Candida is a type of fungus that lives in our gut and body in a healthy amount. There is a whole microsystem functioning in the gut, with plenty of different species. Sometimes, when this ecosystem is out of balance, candida is able to overgrow (specifically Candida albicans).
High levels of Candida albicans in the body are not healthy as they tend to cause not only digestive symptoms, but also affect immune, skin, energy, neurological system and general inflammation levels. Candida can appear in multiple places such as gut, vagina, skin, nails, and tongue. Naturopathic Medicine is great at diagnosing Candida infection and treating it. You may not even know you have it as you may be describing ‘generally feeling unwell’. Overproduction of candida breaks down intestinal walls and releases toxins which is why most people feel generally unwell and fatigued. By increasing inflammation in the gut, some people develop Leaky Gut Syndrome.
Symptoms are very broad but some include:
Keep in mind that these are just some of the symptoms, as every individual case is different. Make sure to get yourself a licensed Naturopathic Doctor that is curious about your health enough to sit down with you and take into consideration every one of your symptoms – they are all connected.
Diagnosing Candida can be done through different tests. A test will be chosen specifically for you depending on your symptoms. Comprehensive Stool Analysis and parasitology is the more in depth option, but not always needed.
Dr. Tali practices evidence based medicine, the testing she uses to identify Candida, shows different resistance and sensitivities levels to different Naturopathic treatments for Candida. This test also shows sensitivity and resistance to different conventional medicine drugs that are often used to treat it.
Some of the common causes include:
Candida feeds on sugar. So, if your diet is high on carbs, processed sugars and you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, talk to your Naturopathic Doctor.
When it comes to vaginal health, all the above can influence your yeast infections, as well as douching, using ‘vaginal soaps’, non cotton underwear etc. Lets talk about women’s health!
Naturopathic Medicine is very effective at treating candida, and has plenty of evidence based research. Each treatment is individualized based on the resistance vs sensitivity of your stool test. It’s important to work with a qualified health care practitioner who can diagnose you and customize you an individualized treatment plan, based on your personal health, medications, symptoms etc. Dr. Tali will also address any underlined concerns and the reason why you had the overgrowth in the first place.
Education is important when it comes to prevention of future candida overgrowth. Treatment protocol will be done using evidence based supplements, herbal medicine, and diet changes that will be tailored specifically to your needs.