opportunistic; where the host’s environment becomes unbalanced and acidic to the point that the good bacteria diminishes, the Candida yeasts multiply quickly and easily, wreaking havoc upon the host’s system. How this happens exactly is only understood to a certain extent, and although many of us will cope with the yeast living parasitically, some of us are susceptible to the change.

How does the candida yeast healthily exist in our system and what triggers the change to the fungal form?

Candida exists in two states: as the normal yeast form it exists only in our digestive tract. However, if the environment becomes more acidic thus providing the substance it needs to proliferate (namely sugar) the yeast multiplies and becomes an invasive fungal form. It produces mycelia, the intertwined threads commonly seen on fungi which penetrate the lining of the digestive tract, pushing out filaments to gain access to the bloodstream, from which the term ‘leaky gut’ is generated as this is often the first organ to manifest the symptoms of this fungal overgrowth.

So, how does this overgrowth manifest? Many of the symptoms are general and interchangeable with other conditions so it may be unclear for some time as to the root cause of the disease experienced by the patient.

It may be that symptoms have developed gradually over time, one by one, and by the suppression of each one, others rear up in its place. The patient’s health will be reduced to such a low level but, due to the period of time that has elapsed, and the subsequent suppression of symptoms, the patient may now wrongly surmise that all of his other previous symptoms have resolved and that this new symptom is again, entirely unrelated.

As mentioned earlier, the candida overgrowth primarily takes hold in the digestive tract, resulting in waste product of the fungus permeating through the intestinal wall and into the blood stream. Once this intestinal wall becomes so blocked by the waste products, our essential nutrients and minerals are prevented from passing into the blood stream; therefore, developing into a systemic problem for the host. Our gut health is a delicately balanced eco-system and where the candida proliferates, the beneficial bacteria that are so essential to maintaining this balance, such as Lactobacillus Acidophilus, are unable to maintain the correct pH level in the large intestine which would have prevented the fungal form of candida from being able to grow out of control in the first place.

Common digestive symptoms which may be triggered by candida overgrowth include:

Ø Leaky Gut Syndrome: intestinal membrane is unable to efficiently control what passes into the blood stream; essential nutrients are unable to pass through whereas waste products from the mycelia of Candida are able to pass through instead of being eliminated via the digestive tract; contributing to:

Ø Constipation and/or diarrhoea, often alternating.

Ø Bloating, belching and flatulence

Ø Nausea

Ø Abdominal pain

Ø Indigestion and heartburn

Are you craving sugary foods which make you feel worse?

Ø Food sensitivities or intolerances which develop and/or increase; particularly to foods containing yeasts and sugar (natural or refined). Food cravings for sugar, bread products and alcoholic beverages with a tendency to become shaky or irritable with hunger. Sugar feeds the fungal form of candida therefore the body will naturally crave sugars in order to sustain the yeast; this vicious cycle is often a good indicator of Candida overgrowth.

Such symptoms are often diagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but frequently not associated with yeast overgrowth; often patients are told to address such factors as stress or diet solely. IBS is a commonly recognised condition but health sites on the internet tend to consider it a gastrointestinal disorder that needs to be ‘managed’, often with no reliable options for treatment offered or suggestions addressing the problems at the root of the condition.

Symptoms of candida overgrowth within our body

Candida overgrowth symptoms may be considered as ‘localised’ or ‘systemic’, although for the homeopath, this classification is irrelevant as any ‘dis-ease’ is seen as something that affects the whole individual; mentally, emotionally and physically. When we are to consider this fundamental difference between the allopathic (conventional) approach of treating symptoms as local or systemic, versus the holistic philosophy of homeopathy, it is immediately apparent as to why mainstream medicine find it so difficult to acknowledge and the trail of seemingly unrelated illness.

The list below is comprehensive, but by no means exclusive of other local and systemic complaints, in addition to gastric disturbances, associated with candidiasis.

Ø Skin – eczema or similar skin rashes: chronic, itching with skin that cracks and weeps. May respond initially to topical steroid creams but this is usually short term and symptoms recur frequently and with more severity or become more widespread through the body. Athlete’s Foot, ringworm.

Ø Vaginal thrush – burning, itching or discharge commonly known as thrush, repeated occurrences. Often just this symptom along with a gastrointestinal complaint such as diarrhoea are the only two conditions which are widely associated (by the public and the medical profession) as the adverse effect of antibiotics. As the fungal growth spreads within the body, many of the symptoms that follow or precede are not associated and considered to be completely independent of each other. At this point the fungal overgrowth has become more systemic and aggravated further by suppression of abdominal upsets through conventional medication, or topical treatment of external thrush symptoms.

Ø Menstrual irregularities – PMT, heavy periods, cramps and non-specific symptoms which are often difficult to diagnose as any one particular condition. Difficulties in conceiving, or suspected endometriosis.

Ø Fatigue – without a known cause; drowsiness which does not improve with sleeping; a sense of feeling ‘drained’ throughout the day.

Ø Heart palpitations – may aggravate following consumption of particular foods, for example sugary foods or those containing yeasts and alcohol.

Feeling fatigued without understanding the cause?

Ø Brain fog – feeling spaced out, inability to concentrate or make decisions. A feeling of being ‘drunk’ due to the fermentation occurring with the body. Poor memory or feelings of unreality.

Ø ENT symptoms – chronic nasal congestion, itching or post-nasal drip. Sensation of sinusitis, without fever. Dry mouth/throat. Oral thrush - white patches in mouth (curd-like) accompanied by a bad taste in the mouth. Halitosis. Chronically blocked ears or deafness, to which no cause may be attributed. Fluid in ears or recurrent ear infections. Dizziness/vertigo. Sensitivity to perfumes, chemicals and tobacco smoke. Allergic reactions to moulds, animal hair and dust or hayfever.

Ø Muscles/joints – muscle aches and weakness. Arthritic type pains in joints. Numbness, burning and tingling.

It is important to note that many symptoms of candida overgrowth are rather general and non-specific; however, Candidiasis (the fungal infection of Candida) could be considered particularly when several of the symptoms occur together and where no other root cause has been identified. From a homeopathic point of view, the symptoms are are often worse for damp weather, or when the environment is high in mould or fungus levels. In addition, as mentioned with regards to IBS, any other local or systemic conditions are also likely to be aggravated by eating foods which are rich in sugars or fungi. Thrush, either oral or genital, is associated with many other diseases and can reflect a generally poor level of health as a result of the heavy toxic carried.

Do these symptoms ring bells with you?

Do you find that you’ve been experiencing these symptoms for a while, without any real resolution or diagnosis?

Do you have a history of repeated antibiotics, antidepressants or use of the contraceptive pill?

Contact me to find out more at melissa@bransgore-homeopathy.co.uk or book your free 30 minute consultation with me to find out if homeopathy is the way forward to a better, happier and healthier you.

Fungal infection, antidepressants, antibiotics, leaky gut, gastric symptoms, skin rashes, thrush, muscle aches, fatigue, premenstrual symptoms, period pain, hormonal imbalance, sugar cravings, women's reproductive health, flatulence, gut health, candida albicans, Infertility, palpitations, brain fog, sinusitis, blocked ears, allergies, sensitivities, food intolerances, sensitivity to mould, pet hair, hay fever

Feb 4 Gut health and Candida; could yeast overgrowth be your problem?