Candidiasis is the name given to a condition of the digestive tract wherein the normal flora balance has been upset, and the yeast (Candida albicans) has essentially mushroomed to overcome the mucosal lining of the gut.  This means that the beneficial bacteria (probiotics), being the less resilient of these organisms, cannot re-establish itself amidst the overgrowth of candida.  If this situation goes on long enough or the immune system is sufficiently impaired, the yeast can ‘mycelize’ through the gut wall and release spore into the bloodstream.  At this point the yeast form is free to roam and establish itself virtually anywhere in the body.

We’ve all seen how entrenched athlete’s foot or ringworm can be from external fungal infection.  The process is very similar in thrush, and vaginal yeast infections, crotch rot and fungally nails.  Think for a moment of black mold plaguing your home.  Yeasts and fungi are extremely adaptive, resilient and difficult to obliterate.  Simple probiotics (a must) while temporarily helpful, simply cannot stand up to the much more powerful and resilient yeasts.  External applications are frequently only initially beneficial, and oral prescriptions can be so toxic that they extend some danger to the liver.

The general plan to restore a healthy balance of yeast to ‘pro’ bacteria in the gut, can be achieved within a reasonable amount of time by using very specific plant enzyme formulae, coupled with a cleansing medium compatible to that particular human being.  In addition one must minimize the agents likely to promote the health and growth of the candida itself.

On a systemic level (which if not treated, will continue to effect the gut periodically), various herbal formulae have proven greatly effective over time at eliminating these toxic elements from the bloodstream and particularly laden areas of the body.  By maintaining a settled and harmonious atmosphere within the gut, the mucosal integrity is restored, leaky gut diminished or reversed, and the imbalance of candida and gut flora can finally settle and be put to rest.

How does one get candida?  And what’s so bad about it anyway?  First you have to understand the Candida albicans yeast naturally occurs in our guts in balance with our beneficial bacteria.  Beneficial bacteria help us break down and digest food and nutrients as opposed to harmful bacteria, which can infect us and make us quite ill.  The balance is delicate and not terribly difficult to tip.  Various forms of stressors can destroy the beneficial bacteria resulting in the snowballing of yeast and the destruction of balance.  Among these the most common and obvious is antibiotic therapy, followed closely by hormonal therapies including birth control and steroids.  Almost any pharmaceutical in use for an extended period will affect the floral body of the gut.  But other non-drug factors can be equally devastating.  Examples of these all stem from some form of stressor, be it emotional trauma, physical shock, or toxic ingestion.  Because anti-candida diets restrict sugars primarily, people think sugar gives them candida.  No. Sugar doesn’t really give you candida, but it certainly feeds it and promotes its endurance.  True if you assault yourself with sugars (i.e. alcoholism or excessive consumption of sweets), this becomes one of the ‘stressors’ which clearly tips the scale.  But strictly speaking, regular consumption of healthy simple sugars are not the true culprit.  After all, think about metabolism and that all foods, be they protein, fat or carb are eventually broken down to chemical sugars for cellular usage.  It is quantity and quality that one needs to be concerned with.  This goes for fermented and fungal foodstuffs as well.