The Canaries in the Coal Mine
by Don Eike
Certified Massage Therapist and Health Educator
Feeling anxious, depressed, or forgetful? Are you the one out of every two
Americans who suffers from sleep disorders? Are you often tired, weak, and
have trouble just getting through the day? Or do you suffer from headaches,=
allergies, or skin problems?
This isn't Lucy Ricardo's cue for Vitameatavegamin, but if you have one or
more of these symptoms, you may be one of millions of Americans suffering
from intestinal yeast overgrowth or candidiasis.
Candida albicans, commonly known as yeast, occurs naturally in the body, =
but
when it gets out of control, it can wreak havoc. Candida overgrowth =
produces
toxins that can affect organs, tissues, and cells in all parts of the =
body.
It can produce dozens of symptoms that can be difficult to diagnose and =
are
resistant to the usual medical treatments.
It is relatively simple to treat candidiasis, which usually requires that
you take medication for a period of time and change your diet, aided by
establishing an exercise and stress-reduction program. The problem is that
some members of the medical community have a very cavalier attitude toward
candidiasis, ranging from complete ignorance to ridicule, even labeling
those who advocate treatment as fanatics.
King Tut's Curse
Yeast and molds should not be taken lightly. In his book Candida, Dr. Luc =
De
Schepper reports that when British Egyptologist Hugh Evelyn-White and his
archeological team entered the tomb of King Tutankhamen in Egypt in 1924,
they soon succumbed to mysterious deaths and suicides. Their deaths were =
not
due to some ancient Egyptian curse, as Evelyn-White wrote shortly before =
he
hanged himself, but instead to allergic reactions to the deadly fungi that
lined the chamber walls. The fruits and vegetables placed in the tomb
thousands of years before to "feed" the pharaoh throughout eternity had
decayed over the centuries into toxic molds.
Candida is a fungus that is very similar to the yeasts that cause bread to
rise and fruit to ferment into wine. In fact, no one is sure what purpose =
it
serves, if any. We do know that it helps the body decompose after death, =
but
we don't want it to start doing its job while we're alive.
In a sense, there is a territorial war between candida and the friendly
bacteria being fought in our intestines. Candida (yeast) resides in the
digestive tract in a concentration of one candida cell to millions of
friendly bacteria. As long as the friendly bacteria are healthy, they keep
candida in check by taking up space and producing anticandida chemicals. =
It'
s only when the friendly bacteria are destroyed that yeast takes over and
causes trouble.
There are more than 400 species of friendly bacteria living in the small =
and
large intestines. The most prominent are lactobacillus (in the small
intestine) and bifidus (in the large intestine). These amazing "little
creatures" provide many health-enhancing services in return for a home. =
They
not only secrete antibiotics to aid the immune system in fighting disease,
they also produce anticarcinogenic and antitumor chemicals, as well as
assist in the prevention of skin problems, inflammation, osteoporosis,
arteriosclerosis, candidiasis, parasites, and salmonella.
Antibiotics Abuse
Many drugs and toxins can harm the friendly bacteria, but the most =
notorious
culprits are antibiotics, especially the broad-spectrum ones like
Ampicillin, Bactrim, Septra, and Keflex.
While these so-called miracle drugs have been a great boon in treating
bacterial infections, one of their side effects is that they destroy the
friendly bacteria. We have grossly abused antibiotics. To compound the
problem, we have also been ingesting antibiotics through our consumption =
of
commercial meat, poultry, and dairy products since the agricultural =
industry
began using them to "fatten the calf" in the 1960s. If we don't replace =
the
friendly bacteria with supplemental doses of lactobacillus and bifidus =
while
taking antibiotics, candida takes over and colonizes where the friendly
bacteria once resided. Then our health problems begin.
Since the friendly bacteria produce their own antibiotics to assist the
immune system in fighting disease, without them we become more susceptible
to viral and bacterial infections. This susceptibility often means that we
have to take more antibiotics, which causes further destruction of the
friendly bacteria and increased candida overgrowth. Eventually, our entire
immune system begins to spiral downward, with diminished ability to ward =
off
even the most innocuous cold.
