If you’re not approaching candida holistically, you might not be approaching it effectively. Keep reading to find out what might contribute to your candida overgrowth issues.
What is Holism?
Holism is the view that all parts of the body work together in tandem. We tend to think of alternative or complementary medicine as “holistic,” but they aren’t necessarily.
In other cultures throughout the world, and in our culture until about a hundred years ago, the philosophy of illness — rooted in this concept of holism — was that an illness was not its symptoms, but the underlying imbalance the body was trying to correct, thus producing the symptoms. (This doesn’t entirely rule out the “germ theory,” as an infectious agent can certainly be the catalyst for the imbalance.)
In the early part of the 20th century, the allopathic branch of medicine (intentionally) pushed all other branches out, because patent drugs and surgery were more lucrative for investors than options like herbs, which practically anyone had access to. We began to match drugs to symptoms and shift to a paradigm that views the symptom itself as the evil, rather than an effect of the real problem.
This mindset has so thoroughly taken root that it even spills over into much of alternative medicine. We may look to herbs, essential oils, etc. instead of pharmaceutical drugs but we essentially do the same thing — treat symptoms. The problem is, this doesn’t get to the root of the problem, so the problem is typically still there. If the symptoms disappear, they have a tendency to reappear, because the cause was never addressed.
A Holistic View of Candida
Although it may not always be obvious, this symptomatic approach is often what we see with candidiasis. The alternative health community tends to view candida as a source of many other symptoms, but usually fails to notice that the candidiasis is, itself, a symptom.
See, Candidiasis refers to an overgrowth of a yeast (candida) that is a normal resident of the body (1). Candida is normally kept in check by the immune system and other resident microflora (good bacteria and yeasts). Only when it multiplies uncontrolled does it cause problems.
When candida is multiplying out of control, a very important question is why. If you kill the yeast without addressing the “why,” the results are likely to only be temporary.
The Basics
Sometimes the underlying issue that allowed for the yeast overgrowth was, itself, temporary (and has since been resolved). If that’s the case, destruction of the candida may be adequate. Practitioners may use pharmaceutical antifungals for this, such as Nystatin®. Sometimes anti-fungal herbs are also used — like garlic (Allium sativum) and berberine-containing herbs such as Oregon grape leaf (Berberis aquifolium), goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), or barberry (Berberis vulgaris) (2).
Antifungal essential oils aren’t uncommon either. Among others, they may include oregano (Origanum vulgare), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), peppermint (Mentha x piperita), and tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) (2). (Some of these are very potent oils; please use extreme caution with them, and don’t use them internally if you’re not trained in safe essential oil use.)
In most cases, though, it’s more likely that something else in the body became unbalanced, leading to the candida overgrowth. In this case it’s necessary to address the underlying imbalance, or the candida will simply “grow back.” Some possible contributors follow, and you may notice that several of them can be inter-related.
Gut Dysbiosis
Gut dysbiosis is a fancy name for an imbalance of bacteria, etc. in the gut. This is probably one of the most obvious contributors, because most people recognize that candida overgrowth is a form of gut dysbiosis. But we have to think about what caused that imbalance. Often, it’s antibiotics — either their use for medicinal purposes (3) or even their consumption in foods. The consumption of dietary toxins such as glyphosate (4) may also damage gut bacteria, and the absence (or relative absence) of dietary fiber can starve them (5).
In this case, the normal flora needs to be reseeded with probiotics and/or fed with prebiotics. The offending substance also needs to be removed (or at least greatly diminished). Think about it. If antibiotics are killing your “gut bugs,” how much good does it do to put new ones in your belly if you’re still steadily killing them?
Weak Immune System
A weakened immune system may lead to candidiasis, because one type of white blood cells, called neutrophils, help eliminate excess candida (6). So if your immune system is struggling to create neutrophils, or using them up on other tasks, they can’t be effectively clearing out the candida overgrowth. In this case, addressing underlying infections, etc. might be necessary to free up immune resources, and to support and strengthen the body as it recovers.
(This is one of those things that might be temporary. If you believe you had an infection that permitted the overgrowth, but it’s now gone, addressing only the overgrowth might be enough.)
Toxic Overload
Toxicity is a potential contributor to yeast overgrowth that is rarely considered. When the bone marrow gets bogged down with an excessive toxic burden, its ability to produce and differentiate white blood cells is crippled (6). Given the role the immune system plays in keeping candida controlled, this can be a problem. In this instance, however, supporting the immune system itself is inadequate; the toxic load must be dealt with. There are multiple angles from which to approach an issue of toxicity: nutritional support, cleanses, decreasing the rate of incoming toxins, etc. Those with genetic hindrances to detoxification may require more or different support than those who simply have lifestyle issues to overcome.
Poor Digestion
According to Murray and Pizzorno, “gastric hydrochloric acid, pancreatic enzymes, and bile all inhibit the overgrowth of C. albicans and prevent its penetration into the absorptive surfaces of the small intestine” (2). All three of these are digestive secretions. They are closely interdependent, and may be supported by interventions as simple as drinking plenty of water and getting adequate nutrition. They’re also often disrupted in the West because we have such a bad track record with basic things like drinking plenty of water and getting adequate nutrition! (Side note: if your digestive process isn’t working well, you’re also more prone to food sensitivities, because not-fully-digested foods can more readily make their way into the bloodstream.)
A Negative Cycle
Many of these contributors to candidiasis are inter-related. Glyphosate can disrupt bile acid (4). Poor bile production can inhibit detoxification (7). Gut dysbiosis can produce immune dysfunction (6). Immune weakness can cause infections which result in antibiotic treatment. All of this highlights the importance of seeking to balance the whole body rather than chasing symptoms, which can feel a bit like a game of Whack-a-Mole — as soon as you nail one, something else pops up.
The beautiful thing is that virtually all of these contributors are foundational areas of health we should be aiming to balance regardless. Eating well. Ensuring we’re digesting our food well. Minimizing toxins and supporting our bodies in eliminating the toxins we do get. Maintaining a strong and diverse gut flora. The key is we can’t just do one and ignore the others; all the pieces are important.
You know the drill. I’m not a doctor. None of these statements have been evaluated or approved by the FDA. All information here is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any illness.
References:
6. Burdette, C. (2016, September 28). Doctor’s Choice presents – Immune Surveillance: Viral Bacterial and Allergy Response. Webinar.
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