Chronic Candida Overgrowth
What is candida?
Candida is a form of fungus that normally lives in small amount on the skin and in mucous membranes such as the vagina, mouth, or intestine. Certain medicines and health problems can cause candida to grow out of control, especially in warm and damp body areas. This can lead to various health problems, from digestive issues to depression.
How do we get candida overgrowth?
The healthy bacteria in your gut typically keep your candida levels in check. However, a few factors can cause the candida population to grow out of control:
- High in refined carbohydrates and sugar diet
- Consuming a lot of alcohol
- Taking oral contraceptives
- Living a high-stress lifestyle
- Taking antibiotics that killed too many of those friendly bacteria
- Prolonged use of steroids medication
- Eating too much fresh fruit and raw vegetables
- Eating too much greasy or deep fried food
- Protein deficient diet
- Over-thinking and worry may weaken the Spleen and lead to Spleen-Qi deficiency
- Prolonged exposure to dampness, such as a humid climate, can weaken the Spleen and lead to Spleen-Qi deficiency.
What are common symptoms of candida?
- Skin and nail fungal infections, such as athlete's foot or toenail fungus
- Feeling tired and worn down, or suffering from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
- Digestive issues such as bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
- Autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, lupus, psoriasis, scleroderma, or multiple sclerosis
- Difficulty concentrating, poor memory, lack of focus, ADD, ADHD, and brain fog
- Skin issues like eczema, psoriasis, hives, and rashes
- Irritability, mood swings, anxiety, or depression
- Vaginal infections, urinary tract infections, rectal itching, or vaginal itching
- Sugar and refined carbohydrate cravings
Can acupuncture and herbal medicine work for chronic candida overgrowth?
Chinese Medicine view Candidiasis as dampness. The main cause of the dampness is Spleen-Qi deficiency.
In Chinese Medicine, spleen is responsible for processing and absorbing the nutrients from food, and separating the usable nutrients from the unusable part of food to create Qi and blood. It also eliminates excess toxins and fluid from our body. Spleen controls muscles and the four limbs. That is why when there is Spleen-Qi deficiency, people often get dampness and water retention, and feel tired.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine is extremely beneficial when treating Candidiasis as it can strengthen the Spleen-Qi and eliminate the dampness. Acupuncture is also very effective at enhancing the immune system which is a crucial factor for the treatment of Candidiasis. Combining acupuncture with dietary guidelines and appropriate antifungal herbs can be a very successful treatment for eradicating the condition of Candidiasis.