OVERCOMING CANDIDA,Autoimmune Diseases and other InfectionsBy Walter Last IntroductionYOU CAN OVERCOME CANDIDA Candida-related problems have become epidemic in recent decades. Candida is bestknown as causing the annoying itching of thrush but that is just the tip of theiceberg. More serious are the gastro-intestinal problems that it causes and a widerange of diseases and conditions when it invades the bloodstream.More often than not we may not even realize that our health problems are due toCandida and other microbes and parasites. Autoimmune diseases, allergies, asthma,arthritis, chronic fatigue, anxiety and depression, hyperactivity and attentiondeficit are all closely related to Candida and other microbes.Fortunately we have effective natural therapies to overcome Candida and otherparasites. We do not even need to know if our problems are caused by this fungusor by any other microbes. The recommended natural therapies have broad-range anti-microbial effects, and are good to use by everyone once a year to eliminateharmful microbes and parasites..Chapter 1SOME CANDIDA BASICS Candida is a yeast-like fungal organism. The most common strain is Candidaalbicans found naturally in small amounts in our intestinal tract and the vagina.Normally it is kept in check by a healthy bacterial flora consisting mainly oflactobacteria.When our intestinal flora is disturbed with antibiotics and some other drugs, orduring severe and prolonged emotional stress, Candida can greatly increase innumbers and cause candidiasis of the intestinal tract. This tends to cause gastro-intestinal symptoms with digestive problems, discomfort and bloating.The infection can easily spread to other parts of the gastro-intestinal tract,causing thrush around the anus, inside the mouth and vagina. Vaginal yeastinfections also called Vaginal Thrush causes intense vaginal itching, burningduring urination, and often a cheesy white or yellow vaginal discharge. In themouth it may form a white tender and easily bleeding cover on cheeks and tongue.In mild cases it may just result in cracks in the corners of the lips. It can alsobe a cause of canker sores and bad breath, and in babies it causes diaper rash.If left untreated Candida soon develops a new form with long, burrowing legs(rhizoids). These start growing into and through the mucus membranes of theintestinal tract and may cause serious pain.Gradually the intestinal wall deteriorates and allows partially digested proteinsand the Candida organism itself to travel into the bloodstream and cause toxicityand immune reactions. This condition is called Leaky Gut Syndrome, and isconnected with Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Inflammatory Bowel disease, Crohn’sDisease, Ulcerative Colitis, food malabsorption and multiple allergies. Othermicrobes and parasites are often present as well.Now the yeast infection has access to the whole body, and this is called SystemicCandidiasis. Apart from devastating the immune system and making us susceptible tocolds and other infections with bacteria, viruses and fungi, a wide range ofdiseases and symptoms may develop. These include• Constant fatigue or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome• Arthritis or flu-like symptoms with joint and muscle pain• Hyper-acidity and acid reflux• Headaches and migraines• Chronic sinus infection and other mucus problems

• Undesirable weight loss or gain and inability to change it• “Brain fog” or memory and concentration problems• Obsessive thoughts, compulsive behavior, irritability• Depression, anxiety and panic attacks• Personality changes, addictions and mood swings• Fungus on finger or toe nails and skin• Chronic urinary tract infections• Pre-menstrual tension and other menstrual problems• Itching red eyes and vision problems• Skin rashes or eczema• Jock itch or rashes in the groin area• Hair lossFurthermore, Candida and related fungi or mycoplasms are the underlying factor inautoimmune diseases, such as lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoidarthritis, Raynaud’s syndrome, scleroderma, and thyroid diseases.Also most or all children with hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder seemto be affected by fungus overgrowth. Candida overgrowth is the main cause of themultiple allergies that trigger hyperactive periods and short attention spans. Itis similar with asthma and eczema which also commonly have Candida as theunderlying primary cause.The toxicity of Candida to the nervous system is largely due to an excessiveproduction of acetaldehyde. This substance is formed when yeast cells metabolizesugars and there is a deficiency of oxygen. Acetaldehyde can also form fromingested alcohol.Depending on other contributing factors, Candida can manifest with differentsymptoms in different bodies. You may have any combination of these yeast relatedsymptoms, and in mild cases you may not even notice anything. Furthermore, thesesymptoms may be due to other causes and illnesses as well. As a group most at riskof developing Candida infections are diabetics, pregnant