[Health For Judy and son.

January 10, 2007

You are a font of information, Jerry. Unfortunately my son will continue to eat those things he should not. He does say he takes the Probiotics I bought for him. I cannot monitor him. He is married and has a daughter. He is getting on the right track with his life at the moment, but is a constant worry for me. I will try to get him to take the extract and we will go from there.

thanks for your help.

Judy

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Wayne Anderson

Wednesday, January 10, 2007 1:27 PM

Re: Toenail Fungus: Tips For Treatment For Judy and son.

Hello Judy,It is unfortunate that your son has these problems. I hope that this information can help him. One of the first things that I do to help people improve their health is to muscle test to see what the cause of their problems are. Then I use kinesiology (muscle testing) to see what they need to do to eliminate them. In your son's case I would suspect that his immune system is compromised. I also suspect that his problems may be linked to non-organic foods; foods that are loaded with toxins such as pesticides, herbacides, fungicides, preservatives, artificial ingredients, gmo's, etc. Non-organic foods are linked to digestive problems, cancer, headaches, nerveous conditions, and the list goes on. I also agree that antibiotics have had a lot to do with his problems. They are toxic to the system and they distroy friendly bacteria in the gut such as lactobacillus acidophilus; bifidus, etc. This compromises the digestion, the immune system, vitamin metabolism, etc. I use home-made kefir and yogurt to re-establish these flora. Using homeopathic medicines, herbs, protein suppliments, digestive enzymes, etc., which can help your son, must be accompanied with an improved diet for maximum benefit. These changes will help a person eliminate intestinal fungal problems, and other problems. It takes more than just the use of grapefruit extract to help eliminate the problem. Keeping a healthy population of flora in the gut helps to keep out fungal, bacteial, and vial, pathogens. The best way to use grapefruit extract is with the guideance of a good health care provider but, if you do it on your own, make sure that you follow instructions carefully. In bad cases of candida, etc. I test for the amount that is needed, but you could use up to twenty drops of grapefruit seed extract to start with and then back it off by two drops every couple of days. With many people the fungus usually comes back until the system cleanses and the immunes system improves to a point where the body can keep pathogens out on its own. Using grapefruit seed extract can be risky if you are not sure that there is not a inflammatory condition of the intestinal system. You don't want to expose inflammed areas to acidic substances. I test to see if there is an inflammatory condition first and then if I find one, I use an anti-inflammatory herb such as comfrey root, slippery elm, golden seal, etc. to get it under control before I use the grape fruit extract If you know of any inflammatory conditions you should use comfrey root tea first for at least a few days and then use the grapefruit extract. Then use foods to re-establish the friendly bacteria in the gut.There are a couple different ways to use extract. I put it in gelatin capsules so you don't have to taste it. You need to drink plenty of water. This is a good way to do it if the person is not incompatible with gelatin protein. The other way is to just put it in water, stir and drink. You have to make sure that you use enough water so that the solution is not to strong. It tastes pretty nasty but, it is safe and effective when used properly. I have used this product to eliminate peridontal diseases, intestinal disease, skin diseases, parasites, etc. If you have anymore questions, I will be happy to help you.All the best to your son.Jerry Andersonbobjudy (AT) bellsouth (DOT) net wrote:

I am interested in the grape seed extract and candida. I believe my son has it from over antibiotic use several years ago. He has diarrhea quite often. He became lactose intolerant because of the treatment and has undergone some injections to nerves to eliminate stomach pain. He also has anxiety problems (panic attacks) which have plagued him for years. Any suggestions?

Judy

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Wayne Anderson

Tuesday, January 09, 2007 6:11 PM

Re: Toenail Fungus: Tips For Treatment

As a health professional, I have found that a solution of grapefruit seed extract and water eliminates fungal infections in the nails and feet. It is very safe and effective when used in the right strength. It should not be used in full strength.I also use it to deal with intestinal candida.Jerry Andersonkiran pari <kiran_pari_786 > wrote:

The medical term for toenail fungus is “onychomycosis,” pronounced on * EE * ko * my * ko * sis. Despite the commonly used term “fungal toenails”, onychomycosis describes both fungus and yeast infections in the nail. The prevalence in America is about 2-3%, but some have reported it as high as 13%. Even at a low estimate of 2%, this accounts for 6 million Americans with toenail fungus. Toenail fungus affects men twice as often as it affects women.

