Candida and alternative medicine
Candida is naturally-occurring yeast that is present in the intestines, mouth, urinary tract and the vagina. The friendly bacteria in the intestines are responsible for checking the overgrowth of Candida since the otherwise harmless yeast is capable of turning virulent if its prevalence increases. Once it grows and colonizes the gut, its fungal form, Candida albicans, can damage the intestinal walls. The problem starts when undigested food and toxins leak out of the gut and enter the blood stream.
Most of the symptoms of Candida are vague and confusing. Although there are more than hundred symptoms of the disease, commonly, Candida is associated with a heterogonous group of skin disorders characterized by superficial and recurring infections of the skin, mucous membranes, and nails with Candida albicans.
There are numerous options for Candida treatments but the most common are over the counter creams and ointments. Antifungal agents like Miconazole are usually administered orally in the form of a nitrate. These drugs provide a very effective Candida cure but there is a caveat attached to every conventional medication.
Allopathic drugs should only be taken if the disease if confirmed. The problem with Candida is that it is extremely difficult to diagnose as the symptoms can confuse even a specialist. On the other hand, if you are taking medicines without consulting a doctor, you run the risk that your body may become resistant to the drug.
Candida is basically a lifestyle disease. Alternative medicine provides a very convenient, natural and a long term yeast infection treatment in the shape of homeopathic remedies, herbs, cleansing techniques and diet. Recently there have been reports of successful use of acupuncture to treat Candida.
The main cause of Candida is intake of too much of sugar and carbohydrates, and a weak immune system. Alternative medicines score over conventional allopathic treatment due to their holistic approach. The basic focus of alternative therapies is to:
- Strike at the root cause of the disease.
- Promote the self healing qualities of the body by strengthening the immune system.
- Provide a long term Candida cure rather than temporary remission of symptoms that may resurface.
The basis of alternative medicine in regard to Candida is mainly focused on diet and cleansing of the digestive tract. Any Candida treatment must necessarily be accompanied by a diet that does not help in the growth of Candida. A Candida diet is designed to improve the intestinal flora. It includes foods that restrict the growth of yeast and those that promote the growth of friendly bacteria. Thus, sugar, simple carbohydrates, yeast based foods like cheese, vinegar, and fermented drinks are a total no-go.
Specific herbs like garlic, Pau D’Arco bark, Aloe Vera juice and aniseed have powerful anti fungal properties and speed up recovery from Candida infections. Some other herbal medicines and extracts that help in early recovery are tea tree oil and lavender oil that can be applied topically to the infected area.
Yoghurt and other probiotics help in promoting population of friendly bacteria. Alternative therapies for Candida cures may first prefer cleansing of toxins from the body. For this purpose sufficient quantities of water and enemas with plain water or vinegar diluted in water can be very helpful for easy elimination of toxicity.
References:
http://darynlavoie.blog.com/2432517/
http://www.ezinesarticle.com/Article/Mucocutaneous-Candidiasis-Treatment-Tips/101344
http://ezinearticles.com/?Candida-Treatments-Reviewed&id=529383