women and obeseindividuals.DIAGNOSING CANDIDACandida overgrowth can be difficult to diagnose in laboratory tests as it livesnaturally in the intestines. However, it should not be present in the blood, if itis found there then the diagnosis is established.A common natural diagnostic method is with a live blood test. Manynaturopaths can do this now, and observe a drop of blood in a dark-fieldmicroscope. One can clearly see any fungi and possibly other microbes that may bepresent, and the view can be projected onto a big screen for the patient to see.A simple Saliva Test for Candida is as follows:Immediately after rising before you eat or drink anything fill a clear glass withwater at room temperature. Spit some saliva into the glass of water. Then checkfrom time to time for up to an hour to see what happens to the spit. If Candida ispresent, you will see one of three things, or a combination of these.1. There may be strings like legs extending into the water from the salivafloating on top2. Cloudy saliva will accumulate at the bottom of the glass3. Cloudy bits will remain suspended in the water.The quicker and stronger the strings grow and the sooner the saliva sinks, themore Candida is in the sample. If there are no strings and the saliva is stillfloating after one hour, you probably do not have systemic Candida but may stillhave a mild or localized problem in the intestines or the vagina, and you maystill have dysbiosis and infestations of other pathogenic microbes.However, even if Candida is under control, more or less dormant infestationsinside the mucous membranes in the mouth may still continue to produce a mildreaction with the spit test, especially after eating sweet food or drinking wineor beer.. See Chapter 8 on how to deal with this.List of Risk Factors and Symptoms

You may also look through the following list of risk factors and symptoms to getan estimate of your likelihood of having a Candida problem and the severity of it.The larger the number of risk factors and symptoms that apply to you and the moresevere the symptoms, the greater is the probability that you have systemic Candidainfection.1. Use of antibiotics or chemotherapy – the greater the frequency or durationthe greater the likelihood of Candida.2. Use of Prednisone or other cortisone-type drugs.3. Thrush, oral or vaginal, is the most obvious symptom, with vaginaldischarge, burning or itching.4. Do you have cramps or other irregular periods or premenstrual tension?5. Have you had chronic prostatitis, vaginitis or other problems of thereproductive organs such as impotence and loss of sexual desire?6. Are you sensitive to tobacco smoke, perfumes, insecticides and other odorsand chemicals?7. Are you more affected on damp or muggy days or in moldy places?8. Do you have chronic mucus problems, congestion in the throat or sinuses,or frequently a runny nose?9. Have you had chronic fungus infections of the skin or nails such asathlete's foot, ring worm, jock itch or others?10. Has your tongue usually a furry white coat?11. Do you crave bread, sugar or sweet foods or alcohol?12. Do you have chronic fatigue, or just fatigue or lethargy or feeling drained?13. Do you have generalized malaise?14. Do you have depression, poor memory, or feeling spaced-out or unreal?15. Do you have hyperactivity problems with short attention span (ADD or ADHD) orirritability?16. Do you have muscle aches or weakness?17. Do you have numbness, tingling, burning or paralysis?18. Do you have joint problems – pain or swelling?19. Do you have digestive problems, constipation, diarrhea or bloating?20. Do you have fat malabsorption, allergies or addictions?21. Do you have spots in front of the eyes or erratic or changeable vision?The presence of thrush makes Candia virtually a certainty. Also if you have atleast three of the following four symptoms then Candida is almost certainlypresent: these are craving for sweet foods, a poor alcohol tolerance, chemicalsensitivity, and bloating.If you have persistent fungal skin problems or nail problems then you can alsoassume that you have at least intestinal and possibly systemic Candidainfestation. In any case, use suitable anti-Candida therapy and you will avoidmuch long-term health damage. Chapter 2ORION TRUSS AND THE ANTIBIOTIC SYNDROME In 1953 Dr Orian Truss discovered the devastating effects of antibiotics in anAlabama (USA) hospital. During a hospital round Truss was intrigued by a gaunt,apparently elderly man who was obviously dying. However, he was only in hisforties and in hospital for four months. No specialist had been able to make adiagnosis. Out of curiosity Truss asked the patient when be was last completelywell.The man answered that he was well until six months before when he had cut hisfinger. He had received antibiotics for this. Shortly afterwards he developeddiarrhea and his health deteriorated. Truss had seen before how antibiotics causediarrhea. It was known that Candida was opportunistic and thrived in debilitatedpatients, but now Truss wondered if it might not be the other way round, that