The prevalence among elderly individuals and diabetics is 25%. In the 1800s, fungal toenails were very rare. The increased prevalence is linked to the increased exposure to fungus through the use of showering facilities in gyms, the use of hot tubs, saunas and public pool areas. There is an increase in occlusive footwear, an increase in sporting activities, an increase in diabetes and increase in age of the general population.

The risk factors for developing toenail fungus are increasing age, male gender, nail trauma, sweaty feet, poor circulation, poor hygeine, foot fungus and a compromised immune system.

Athlete’s tend to have a higher rate of fungus infection than non-athletes. The moisture in the shoe combined with repeated nail trauma increases the chance of infection. Hikers, runners, backpackers, soccer, basketball and tennis players, athletes wearing loose fitting shoes that allow jamming of the nails against the shoe and any individual wearing shoes that toe tight are at risk for developing toenail fungus.

There are a number of treatments for onychomycosis. The most aggressive and effective way to treat the fungus is with oral anti-fungal medications. The most common oral anti-fungal medications are Itraconazole (Sporonox ®) and Terbinafine (Lamisil ®). Both medications can be quite expensive as they need to be taken once daily for 3 months. The effectiveness of the medications ranges from 60 to 80%, with a recurrence rate of 15%. Lamisil® appears to be more effective and has fewer drug interactions than Sporonox®.

With both medications there is a long list of benign side effects including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, rash, headache, taste disturbances and dizziness. Serious adverse events are very rare, less than 0.5%, but do include hepatitis and acute hepatic necrosis.

There are many other options besides oral anti-fungal medications. Unfortunately, they are not very effective. The most effective topical medication is Ciclopirox (Penlac ®) lacquer. Some studies have shown cure rates up to 60%, but in my experience the effectiveness is about 10-15%. Side effects occur in less than 2% of patients and include burning and redness around the nail.

This medication is only available by prescription and is also quite expensive. A few other prescription medications that help decrease the thickness of the fungal nails are Carmol® 40 and Keralac® Nail Gel. I would not expect to see complete cures with these products, but they can decrease the thickness and discoloration of the nail in some cases.

There are many home remedies and over the counter products that you can purchase. Some home remedies that can be used include bleach, tea tree oil, grapeseed extract, and Vics VapoRub®. With any home remedy or non-prescription topical, you must understand that the effectiveness of the treatment is fairly low, less than 10%. If you do try one of these therapies make sure to use it every day. Roughen up the nail surface with a file and apply the medication with a q-tip. Bleach can cause skin irritation and some individuals have had skin reactions to the Vics VapoRub®. In general these treatments are considered very safe.

Combination therapy can help increase the effectiveness of the treatment. If you choose to take an oral medication, make sure you use a topical anti-fungal agent as well. Nail removal is also an option. Once the nail is removed, the topicals can reach the nail bed and they become more effective. The nail will grow back in over a period of 8-10 months. Permanent nail removal is reserved for those with chronic ingrown nails, ulceration under the nails or pain from the fungal nails.

The best form of treatment is prevention and preventing the fungus from spreading to other toenails may be the best treatment option. I recommend choosing a topical that you feel comfortable with and use it once a week. No matter which treatment option you choose, you should take the following steps to avoid re-infection.

1. Make sure you rotate your shoes often and keep them in a cool dry place.

2. Change your insoles frequently, and make sure they dry out between use.

3. Place an anti-fungal powder or spray in the shoes to help fight off the fungus.

4. Bleach out the shower on a weekly basis and wash your shower mat regularly in hot water.

5. Make sure your athletic shoes fit well to prevent jamming at the toes. Jamming at the toes leads to microtrauma at the nails and increases the chance for fungal infection.

6. If you belong to a gym or health club, wear sandals in the locker room and don’t walk around barefoot.

7. Don’t keep your shoes in the gym locker where they cannot dry out.

8. If your feet sweat excessively, try using an antiperspirant spray on your feet before your workout.

9. Cut your toenails straight across. Don’t cut too short and cause breaks in the skin. This will increase the chance for fungal infection. Don’t let the toenails grow too long or they will jam against the shoe and cause bleeding under the nail, again increasing the chance for fungal infection.

The bottom line is that treating onychomycosis is very difficult. If you have fungal toenails that cause pressure, pain or infection, consider talking to your doctor about prescription medications or nail removal. Make sure you take precautions to prevent re-infection and take multiple approaches to eradicate the problem. If your fungal toenails are only unsightly and don’t cause any discomfort, try a weekly application of an over the counter topical along with methods to prevent re-infection.

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