Other drugs that can kill the friendly bacteria include cortisone, =
steroids
(asthma medication), chemotherapy, AZT and the other AIDS drugs, and birth
control pills. Pollution, gasoline, dry cleaning fluid, Xerox ink,
carcinogens, and emotional stress can also destroy the friendly bacteria.
Heredity plays a key role, too, and substance abuse-recreational/hard =
drugs,
alcohol, and tobacco-both kills the "friendlies" and can feed candida.
The other enemy in the yeast war is sugar. Yeast thrives on sugar, =
producing
alcohol and carbon dioxide gas in the process. For example, observe what
happens when you mix yeast and sugar in warm water: the yeast bubbles
wildly, almost exploding out of the bowl. This is essentially what happens
when we eat sugar.
Dr. Dennis Remington and Barbara Higa report in their book, Back to =
Health,
that the average American consumes 125 pounds of sugar a year. What
compounds this somewhat mind-boggling statistic is that a diet high in
refined foods deprives us of vitamins, minerals, and other essential
nutrients that support the friendly bacteria and help keep candida in =
check.
It's time to reclassify sugar, which is a chemical, not a food, as a drug;
it's addictive and alters consciousness (sugar highs).
The Symptoms
The symptoms of candidiasis are numerous, cover an extremely wide =
spectrum,
and can indicate other health problems as well. To complicate diagnosis,
tests for candidiasis tend to err on the side of false negatives.
One of the chief byproducts of candida is alcohol (ethanol). This may =
cause
the spaciness, foggy thinking, and forgetfulness that many candidiasis
patients experience: they're living with a chronic, low level of
intoxication.
So how do we and our health practitioners determine whether or not we have
an unhealthy level of candida? The following lists the potential causes of =
a
candida imbalance:
1) A course of antibiotics for eight weeks or longer or for a number of
shorter periods four or more times in one year;
2. Antibiotic treatment for acne for one month;
3. A course of cortisone, prednisone, or ACTH (steroid treatment);
4. The use of birth control pills for a year or more;
5. Treatment with immunosuppressive drugs (chemotherapy, AZT);
6. More than one pregnancy;
7. Chronic multiple infections (viral, bacterial, parasitical) such as =
those
that anyone with AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, or other immune disorders
may get; or
8. A diet high in sugar and refined foods.
Next are the symptoms, which can be both physical and emotional:
1. Skin infections (acne, rashes, psoriasis, excema, hives, boils, =
athlete's
foot);
2. Headaches, migraines, sinus trouble, sore throats;
3. Frequent upper respiratory tract infections, colds, post nasal drip, =
and
so on;
4. Recurrent bladder, prostate, vaginal infections;
5. Extreme and/or increasing sensitivity to chemical fumes, tobacco smoke,
perfumes;
6. Multiple allergic symptoms;
7. Asthma;
8. Arthritis;
9. Swollen or aching joints, muscle aches for no reason;
10. Abdominal bloating, distention, gas, diarrhea or constipation, anal
itching, hemorrhoids;
11. PMS;
12. Fatigue, lethargy, forgetfulness, foggy thinking, inability to
concentrate;
13. Depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, irritability, insomnia, mood =
swings,
low self-esteem;
14. Weight gain or loss; and
15. Cravings for sweets, alcohol, and bread.
That's quite a handful to sift through, but if you have several of these
symptoms and can check off at least one of the causes from the first list,
you might want to try a candidiasis treatment.
The Treatment
The treatment for candidiasis is relatively simple, although it does take
some discipline on your part as well as support from friends and family.
The most common prescription medications used to treat candidiasis are
Nystatin, Nizoral, and Diflucan. Since candida cells are almost identical =
to
human cells, the medications tend to kill off human cells in the process.
Candida cells also release toxins as they "die off."
These two side effects can make the first few weeks of antifungal therapy
physically and emotionally difficult and can even exacerbate the symptoms.
