Frustrated with Candida?

Using Homeopathy to Treat Candida

What is Candida?
Candidiasis is caused by the overgrowth of a common type of yeast called Candida Albicans that occurs naturally in the body. In most cases, a healthy immune system can keep the balance between ‘good’ bacteria and fungus like Candida in check. Candida can occur anywhere in the body, but it is most commonly found in areas where there are mucous membranes such as the vaginal tract, the rectum and the throat. Some causes of an imbalance of Candida can include prolonged use of antibiotics, use of the Birth Control Pill (BCP), eating a high amount of refined sugar and processed foods and immune suppression.

Diagnosis and Potential Symptoms
For many people, especially women, systemic Candidiasis can seriously impact your quality of life.
Because an overgrowth of Candida can lead to such a diverse group of chronic symptoms, it is very difficult to diagnose. Many conventional medical doctors may treat symptoms, such as yeast infections or thrush, but will not tend to view the connection between Candida and these symptoms. In addition, there is no accepted medical test available, outside of allergic antibody testing, to determine the existence of an overgrowth of Candida. A Candida infection is of concern because it can also become a systemic issue and lead to a variety of symptoms such as;

• Digestive symptoms (pain, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea)
• Itching (skin, ears, vagina, rectum etc.)
• Skin problems (acne, eczema etc)
• Mood changes (anxiety, depression, mood swings, difficulty in thinking clearly, poor memory)
• Reproductive health ( PMS, painful menstruation, infertility, low sex drive)

How Homeopathy Can Help
My experience is that the Candida Diet can be very successful for cases of mild to moderate Candida. In fact, dietary changes are often a necessary part of decreasing and eliminating symptoms of Candida. However, I treat a lot of patients with Candida and repeatedly hear how the Candida diet did not alleviate or remove their symptoms of Candida. Certain diseases are hygienic in nature but there are also many conditions that can not be solved by dietary changes alone. For many people, systemic Candida infection cannot be resolved by diet alone. This is where homeopathy can be very useful.

Advantages of Homeopathic Treatment for Candida
Homeopathic medicine is totally holistic because it takes into consideration your unique experience of dis-ease on the mental, emotional and physical levels. As a Homeopath, I want to know whether you are prone to chronic yeast infections, oral Candida (thrush) as well as many of the other possible associated symptoms of Candida. In addition, I want to know very specific information. For example, if you get chronic yeast infections, I will want to know when you get them, what they feel like (do they itch, burn, sting?) and what does this discharge look like. Homeopaths are also fundamentally interested in you as a person. We ask questions about your body temperature; how weather affects you, patterns of perspiration, sleep, digestion and much more. In most cases, the selection of a homeopathic remedy for you will also help to address other chronic health issues that have been bothering you such as migraines or constipation or PMS or anxiety/depression.

Join me for a free workshop at the Big Carrot in Toronto.

Thursday November 5th at 7 p.m.
348 Danforth Avenue Rm 212
www.thebigcarrot.ca