Also indexed as: Candida Albicans, Candidiasis, Yeast
Syndrome
Chronic candidiasis can be hard to spot, as its symptoms are the
same as those of a number of other health issues. According to research or other evidence, the
following self-care steps may help get candidiasis under control:
- Eat foods low in refined carbs and sugars
- White flour, refined sugars, and fruit juices may help yeast grow
in the intestine, so cut them out of your diet
- Try some beneficial bacteria
- Take a probiotic supplement that contains 10 billion
colony-forming units a day of acidophilus or bifidobacteria to control yeast in the
intestine
- Check out antifungal supplements
- To reduce yeast in the intestine, try caprylic acid (1,500 mg a
day), supplemental garlic (5,000 mcg a day of allicin potential in an enteric-coated
supplement), or oregano oil (0.2 to 0.4 ml a day of a coated supplement)
- Avoid eating foods like bread and cheese, which contain yeast
and mold
- Eliminating these types of foods may reduce possible reactions due
to sensitivities
- Get a healthcare provider’s opinion
- Tests can help you make sure your symptoms are not the result of
another health problem
These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not intended to replace
the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Continue reading the full chronic candidiasis article
for more in-depth, fully-referenced information on medicines, vitamins, herbs, and dietary and
lifestyle changes that may be helpful.
About chronic candidiasis
An overgrowth in the gastrointestinal tract of the usually benign yeast (or fungus)
Candida albicans has been suggested as the origin of a complex medical syndrome called
chronic candidiasis, or yeast syndrome.1 2
Purported symptoms of chronic candidiasis are fatigue, allergies, immune system malfunction, depression, chemical sensitivities, and digestive
disturbances.3 4 Conventional medical authorities do acknowledge the
existence of a chronic Candida infection that affects the whole body and is sometimes called
“chronic disseminated candidiasis.“5 However, this universally accepted
disease is both uncommon, and decidedly more narrow in scope, than the so-called Yeast
Syndrome—a condition believed by some to be quite common, particularly in people with a
history of long-term antibiotic use. The term
“chronic candidiasis” as used in this article refers to the as yet unproven Yeast
Syndrome.
Product ratings for chronic
candidiasis
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms attributed to chronic candidiasis include abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea,
gas, bloating, belching, indigestion, heartburn, recurrent vaginal yeast infections, nasal congestion, sinus problems, bad breath skin rashes, allergies, chemical sensitivities, rectal itching,
muscle aches, cold hands and feet, fatigue,
depression, irritability, difficulty concentrating, headaches, and dizziness.
Medical options
Chronic candidiasis is not a conventionally recognized medical condition, so no
prescription drug treatment is standard. Treatment of chronic disseminated candidiasis usually
consists of oral antifungal medications, such
as nystatin (Mycostatin®), ketoconazole (Nizoral®), fluconazole (Diflucan®), and itraconazole (Sporanox®).
Dietary changes that may be helpful
Based on their clinical experience and on very preliminary research, several doctors have
suggested that certain dietary factors may promote the overgrowth of Candida
albicans. The most important of these factors are high intakes of sugar,
milk, and other dairy products; foods with
a high content of yeast or mold (e.g., alcoholic beverages, cheeses,
dried fruits, and peanuts); and foods to
which individual patients are allergic.
However, few clinical trials have investigated whether these dietary factors affect people
with conditions for which Candida is the causative agent.
One study compared levels of various sugars in urine of healthy women with levels found in
women with chronic vaginal Candida infections.6 Urine sugar levels correlated with
dietary intakes of sugar, dairy, and artificial
sweeteners. Among women who reduced their intake of sugar, 90% reported no vaginal yeast
infections during the following year. These researchers reported a “dramatic
reduction” in the incidence and severity of
vaginitis caused by Candida as a result of reducing intake of dairy, sugar, and artificial sweeteners.
Many apparently healthy people have some Candida in their gastrointestinal tract. In one
trial, high-sugar diets given to healthy people had mixed effects on the concentration of
Candida found in their stool, though some subjects did show an increase in Candida after
eating more sugar.7 These preliminary reports suggest, but do not prove, that diet
might affect the ability of Candida to infect the body.
Yogurt that contains Lactobacillus acidophilus has been reported to
have a therapeutic effect in women with vaginal infections caused by Candida.
