Identifying Candida Symptoms

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Identifying Candida Symptoms

_http://www.holistichelp.net/candida.html_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/candida.html)

 

 

Candida is nearly an epidemic in our society and is responsible for many

of the chronic illness categories we see so frequently. Candida symptoms

are vast and all encompassing and can even incapacitate the individual.

 

Most people are unaware that it even exists, because most main stream

doctors are uneducated about its impact on our health. People suffering from

this condition often go from doctor to doctor for years and are usually told

they are a hypochondriac or that it is stress or a psychiatric problem,

before ever discovering the real culprit.

 

_Candida Albicans_ (http://www.holistichelp.net/candida-albicans.html) is

a yeast that occurs naturally in the human body. Normally it lives in

harmony with a variety of other microorganisms and actually performs a couple

important functions. The problem occurs when something upsets the balance

of bacteria in the body and this allows the yeast organism to proliferate

and take over all the healthy microorganisms.

 

It normally resides in the intestinal tract, mouth, throat and genitals,

however it can burrow holes in the intestinal tract, enter the blood stream

and then make it's way into any organ of the body. To make matters worse it

emits over 70 different toxins into the body. Some people may even become

allergic to the yeast itself.

 

Once this hardy organism proliferates in the body, it wrecks havock in

many ways and is the insitigator of many common maladies, conditions,

syndromes and illnesses in our population.

 

 

Some of the most frequent Candida symptoms are:

* abdominal gas

* headaches

* migraines

* excessive fatigue

* cravings for alcohol

* anxiety

* vaginitis

* rectal itching

* cravings for sweets

* inability to think clearly or concentrate

* hyperactivity

* mood swings

* diarrhea

* constipation

* hyperactivity

* itching

* acne

* eczema

* depression

* sinus inflammation

* pre-menstrual syndrome

* dizziness

* poor memory

* persistent cough

* earaches

* low sex drive

* muscle weakness

* irritability

* learning difficulties

* sensitivity to fragrances and/or other chemicals

* cognitive impairment

* thrush

* athletes foot

* sore throat

* indigestion

* acid reflux

* chronic pain

One of the most well known forms of yeast is the _vaginal yeast infection._

(http://www.holistichelp.net/vaginal-yeast-infection.html) However, it may

play a role in just about any _mental health_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/holistic-mental-health.html) condition or _chronic

illness_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/chronic-illness.html) you can think of. Yeast

overgrowth is

considered to be a leading contributor in _alcoholism_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/alcoholism.html) , anxiety disorders, asthma,

_irritable bowel

syndrome, _ (http://www.holistichelp.net/ibs.html) addisons disease, _mcs -

multiple chemical sensitivites_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/multiple-chemical-sensitivity.html) , crohns,

autism, _cfs - chronic fatigue syndrome_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/chronic-fatigue-syndrome.html) , leaky gut

syndrome,

pms, endometriosis,_fms - fibromyalgia syndrome,_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/fibromyalgia.html) prostatitis, attention deficit

disorder, multiple

sclerosis, asthma, _food allergies,_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/food-allergies.html) muscle and joint pain,

clinical depression, repeated urinary

tract infections, hormonal imbalances, _migraines,_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/migraine-headache.html) digestive disturbances,

_difficult menopause_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/menopause-symptoms.html) psoriasis, lupus,

_chronic pain,_ (http://www.holistichelp.net/chronic-pain.html) rheumatoid

arthritis and many more.

 

Men may like to read the _Candida symptoms in males_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/candida-symptoms-males.html)

_http://www.holistichelp.net/candida-symptoms-males.html_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/candida-symptoms-males.html) section for

additional

information about some of the unique aspects that apply to them, but be sure to

return back here for the majority of material is found here.

 

The brain is the organ that is most frequently affected by Candida

Symptoms, but it also has profound negative effects on these systems:

 

* digestive

* nervous

* cardiovascular

* respiratory

* reproductive

* urinary

* endocrine

* lymphatic

* musculoskeletal

Candida symptoms can vary from one person to another and often move back

and forth between systems within the same individual. One day you may

experience symptoms in the musculoskeletal system and the next day it could be

the digestive system ,etc.

 

Reducing Candida Symptoms

 

There are a variety of_ causes of candida,_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/candida-causes.html) but the two leading

contributors are a diet high in

sugar and refined foods and the overuse of antibiotics.

 

First and foremost you want to refrain from taking antibiotics unless it

is absolutely necessary. Try to find other healthy alternatives to

infections etc., but of course there may be times when it can’t be avoided.

If you

must take an antibiotic for some reason, you should always be sure to take

an acidophilus supplement during the course of the treatment. This will

help keep healthy bacteria present in your body.

 

Taking acidophilus on a daily basis is one of the best defenses against

yeast overgrowth and it promotes a healthy colon.

