How to Treat Systemic Candida
Systemic Candida is also known as systemic candiasis or Candida Albicans or Monilla. Systemic Candida is a yeast infection which is quite common and which is caused by the fungus Candida Albicans. Candida Albicans is a microorganism that is naturally found in the body in the mucous membrane layers including the intestine and genitals. Under normal circumstances Candida Albicans is a beneficial yeast form which helps in sugar fermentation. However there are times when this yeast changes into a harmful fungal form which then takes over the different systems of the body, giving rise to Systemic Candida.
When Candida Albicans starts growing beyond control it starts attacking the tissue cells in the body in the form of long rooted rhizoids. These structures penetrate the intestinal lining such that toxins and undigested food particles can now enter the blood stream. Many of these may be allergens, irritants or poisons. This is the main reason why systemic candida is associated with many kinds of food allergies.
So how is systemic candida caused? The causes of systemic candida are similar to the causes of other yeast infections. The main cause of systemic candida is the use of broad spectrum antibiotics. Antibiotics not only destroy the harmful bacteria in the body, they also clean out the beneficial bacteria which keep the yeast under control. In the absence of all other bacteria, Candida Albicans spreads indiscriminately and uncontrollably giving rise to symptoms of systemic candida.
Another cause of systemic candida is the change in hormones most often caused by the use of oral contraceptives like birth control pills. These pills increase the levels of synthetic estrogen which is thought to feed yeast into multiplying rapidly. Often systemic candida is the result of use of antibacterial soaps and douses in the genital area. These soaps kill the bacteria that control the naturally present yeast in these areas of the body, hence giving the yeast a chance to spread the infection. Systemic candida can also be caused by wearing tight clothes and synthetic clothes which trap the heat and moisture close to the skin, thereby encouraging yeast growth.
Systemic candida has a lot of symptoms, both generalised and specific. General symptoms of systemic candida include fatigue, depression, headaches, migraines, muscle pain, dizziness etc.
Specific symptoms of systemic candida are related to the body system affected. For example, if the GI tract is infected with systemic candida, the symptoms include diarrhoea, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut syndrome, flatulence, food allergies etc.
Systemic candida in the genitourinary tracts shows symptoms of vaginal yeast infection, chronic urinary infections, PMS, cystitis, inflamed bladder etc.
Systemic candida also affects the skin. Symptoms include adult acne, eczema, red and inflamed skin, scaly, dry skin etc.
Systemic candida also affects mental faculties like memory loss, irritability, lowered concentration and attention span etc.
Systemic candida is a common infection. It can be diagnosed through a simple and quick stool test which indicates excessive yeast growth. In case of food allergies, systemic candida is diagnosed through a blood test.
Treatment of systemic candida involves starting on an anti-candida diet plan which eliminates all those foods that encourage yeast growth like sugars, carbohydrates and gluten rich food. There is also a reintroduction of beneficial bacteria into the body to control the yeast growth.
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