Candida OVERGROWTH
In my clinic, Candida overgrowth is the MOST COMMON PROBLEM I work with.
Candida and other fungi/yeast can be a healthy part of normal gut flora. When balanced with healthy bacteria such as lactobacillus, Candida may not cause any problems.
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However the women I see in clinic commonly present with either:
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vaginal thrush or
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unexplained digestive and mental/emotional symptoms
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It is unfortunately quite common for me to see the distress that this overgrowth can cause. Candida can become a very persistent and devastating condition.
Common symptoms of Candida
DIGESTIVE SYMPTOMS:
bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, gas, abdominal pain
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VAGINAL SYMPTOMS:
itching, cottage cheese-like discharge, redness, swelling, pain, skin changes
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ENERGY:
persistent low energy levels, dizziness, joint pain
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ORAL THRUSH
white coating on tongue
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MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS:
Anxiety, brain fog, poor concentration, mood swings, irritability
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SUGAR CRAVINGS and difficulty losing weight
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ALLERGIES
Itchy eyes, itchy ears, seasonal allergies
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SKIN
fungal nail infections, itching, dermatitis, acne, athletes foot
Remember: you don't have to be experiencing all of these symptoms to be suffering from a Candida overgrowth.
testing for Candida
The only way to be sure that you have candida is to test for it.
Happily, we have very accurate methods of testing for Candida.
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I offer a comprehensive stool analysis called GI Map. This stool test will uncover any Candida while also testing for your levels of healthy bacteria. The report will detail any other bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori, which might be assisting and harbouring the Candida. We can also discover if the Candida has been contributing to leaky gut.
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I also recommend a VAGINAL MICROBIOME PANEL for women with vaginal thrush. It's important to test because other vaginal conditions such as dryness and aerobic vaginitis can have very similar symptoms.
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Holistic treatment of Candida
There are several steps that I employ to help you to recover from a Candida overgrowth:
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support with food choices
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immune support using herbal medicine
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antifungal treatment using herbal medicine
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support with healthy microbiome balance
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other factors that should be considered on a case-by-case basis:
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hormonal imbalance (including perimenopause)
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resolving other infections that are causing you to take repeated amounts of antibiotics
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healing leaky gut
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support for the emotional toll of Candida using flower essences
The KEY to a FULL RECOVERY from Candida is to understand the length of time that this fungal infection must be treated. I often warn women that we may work together for up to a year before we can retest to see if Candida has resolved and healthy balance has been restored.
For more information read my blog about the holistic treatment of Candida overgrowth