Candidiasis-treatment.pdf

Candidiasis: An Initial Indication of A
Positive Treatment Approach
by S. Colet Lahoz. MS. RN, LAc
While the article "Candidiasis: Scourge of Arthritics" by Anthony di Fabio thatappeared in the January 1995 issue of TLfD was helpful in understanding Candidiasis, itdid not clarify the issue of appropriate treatment protocol. Mr. di Fabio´s observation isthat treatment approaches vary for many reasons, and that there is no set method that isrecommended at this time. "Some use diet alone, others use prescription drugs such asKetoconazole" and some use Candida Purge, (combination of Caprol, Bentonite,Psyllium and Acidophilus). Candida Purge is currently marketed as Acu-Trol products.
Mr. di Fabio therefore makes the conclusion that "if Candidiasis is to be effectively andquickly treated, all forms of treatment should be used either at the same time or in asquick succession as medically possible." This conclusion leaves many unansweredquestions. There are many different modalities on hand, do we use all of them? Whichones are to be used simultaneously and which ones are to be used in rapid succession? This fundamental question regarding treatment approaches led me to do a study thatwould address what treatment methods bring the best outcomes for patients with systemicCandidiasis. The study started in 1991 and followed patients with Candidiasis for aperiod of two years. The results strongly suggested certain combinations of modalitiesthat work better than others. This article will share the research process, findings,discussion and conclusions from that study.
A 37-item questionnaire designed to elicit feedback on questions relating to thetreatment of Candidiasis was given to patients who had recovered from systemicCandidiasis. The questionnaire sought to find answers to several major questions: • 1. Which treatment regimens (prescription medications, nutritional therapies etc.) were effective in reversing symptoms of systemic Candidiasis? • 2. Which combination of treatments were most effective? • 3. of the therapies that were effective, how long did it take before positive effects were felt? How long did it take before one fully recovered? and were there anyside effects from these therapies.
Demographics
The sample was selected based upon two criteria. First, they were people diagnosedpositive for systemic Candidiasis. Second their symptoms had been reversed orsignificantly reduced. This conclusion was derived from a self-assessed comparison rating of symptoms before and after treatment. Of the 70 questionnaires sent to peoplewho met these criteria, 50 (71%) responded . Seventy-four percent were female, 26%male. Age ranged from 18 months to 82 years. Respondents claim to have had symptomsof Candidiasis for a range of 6 to 10 years before they were correctly diagnosed andtreated.
90% claim that the predisposing factor leading to their illness was a history of havingused either one of the following: several rounds of antibiotics, corticosteroids, or inwomen, birth control pills.
Treatment modalities used by respondents
Respondents used a combination of treatments ranging from diet, prescriptionmedications, natural herbs, acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathics, colonic, andmassage. The products most commonly used were: (N-50)
Percent
Product
# of users
using this item
Acidophilus
Psyllium
Bentonite
Nystatin
Monistat
Diflucan
Caprystatin
Capricin
Other products used by a fewer number of the respondents included: Capronex,Chlorophyll, EDTA Chelation therapy, Homeopathic Sepia, and sulphur, HydrogenPeroxide baths, Ketoconazole, Lemonade with Cayenne, Lotrimin, Nutrimin,OxypCleanse, Pau d´ Arco Extract, Sunrider Terazol and Yeast Away.
Product Effectiveness
In order to provide a general overview of product effectiveness, a ratio of positive tonegative responses for each product was computed. Only the responses to the 10 mostused products were tabulated.
Candidiasis: An Initial Indication of A Positive Treatment Approach Number
Overall
Product
# of users
Effectiveness
Acidophilus
Bentonite
Psyllium
Diflucan
Monistat
Nystatin
Candida Extract
§ € A score of 1 indicates an equal ratio of § € A score greater than one indicates a § € A score less than one indicates a negative Ranking of products that were perceived to bring improvement at first, but wheresymptoms came back after some time Percent indicating
improvement but
# of users
with recurrence
Monistat
Nystatin
Diflucan
Psyllium
Bentonite
Candida Extract
Acidophilus
Monistat (42%), Nystatin (41%) and Diflucan (30%) were ranked the highest out often products that gave only short term improvement, and where symptoms recurred aftersome time.
Candidiasis: An Initial Indication of A Positive Treatment Approach Ranking of products which were perceived as causing no change in
symptoms.
Percent indicating
Number
no change
Product
of users
in symptoms
Candida Extract
Monistat
Nystatin
Acidophilus
Diflucan
Bentonite
Psyllium
Candida Extract (40%), Garlic (37%), and Nizoral (30%) were three products thatwere tried by our respondents but ranked highest as ones that did not bring any change insymptoms.
Ranking of products which respondents indicated they discontinued
because of side effects.
Percent indicating
Number
discontinuance due to
Product
of users
side effects
Extract
Diflucan
Nystatin
Monistat
Bentonite
Acidophilus
Psyllium
Candidiasis: An Initial Indication of A Positive Treatment Approach Among the products used by respondents, Nizoral, Candida Extract, Diflucan andNystatin (20-30%) were discontinued most often because of side effects. Caprol,Psyllium, Bentonite and Acidophilus and Monistat (0-7%) were discontinued least oftendue to undesirable side effects.