 

The second most important factor in reducing Candida symptoms is to follow

a _Candida diet._ (http://www.holistichelp.net/candida-diet.html) A diet

high in sugar is a haven for yeast. It's crucial to _eliminate sugars_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/sugar-addiction.html) and refined foods to

reduce overgrowth. Initially even fruits and high carbohydrate foods may need

to be eliminated and then reintroduced to the diet later as you get better.

Meat, eggs, vegetables and yogurt are what is best to stick with and small

amounts of whole, healthy carbohydrates such as brown rice or potatoes. If

you need some ideas on what to eat, you may enjoy the _Candida diet

recipes_ (http://www.holistichelp.net/candida-diet-recipes.html) page.

 

Most people with yeast overgrowth are also suffering from nutritional

deficiencies and correcting your deficiencies can help you in your battle over

Candida symptoms.

 

Some of the most effective and popular natural health approaches used in

the _treatment of Candida symptoms_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/candida-treatment.html) include oxygen based

products like food grade hydrogen

peroxide, caprylic acid, oregono oil, garlic, taheebo tea, grapefruit seed

extract and colloidal silver. Prescription medication like Nystatin, Diflucan

or

Nizoral may be obtained by a physican, but carry a few risks.

 

It is also essential to keep your home environment healthy and not-toxic.

Chemicals weaken the immune system and if the immune system is weak this

also allows the yeast to proliferate. So keeping your home chemical free by

using non-toxic and natural cleaning supplies, personal care products etc.

will help your body stay stronger.

 

A good holistic _Candida cleanse_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/candida-cleanse.html) is the most powerful way to

relieve symptoms and improve your

health.

 

Many people find the use of a good _colon cleanse_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/colon-cleansing.html) like enemas to be helpful in

eradicating or

reducing their symptoms. These can be either plain water, or mixed with

nystatin or acidophilus. Good _colon health_

(http://www.holistichelp.net/colon-health.html) is crucial for reducing yeast

overgrowth.

 

Nystatin is a prescription drug that can be obtained from a physician. It

is a non-toxic drug that is not absorbed into the blood stream and is very

helpful with yeast in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract. It can also

be used as a douche if you are experiencing vaginal itching from yeast.

 

There are many different treatment approaches and products on the market

today and this can be very confusing. To make things more difficult, not all

practitioners treating this condition have a well rounded picture of

what's needed for success. It's important that you have a thorough

understanding

of the complexities of Candida yourself and the most effective way to

approach treatment before trying any particular remedy. By randomly choosing

products without understanding the true nature of this beast it can actually

hinder your progress in eliminating yeast overgrowth.

 

During any treatment approach most people experience a temporary worsening

of symptoms called _die off._

(http://www.holistichelp.net/candida-die-off.html) This is a normal part of the

healing process, however it can be

overwhelming and steps should be taken to minimize the negative effects.

 

Do You Have Candida?

 

There are a variety of tests that practitioners use to diagnose yeast

overgrowth, that may include stool tests, blood tests, live blood cell tests,

etc., but the truth is that none of these tests are really reliable. They

may or may not detect an infection of Candidiasis.

 

The simple most effective way to know if you have a yeast problem is by

your symptoms. The very best and most accurate test is the written

questionnaire that you can find in Dr. Crook's book called " The Yeast

Syndrome. "

 

Another very effective and affordable test is called the " spit test. "

Here's how you do it:

 

As soon as you wake up in the morning before you put anything in your

mouth, get a glass of water in a clear glass that you can see through. Don't

use tap water.

 

Collect saliva in your mouth with your tongue and spit it into the glass.

 

Now keep an eye on your saliva in the glass for the next 15 minutes and

observe what it does.

 

If you see any of the following, then it indicates the presence of yeast

colonies:

 

* Your saliva stays at the top and you see thin strands that look

like strings or spider legs extending downward.

* Your saliva floats to the bottom and looks cloudy.

* Your saliva is suspended in mid-air and looks like little specs

are floating.

See the picture below for guidance

 

 

 

 

 

Candida is really an insidious, tricky yeast and once you have overgrowth

it can be extremely difficult to get under control. It takes a lot of

patience, education and persistence. I know this all to well, as I have faced

this struggle myself for many years.

 

There are several excellent books listed at the bottom of this page to

guide you along your way and even if you don’t have a Candida problem these

books are excellent pieces of education on the growing incidence of this

devastating, yet rarely acknowledged syndrome.

 

It's also best to find an alternative health doctor who has a complete and

thorough understanding of Candida symptoms and its impact on health to

guide you if you are just beginning to learn'

 

Recommended Books

 

Highly recommended.

*The Missing Diagnosis (Orion Truss, M.D.)

 

The Yeast Syndrome (Trowbridge,M.D. and Walker)

The Yeast Connection (William Crook)