But hang in there; it gets better. Goat's milk is recommended during this
period to soften the often-accompanied edginess. The downtime required in
the healing process will vary depending on how long the candida has been
present and how pervasive it is. You can usually count on losing some
weight.
There are also several nonprescription yeast-killing products (antifungals)=
that are available over-the-counter at most health food stores. The most
effective is Capricin, but others include Caprinex, Caprystatin,
Kaprycidin-A, Candistat, Tanalbit, Cantrol, Garlic, Pau d'Arco, and
Mycocidin.
The primary foods to avoid are sugar and yeast. Substitute honey and maple
syrup sparingly for sugar. Replace yeasted bread with Spelt bread and Wasa
crackers. Read the labels on everything because most processed foods have
sugar in them.
There are a number of other foods to avoid when treating candidiasis:
anything fermented or moldy, like cheese, alcohol, vinegar, and soy sauce;
mushrooms; bottled fruit juice; or anything that sits in jars that can get
moldy, like nut butters, canned fruit, tomatoes, and preserves. Avoid
refined grains and caffeine.
A diet high in fresh, cooked vegetables, especially leafy greens, which =
are
alkaline and balance the acidosis of candidiasis, is highly recommended.
(Doctors have found abundant candida in stomach ulcer craters.) Any meat,
eggs, poultry, or dairy products should be organic and antibiotic-free. =
Fish
and lamb are raised without antibiotics or hormones and are a safe bet if
you eat out. If something is labeled free range, it's most likely
antibiotic-free. Beans are a good alternate source of protein, especially =
if
you're vegetarian.
Antifungal supplements include garlic, grapefruit seed extract, and extra
virgin olive oil. Always use cold-pressed oils and avoid hydrogenated oils
(margarine).
A daily supplement of probiotics-lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus-is
essential, especially while you're taking antifungal medication. Otherwise,=
the candida dies off, and because there's no friendly bacteria to take its
place, it grows back. In their book Probiotics, Leon Chaitow and Natasha
Trenev recommend Natren's Megadophillus powder in a ratio of 1/8 teaspoon =
of
bifidus to 1/2 teaspoon of lactobacillus. Acidophilus is especially
important if you have to take antibiotics. It's also important to exercise
and participate in some type of meditation or stress-reduction program
daily. Candida doesn't like exercise or sunshine. Although this regimen =
may
seem overwhelming at first, take it one step at a time. The improved =
quality
of life is definitely worth it.
Candidiasis as an Iatrogenic Illness
The medical community usually classifies candidiasis as an opportunistic
infection, but that's highly misleading. Keeping candida in balance is a
function of the friendly bacteria, not the immune system. While the immune
system and the friendly bacteria work together, the immune system itself =
can
't control candidiasis once there is an overgrowth. In most immune
disorders, the candidiasis is not the result of a depressed immune system
but a major cause.
Candidiasis is not an opportunistic infection; it's an iatrogenic illness,
meaning that it's caused by medical intervention, in this case, antibiotics=
and other drugs. (Candidiasis can also be considered an allergic condition
when certain foods contribute to it.) Because candidiasis is iatrogenic, =
the
first step to correcting it is to remove the causes. Thus, candidiasis
should be treated as an imbalance, with antifungals, probiotics, and diet.
Misunderstanding the cause of candidiasis has perhaps caused the greatest
harm to AIDS patients, many of whom are plagued with debilitating candida
overgrowth. Although most doctors consider candidiasis to be caused by a
compromised immune system, most AIDS patients have a long history of
antibiotic and/or drug use. Thus, their candidiasis more likely appeared
years earlier due to antibiotic abuse, contributing to a compromised =
immune
system over time. AZT and the other AIDS drugs are particularly virulent =
to
the friendly bacteria. Moreover, candida can cross-react with the HIV
antibody tests to create a false positive result (Eleopulous et al. "Is a
Positive Western Blot Proof of HIV Infection?", Bio/Technology, June 93).
The Candida "Epidemic"
In 1995, allopathic medicine treated 10 million Americans for yeast
problems, not counting those who sought alternative medical treatments.