Ranking of products based on the indication by users that they have discontinued theproducts because they are well.
Percent who
Number
discontinued because
Product
of users
they are well
Bentonite
Psyllium
Acidophilus
Monistat
Nystatin
Candida Extract
Diflucan
Conclusions:
Of the ten products discussed above, the combination of Caprol, Bentonite, Psylliumand acidophilus was rated most effective. (These products are referred to as CandidaPurge in the article by A. di Fabio mentioned above.) The combination of these fouringredients are found under the label Acu-Trol. These products were rated effectivebecause according to the respondents these products gave significant improvement thatwas long lasting; they had fewer side effects, and therefore their use could be continued.
After three to six months, most of respondents were able to discontinue using thembecause they had recovered. More than half of those who used this combination indicatedinitial relief within a few days. Forty-two percent claimed they felt relief within two tothree months. They took these products for an average of one year before symptomscompletely stabilized.
The other products: Garlic, Nystatin, Monistat, Nizoral and Candida Extract appearedless effective in that they had more side effects. These side effects included severe die-off, this die-off causing headaches, nausea and fatigue that would last for 7 to 10 dayswere cited as the most common reason for discontinuing use of a product. Although theybrought initial improvements, symptoms came back after some time. Among these Candidiasis: An Initial Indication of A Positive Treatment Approach products there was an indication that some of them brought no change in symptoms, i.e.
no indication that they were getting better.
People who used Nizoral, or Nystatin took three to ten months to feel a difference and13 months to two years before they improved compared to the three to six months that ittook the group using Acu-trol to feel improvement.
Favorable benefits attributed to the use of Acu-trol products
The majority of respondents who took the Acu-trol products reported improvement ingastrointestinal function to be the most valued benefit. Other benefits reported were lessbloatedness, fewer bouts of diarrhea/constipation, lessened food cravings and good bowelcleansing. A third of them reported increased energy level, less fatigue, fewer bouts ofanxiety/depression, and increased mental alertness, approximately one-third also reportedpositive changes such as lessened sensitivity to food and environmental allergens. Lessthan a third had unfavorable effects including abdominal cramping, gassiness, andabdominal bloating. These were considered mild and not a reason for them to discontinueuse of products. A few mentioned the texture of the psyllium mix as undesirable but not areason to forego therapy.
Other treatment modalities used simultaneously with oral fungicides and
colon cleansers
The respondents reported having used the following treatments along with a strict diet(yeast-free and sugar-free) and use of fungicides and colon cleansers: Acupuncture,chiropractic manipulation, colonic irrigation, massage. The treatment rated most effectivein repairing the effects of Candidiasis was acupuncture which was used by 64% ofrespondents. Acupuncture´s beneficial effects were described as: improvement in energylevel, ability to digest food better, less bloatedness, lessened sensitivities to allergens andin general, fewer symptoms. They reported relatively few side effects and that relief waslong lasting.
Twenty-five percent of the respondents used chiropractic manipulation, but withmixed results. Half of them claimed it was helpful, and the other half felt there was littleor no effect on their symptoms. Colonics were used by 24% of the respondents with verypositive results and was highly recommended. Of the 38% who used drugs such asantibiotics and corticosteroids, 78% claimed these caused a worsening of symptoms andtherefore discontinued their use.
Diet that is free from sugar, yeast, fermented food, and alcohol was reported by 70%of subjects as essential in controlling the symptoms of Candidiasis. They also claimedthat violating these restrictions brought back symptoms and delayed their recoveryprocess.
The combination of diet, Acu-Trol (Caprol, Bentonite, Psyllium. Acidophilus) andacupuncture used simultaneously, was the treatment combination claimed by the majority(60%) to be most effective in combating the disease. They strongly suggested that use of Candidiasis: An Initial Indication of A Positive Treatment Approach fungicides alone without colon cleansers should not be practiced because they causedsevere ´die-off´ reactions.
Forty percent of them got better by using the combination of strict diet, Acu-trol, andoccasional colonics, chiropractic manipulation and or massage. It is fair to conclude thatalthough Candidiasis is difficult to treat and takes a long time for symptoms to reverse,there are treatment combinations that work better than others . Participants in the studystrongly suggest the need for an on-going program of preventive maintenance whichconsists of continued attention to diet, periodic use of acupuncture treatments and Acu-Trol products to control symptoms as they recurred. It is possible to go for months oryears without symptoms but illness, stress, poor diet, and use of antibiotics could bring anexacerbation of Candidiasis.
These findings are based on the responses of people who participated in the two and ahalf year study conducted at the East West Clinic in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Theserespondents happened to use the products and procedures listed in the earlier part of thisreport; it does not negate the possibility that there are other treatment combinations withsimilar efficacy. However, for the benefit of practitioners who are looking for effectivetreatment combinations for the patient with even the most severe case of systemicCandidiasis, these findings provide some answers that may be used as guidelines intreating this very challenging disease.
Candidiasis: An Initial Indication of A Positive Treatment Approach

Source: http://eastwest-mn.home.comcast.net/~eastwest-mn/pdf/Candidiasis-Treatment.pdf