Acidic/Alkaline environment to reduce candida

[Guest guest]

Dear Vaidyas,

 

There seems to be a controversy amongst the naturopaths and new age health

websites whether the environment inside the intestines should be acidic or

alkaline to kill candida. Some say that if you keep the environment acidic, they

are likely to die, whereas others support alkalinity for good health and even

for candida-control.

 

I wanted to seek Ayurvedic opinion on it. In general, I know that an alkaline

body is supposed to be better, but then unless the intestines are acidic enough

to make it difficult for the candida to live, how will they die? Every

anti-fungal medicine is supposed to create an acidic environment inside.

 

Please eradicate my confusion.

 

Thanks,

Matt

[Guest guest]

Not an Ayurvedic opinion - just an observation - that people tend to

overlook the fact that different areas of the body have a different pH to

serve different purposes - body alkalinity for optimal health and

elimination of cancer and other devastating condition means a slight

elevation in blood pH is preferable - whereas pH of urine should be acid -

alkaline condition here is one of the first signs of infection - it is a

very subtle balance throughout the body - usually alternating in the

digestive system anyway & beginning in the mouth with alkaline saliva.

 

Jane

[Guest guest]

>

> I wanted to seek Ayurvedic opinion on it. In general, I know that

an alkaline body is supposed to be better, but then unless the

intestines are acidic enough to make it difficult for the candida to

live, how will they die? Every anti-fungal medicine is supposed to

create an acidic environment inside.

>

______________________

 

 

Since one cant find Candida discussed in ayurvedic ancient texts, the

answer to your querry has to be arrived at by simple logic derived

from modern science observations and few simple experiences of

patients.

 

One site where candida resides permanentsly is vagina. The

exploration using pH strips tells that acidity here remains high

during the most of menstrual cycle. (pH is low). This keeps

opportunistic growth of candida in check. under improper pH, Candida

albicans will shift from yeast form to mycelial fungal form and start

to invade the body.

 

In the yeast state, Candida is a non-invasive, sugar-fermenting

organism, while in fungal state it is invasive and can produce

rhizoids, very long root-like structures. Rhizoids can penetrate

mucosa or vaginal/intestinal walls, leaving microscopic holes and

allowing toxins, undigested food particles and bacteria and yeast to

enter the bloodstream. This condition is known as Leaky Gut Syndrome

and that is an explanation for many food and environmental allergies.

 

Now higher acidity in the vaginal walls as well as urine kills any

infections and also sperms. Hence, when ovulation is about to occur,

the cervical mucous is intentionally made alkaline by the body, so

that sperms not only find less acidic environment, and this mucous is

nutritious for them. Once the ovum is fertilised or dies, the acidity

is restored automatically.

 

One way of restoring the balance when vaginal yeast occurs, the

herbalists and naturopaths recommend vaginal douches using diluted

vinegar, lemon, saline water, probiotics liquids, fresh crushed

garlic in yogurt, or pessaries of Lactobasilus organisms. This

makes the environment acidic, keeping check on candida overgrowth.

 

Thus candida can be kept in control by providing slightly acidic pH,

but excess acid causes burning, stinging, itching sensations.

Moreover, candida die-off anyway causes those sensations. Hence one

has to derive his patient-specific equilibrium, where he can

withstand die off recations and also cause sufficient control force

on candida in slow mode. starting from one pearl of garlic on empty

stomach one can increase the number slowly. Basil leaves juice,

ginger juice, mustard seeds, juice of raw turmeric, are ayurvedic

suggestions. Soaked methi(fenugreek) seeds, cinnamon tea are also

helpful. Psyllium husk, pectin rich fruits such as apple, papaya,

pineapple, pomegranates are useful to eliminate micotoxins from die-

off reactions. The elimianatory channels must be kept working well.

 

Drinking small quantity of Extra virgin olive oil or sesame oil at

breakfast and taking lemon water 2-3 times a day is also helpful to

check the growth of Candida. If availability is not an issue, 21

leaves of Tulsi, Bail and Neem, eaten on empty stomach will also help

to keep candida in check. lack of bitter taste in our diet and

excess blood sugar leads to the growth of parasites and yeast.

 

The root cause of many diseases is belived to be Candida. The list

includes Diabetes and Cancer too. One way of effective control on

Candida is through self urine. Self urine as well as cow urine are

acidic in healthy state. The pH of urine becomes alkaline when

infection occurs in urinal track.