Millions more may be suffering needlessly from this illness through
misdiagnosis and mistreatment, as well as from poor diet.
We have nearly eliminated acute, infectious epidemics in the industrialized=
world through improved hygiene and sanitary living conditions, yet we are
plagued by increasing cases of immune disorders and chronic illnesses. =
Sleep
disorders, Attention Deficit Dysfunction, arthritis, asthma, vaginal yeast
infections (on the rise since the introduction of the "pill"), PMS,
hyperactivity in children, environmental illness, obesity, and salmonella
poisoning are all reaching epidemic proportions in America.
Not-so-coincidentally, these conditions are also symptoms of candidiasis.
Dr. Remington reports that 50% of his arthritis patients have been cured
when treated for candidiasis. My carpal tunnel syndrome cleared up after
candida treatment.
This is not to say that these illnesses are necessarily symptoms of or
caused by candida. The symptoms listed for candidiasis can be symptoms of
other illnesses as well, or the result of candida + cofactors. If you have
an ulcer, candida may be contributing to it, but you still must treat the
ulcer as well as the candida. All possibilities should be considered,
especially if traditional treatment for an illness produces no results.
The increase in these illnesses coincides, given a little lag time, with =
the
discovery and prescription of antibiotics, their introduction into our
livestock in the 1960s, the proliferation of processed foods in our diets,
and increased environmental pollution and toxins.
Dr. C. Orian Truss began treating patients for candidiasis in 1962 and is
the pioneer in candida research. While candida has been around for =
thousands
of years, only since World War II have the hosts (us) given it fertile
ground to flourish into full-blown candidiasis on such a widespread scale.
If you suspect you have a candida imbalance, talk to your doctor. If he or
she won't help you, find one who will. If enough patients start demanding
treatment from their doctors, they might start responding.
It's unclear why the medical community and the government tend to dismiss
candida. If people understand that excessive antibiotic use can cause
illness, it could hurt drug profits. After all, there's not much profit in
lifestyle changes. Most European countries banned giving antibiotics to
livestock in 1971, and we must follow their example. Even the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) is worried about the excessive use of antibiotics
because so many strains of bacteria are already resistant to treatment.
If you can't find a doctor to help you treat candidiasis, the following
organization can provide a list of doctors who will treat you:
Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation
P.O. Box 2614
La Mesa, CA 92115
Most people accept diminishing energy, chronic aches and pains, and
increasing forgetfulness as the price of getting older, but that's a myth.
There is certainly no need to go through each day feeling less than your
optimal self.
The people showing up with candidiasis today may be the canaries in the =
coal
mine, warning the rest of society that our health care system, diet, and
environment are making us ill. 35 years ago, Rachel Carson warned of the
dangers of pollutants to humanity, animals, and the planet in her book
Silent Spring. Unless we clean up our act, we may someday fulfill her
prophecy of a world in which there are no birds to sing nor humans left to
hear the silent spring.
References:
Dennis Remington, MD, and Barbara W. Higa, RD, Back to Health
Leon Chaitow and Natasha Trenev, Probiotics
Luc De Schepper, MD, Candida
Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2000 3:34 PM
Subject: candidiasis notice O/T
> In a message dated 01/15/2000 12:44:21 AM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:
>
> > Anybody know what systemic candidiasis is?"I,m just recovering from it
> > and it wasn`t pretty.!
> >
> > this is way off the subject but if you guys have kids or grandkids =
and
> > you see those little white spots in their mouths GET THEM TO A DOCTOR
> > IMMEDIATELY!
> >
> > It could save their lives! I lost 20 pounds in 4 days!Couldn`t
> > move,couldn`t hardly talk,couldn`t eat!
> >
> That does sound nasty, and not just for kids either. Check it out:
>
> <A HREF=3D"http://members.aol.com/docdarren/med/candida.html">Candidiasi=
s
> Syndrome</A> http://members.aol.com/docdarren/med/candida.html=20
>
> Bill
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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