Vitamins that may be helpful
Lactobacillus acidophilus products
are often used by people with candidiasis in an attempt to re-establish proper intestinal
flora. Acidophilus produces natural factors that prevent the overgrowth of the
yeast.8 9 Although there are no human trials, supplementation of
acidophilus to immune-deficient mice infected with C. albicans produced positive
effects on immune function and reduced the
number of Candida colonies.10 The typical amount of acidophilus taken as a
supplement is 1–10 billion live bacteria daily. Amounts exceeding this may induce mild
gastrointestinal disturbances, while smaller amounts may not be able to sufficiently colonize
the gastrointestinal tract.
Preliminary research from the 1940s and 1950s indicated that caprylic acid (a naturally
occurring fatty acid) was an effective
antifungal compound against Candida
infections of the intestines.11 12 Doctors sometimes recommend
amounts of 500 to 1,000 mg three times a day.
It is unknown if taking pancreatic enzymes
or betaine HCl (hydrochloric acid) tablets is
beneficial for chronic candidiasis. Nonetheless, some doctors recommend improving digestive
secretions with these agents. Hydrochloric-acid secretion from the stomach, pancreatic
enzymes, and bile all inhibit the overgrowth of Candida and prevent its penetration into the
absorptive surfaces of the small intestine.13 14 15 Decreased
secretion of any of these important digestive components can lead to overgrowth of Candida in
the gastrointestinal tract. Consult a physician for more information.
In theory, the use of any effective anti-yeast therapy could result in what is referred to
as the Herxheimer or “die-off” reaction.16 The effective killing of the
yeast organism can result in absorption of large quantities of yeast toxins, cell particles,
and antigens. The Herxheimer reaction refers to a worsening of symptoms as a result of this
die-off. Although this reaction has not been reported following use of any of the nutritional
or herbal anti-Candida agents, the likelihood of experiencing this reaction can be minimized
by starting any anti-yeast medications or nutritional supplements slowly, in lower amounts,
and gradually increasing the amounts over one month to achieve full therapeutic intake.
Are there any side effects or interactions?
Refer to the individual supplement for information about any side effects or interactions.
Herbs that may be helpful
Garlic has demonstrated significant
antifungal activity against C. albicans in both animal and test tube
studies.17 18 19 Greater anti-Candida activity has resulted
from exposing Candida to garlic, than to
nystatin—the most common prescription drug used to fight Candida.20 No
clinical studies of garlic in the treatment of candidiasis have yet been conducted. However,
some doctors suggest an intake equal to approximately one clove (4 grams) of fresh garlic per
day; this would equal consumption of a garlic tablet that provides a total allicin potential
of 4,000 to 5,000 mcg.
Volatile oils from oregano, thyme,
peppermint, tea tree, and rosemary have all demonstrated antifungal action in
test tube studies.21 A recent study compared the anti-Candida effect of oregano oil
to that of caprylic acid.22 The results indicated that oregano oil is over 100
times more potent than caprylic acid, against Candida. Since the volatile oils are quickly
absorbed and associated with inducing
heartburn, they must be taken in coated capsules, so they do not break down in the stomach
but instead are delivered to the small and large intestine. This process is known as
“enteric coating.” Some doctors recommend using 0.2 to 0.4 ml of enteric-coated
peppermint and/or oregano oil supplements three times per day 20 minutes before meals.
However, none of these volatile oils has been studied for their anti-Candida effect in
humans.
Berberine is an alkaloid found in various plants, including goldenseal, barberry,
Oregon grape, and goldthread. Berberine exhibits a broad spectrum of antibiotic activity in test-tube, animal, and human
studies.23 24 Berberine has shown effective antidiarrheal activity in a
number of diarrheal diseases,25 26 27 and it may offer the
same type of relief for the diarrhea seen in
patients with chronic candidiasis. Doctors familiar with the use of berberine-containing herbs
sometimes recommend taking 2 to 4 grams of the dried root (or bark) or 250 to 500 mg of an
herbal extract three times a day. While isolated berberine has been studied, none of these
herbs has been studied in humans with chronic candidiasis.
The fresh-pressed juice of Echinacea
purpurea has been shown to be helpful in preventing recurrence of vaginal yeast infections in a double-blind trial; it may have
similar benefit in Yeast Syndrome.28 The typical recommendation for this effect is
2 to 4 ml of fluid extract daily.
Are there any side effects or interactions?
Refer to the individual herb for information about any side effects or interactions.
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