 

This could be the reason why urine therapy helps in many diseases. In

vaginal yeast infection, diluted self urine douce is also reported to

be efective. Urine therapy is supported by several in west. e.g.

 

http://www.health-science-spirit.com/free-candida.htm

 

Dr Bhate

[Guest guest]

Interesting - so the urine pH urine test should come in more towards the acidic

side?  Do you know the numbers it should be  - 7.0 or ?- the strips don't

address this issue - treating urine and saliva the same - could you address this

a bit?  I have been told that alkalizing is key to warding disease and to test

the urine  - this does make sense though - how do you recommend testing for

proper pH levels?

Many thanks,

Michelle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not an Ayurvedic opinion - just an observation - that people tend to

overlook the fact that different areas of the body have a different pH to

serve different purposes - body alkalinity for optimal health and

elimination of cancer and other devastating condition means a slight

elevation in blood pH is preferable - whereas pH of urine should be acid -

alkaline condition here is one of the first signs of infection - it is a

very subtle balance throughout the body - usually alternating in the

digestive system anyway & beginning in the mouth with alkaline saliva.

 

Jane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

On those urine testing sticks you can buy at great expense from most

pharmacies there is a long list of different tests - which all indicate

different things - infection being indicated by a pH of anything over 7 -

i.e. higher than 7 should be classified as potential infection and 7, 6 & 5

being acceptable as normal - the other indicator for infection would be

positive for Nitrites - plain litmus paper will tell you acid or alkaline

but not the precise reading.

 

Jane

 

............................................................

 

Interesting - so the urine pH urine test should come in more towards the

acidic side? Do you know the numbers it should be - 7.0 or ?- the strips

don't address this issue - treating urine and saliva the same - could you

address this a bit? I have been told that alkalizing is key to warding

disease and to test the urine - this does make sense though - how do you

recommend testing for proper pH levels?

[Guest guest]

> so the urine pH urine test should come in more towards the acidic

side? Do you know the numbers it should be

 

The number should be close to 6.4 But author does not advise its

measurement daily. Take " fruits only " diet for 2-3 days and taste the

the first mid-stream urine in the morning. Remember this taste, rather

its acidic taste.

 

Compare it with daily teaste when you are in doubt. Allopathic medicines,

NSAIDS,

antibiotics give bitter taste in the urine since liver and kidneys

eliminate some parts of this medicines. This has been explained for a

layman in Iron rules of health series last year, please see archives.

The post titled " Unexplained Infertility - 3 " gives links to all 24

chapters of this book, at the end the post.

 

 

 

> the strips don't address this issue - treating urine and saliva the

same - could you address this a bit?

 

The measurement of pH requires an electronic conductivity/pH meter, a

calibrated probe and buffer solutions. The use of this requires skill

also. Cost may range between 5000 Rs to 7000 Rs (120 USD - 150 USD).

More than cost, maintaining the probe in best conditions is a head ache.

 

 

> I have been told that alkalizing is key to warding disease and to

test the urine - this does make sense though - how do you recommend

testing for proper pH levels?

 

Yes. As long as you do not take excess soft carbs, sugary sweets etc

which promote candida growth. Urine pH gives a good guidance to the diet,

especially for cancer patient.

 

If you have science background, patience, and can take care of the

fragile pH probe, you may buy a pH meter. Ayurveda uses the

characteristics of the saliva, urine and feces for diagnosis, though

modern vaidyas like to rely on modern reports. some of the simple

tests recommended by ayurveda (e.g. see Ashtang Hridya) on urine,

tongue, feces are easy for even patients to do. But interpretation

varies according to other tests also (pulse, face, skin etc).

 

Urine pH will become more alkaline (number will tend to reach 7) as

diet becomes less acidic or the one which produces less acid in the

stomach. similarly, as liver secrets more bile, urine pH tends to

become alkaline. This is a general guideline. In case of liver

disease, the picture could change. In contrast to allopathy, ayurveda

is a syntheis science not an analytical science.

 

Urine should have slightly salty, acidic taste when tasted first urine in the

morning. Later during the day, it should tend towards just plain water. If water

intake is less, the later urines may taste salty.

[Guest guest]

A good source of info on urine test is:

http://health./urinary-overview/urine-test/healthwise--hw6580.html

___________________

 

Interesting - so the urine pH urine test should come in more towards

the acidic side?

[Guest guest]

Urine testing strips will test urine pH from 4 - 9

 

as well as ketones, bilirubin, leucocytes, protein, SG, nitrites & glucose -

all on the one strip, here they are about $27 for 50 strips.

 

Jane