Celiac disease is a malabsorption syndrome and chronic digestive disorder. The intestine is not able to absorb vital dietary nutrients from foods containing gliadin, an alcohol-soluble portion of gluten. This condition which is often hereditary means the sufferer has a serious intolerance to wheat (including durum, semolina and spelt), rye, oats, barley, and related grain hybrids such as tritaclae and kamut.
Arthritis refers to inflammation of the joint. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis which is characterised by joint degeneration and loss of cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis which is also an autoimmune disorder. In this case the body's immune system attacks its own cartilage and tissue surrounding the joints.
Some detoxification experts advocate fasting, while others do not. It is known that the components of any well-designed detox program will stimulate the body to cleanse itself, but people who are underweight, are undernourished, have weak hearts, have blood sugar issues or are ill should avoid fasting. Some studies have shown that restricting food intake can actually lead to bingeing.
Hemorrhoids are extremely common in industrialised countries and it is estimated that fifty percent of persons over fifty years of age have symptoms of hemorrhoidal disease. Although most people may begin to develop hemorrhoids in the twenties, the symptoms do not become evident normally until in ones thirties!
THRUSH - natural treatments and remedies
- What is thrush?
- How do I treat thrush naturally?
- Thrush / Candida: Natural treatments and remedies
- Diet for thrush / candida
- Supplements for thrush / candida
- Herbs for thrush /candida
- Topical treatments for thrush /candida
- Lifestyle guidance for thrush /candida
- Homeopathy for thrush /candida
Thrush is the most common form of mucosal candidiasis. Candidiasis is caused by candida albicans, which is a yeast that lives in the upper bowel of almost every man, woman, and child. Thrush most often occurs in situations associated with increased estrogen levels, such as oral contraceptive use, pregnancy, and estrogen therapy. Antibiotics, corticosteroids, diabetes mellitus, HIV infection, intrauterine devices, and diaphragm use are also risk factors.
The clinical manifestations of thrush are primarily itching and discharge. Pain on urination and vaginal irritation also may be present. Physical examination will most likely show show redness and swelling and vaginal discharge, which is classically white and curd-like but may be watery. Some patients, have little discharge and often only a little redness.
How do I treat thrush naturally?
A comprehensive approach is more effective in treating thrush and the overgrowth of candida yeast, than by simply trying to kill the candida with a drug or a natural anticandida agent. Firstly it is important to recognise how wide spread the candida overgrowth is. This will help determine how extensive your natural treatment plan should be.
With chronic candidiasis for example (see our file on Candida), one of the key goals in treatment will be to restore proper immune function. This is because the immune system, in most cases, has been weakened by either prolonged stress, illness or the over-prescribing of antibiotics. The latter have an adverse effect because they wipe out the beneficial bacteria in the gut that co-exist with candida and, in optimum health, keep it in check. For women, taking the contraceptive pill can further prolong the problem.
The "candida diet" allows no alcohol, no simple sugars, and very limited amounts of refined foods. Alternative therapies aim to "starve" the yeast and use natural antifungals. We generally recommend the candida diet for those who suffer from recurrent thrush.
Thrush / Candida- natural treatment and remedies
Diet for thrush / candida
To clear an infection, you need to first starve the organism of the foods it thrives on. Candida likes moulds so avoid mushrooms, fermented drinks (including alcohol) and foods that may carry mould. Cut out sugar-rich soft drinks and fruit juices, moderate your intake of tea, coffee and diet drinks and aim for eight glasses of pure water a day to help flush out the bowel.
Try the Anti -Candida Diet - Guidelines at a glance
Foods to eat: vegetables, nuts, seeds, and oils
Foods to moderate: whole grains, brown rice, oats, and barley
Foods to avoid: sugar, packaged and processed foods, yeast breads and pastries,
mushrooms and truffles, most condiments and sauces, fruits for the first three weeks
of your candida-elimination diet and re-heated leftovers.
