The "yeast" problem with Candida albicans is one of the new medical concerns of the 1980s that will continue into the next century. It has been described by many prominent physicians, including C. Orian Truss in The Missing Diagnosis, William Crook in The Yeast Connection, and Keith Sehnert in The Candidiasis Syndrome. It is a very common problem, one of the most frequent I see, and is to me a medical adventure, because I learn a great deal while working with people with this problem. Often the therapy for yeast, or candidiasis as it is commonly known, will positively and dramatically change lives. The somewhat complex, multilevel treatment program has been effective in a high percentage of the people I have treated, and I have worked with hundreds with this problem to date.
Factors Common to Patients with Yeast Syndrome
- Frequent or long-term use of antibiotics, such as tetracycline for acne
- Frequent use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for recurrent infections,
such as in the ears, bladder, vagina, or throat
- Birth control pill use in women
- Premenstrual symptoms
- Recurrent vaginal yeast infections in women or prostate problems in men
- Regular use of cortisone-type drugs
- Cravings for sweets, breads, or alcohol
- Sensitivity to molds, dampness, and smells
- Mental symptoms such as depression, mood swings, or confusion
- Chronic fatigue, indigestion, or food reactions
- Recurrent skin fungus infections, such as ringworm, athlete’s foot, "jock itch," or nail problems
The yeast syndrome is a controversial topic. Most traditional doctors do not want to hear about this condition and call it a "fad" disease, but those who will explore the possibility and look for it in their patients will be hard-pressed not to accept this problem as "real." One of the reasons, I believe, for medicine not really accepting the "yeast syndrome" is because the problem arises predominantly as a side effect from the use of commonly prescribed drugs—antibiotics, birth control pills, and corticosteroids.
The problem originates when a common yeast, Candida albicans, begins to overgrow in the intestinal or genito-urinary tract. It may be contracted initially through sexual contact. When other normal body microflora are killed off by antibiotics, the yeasts will then proliferate and coexist with the useful germs. Mild mucocutaneous infections (of the skin, vagina, throat, or bladder, for example) may develop in the yeast phase of this dimorphic organism. This common yeast is usually noninvasive (that is, it remains localized) except in the severely debilitated patient. However, with long-term infestation or with the weakened immune state that can result from a reduction of normal colon bacteria, the yeast can shift into its fungal form, wherein it develops rhizoids, or roots, that can be implanted in the intestinal wall or other mucosal linings. This allows absorption into the body of by-products (toxins) of fermentation and other antigenic material generated by the fungus. The body will then make antibodies to the Candida albicans organisms. This can lead to an immunological or hypersensitivity reaction that is manifested as the polysystemic disease for which this syndrome is now known.