Limit fruit to one serving per day,
Increase garlic (fungicidal), oregano, cinnamon, sage, and cloves (antifungal spices)
Caprylic acid, an extract from coconuts which has proved effective in keeping candida under control, is now frequently included in anti-candida supplements. Regular ingestion of coconut oil is the way to treat with caprylic acid through diet, however please proceed slowly as too rapid a die off of the yeast can be unpleasant to experience. Take 1 tsp of coconut oil for the first three days of the week and increase to 2 tsp's a day for 3 days. Then increase to 3 tsp's a day for up to a week.
Repair gut permeability if you suspect you have leaky gut as otherwise the condition will be hard to treat successfully. For more information on leaky gut and how to treat, please see this file on our website.
Aloe Vera Juice is a great food supplement to have regularly as it will protect the intestinal gut mucousa.
Regularly have acidophilus yogurt unless you have an intolerance to dairy as it will supplement the friendly good gut bacteria which will help fight infection.
Regularly have lemon juice freshly squeezed into a little water before each meal to help stimulate digestive juices.
Food intolerances and allergies are quite common in people with chronic candida. work with a natural health therapist to identify these or do a food elimination challenge.
Supplements for thrush / candida
If you are not getting enough of these nutrients through your food you may wish to try supplementation.
- Vitamin C (500 to 1,000 mg per day), vitamin E (200 to 400 IU per day), and selenium (200 mcg per day) are anti-inflammatory. Zinc can also be useful for a lowered immune system.
- Essential fatty acids: anti-inflammatory, a mix of omega-6 (evening primrose) and omega-3 (flaxseed) may be best (2 tbsp. oil per day or 1,000 to 1,500 mg twice a day). Reduce animal fats in your diet and increase fish and nuts.
- Calcium (1,000 to 1,500 mg per day) to correct deficiency often found in people with yeast infections, and magnesium (750 to 1,000 mg per day) to balance calcium intake
- Lactobacillus acidophilus (2 to 5 million organisms three times per day) to help restore normal balance of bowel and mucous membranes
- Caprylic acid (1 g with meals)
Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Teas should be made with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 to 4 cups per day.
- Pau d'arco bark (Tabebuia avellanedae): antifungal, best used as a tea (2 tbsp. boiled in 1 quart of water; 3 to 6 cups per day), or use the cooled tea as a vaginal douche
- Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), Oregon grape root (Mahonia nervosa), and barberry (Berberis vulgaris) are digestive and immune stimulants. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) are anti-inflammatory. Use a tea or tincture of the five herbs listed above (1 cup tea three times per day or 30 to 60 drops tincture three times per day) for six weeks. Do not take licorice if you have high blood pressure
- Manuka, Horopito, Olive leaf and Barberry are all antifungal and / immune enhancing herbs
- Fireweed (Epilobium parviflorum): take as a tea for oral, vaginal, and intestinal candidias
Topical treatments for thrush / candida
Topical treatments include diluted tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) or lavender essential oil (Lavandula species), two to three times a day; marigold (Calendula officinalis) apply three to five times per day in a salve for rashes.
- Salt baths can be helpful
- Probiotics (put in a neutral cream)on a tampon and inserted vaginally, are also useful. Alternatively break open a probiotics pawder capsule and use topically.
- Acidify vagina proir to ovulation with this mix:
4 drops of teatree oil
2 tablespoons white vinegar in 1 litre of purified water : alied as a douche - External herbal wash for trush:
calendula 50mls
thuja 25 mls
barberry 25 mls
usnea 100 mls
Take 1 tablespoon of this formula in hot water as a vaginal wash.
Lifestyle guidance for thrush / candida
Three times more common in women who wear nylon underwear or tights, it also makes sense to change to cotton fabrics and while in most cases sexual transmission is not an issue, if the infection persists it is worth getting both partners checked out.
Homeopathy for thrush /candida
Some of the most common remedies used for candidiasis are listed below. Usually, the dose is 3 to 5 pellets of a 12X to 30C remedy every one to four hours until your symptoms get better.
- Borax for bleeding oral mucosa, especially with diarrhea diarrhoea
- Belladonna for bright red, inflamed skin that is not raw or oozing, but is painful, especially with irritability
- Chamomilla for "diaper" rash, especially with irritability
- Arsenicum album for burning, itching rashes, especially with anxiety
- Graphites for thick, cracked skin (corners of mouth or heels)
- Kreosotum for leukorrhea that causes itching and swelling
