Poster's note:This has useful information for anybody dealing with any
fungus related disorder.
Candida Related Complex: A Complicating Factor in Lyme Disease
by Scott Forsgren
_http://www.publichealthalert.org/Articles/scottforsgren/candida-levin.html_
(http://www.publichealthalert.org/Articles/scottforsgren/candida-levin.html)
For many people struggling with chronic Lyme disease, symptoms such as
headaches, inability to think clearly, mood swings, muscle aches, joint pain,
poor
memory, depression, sinus congestion, allergies, chemical sensitivities,
digestive disturbances, fatigue, anxiety, and skin rashes are not uncommon.
What
may not be readily apparent, however, is that these same symptoms, and
others, are attributable to a common yeast called Candida (can'-di-duh), which
results in what has been termed "Candida Related Complex". A failure to
understand and address this issue may result in a less than optimal overall
Lyme
disease treatment outcome.
Warren M. Levin, MD, PLLC blends conventional and alternative medical
philosophies in his private practice in Vienna, VA. Dr. Levin has found
Candida
Related Complex (CRC) to be a significant factor in the presentation of many
chronic conditions. Dr. Levin identifies CRC as a common iatrogenic
complication
in the majority of people with Lyme disease and believes that it must be
adequately addressed in order to return one to an ideal state of health and
wellness.
Of the family of yeasts known as Candida, Candida albicans is the most
common, though there are numerous species that may result in clinical
symptoms.
Symptoms of Candida can affect every bodily system and are often
incapacitating.
The majority of practitioners in mainstream medicine today still do not
recognize the importance of the presence of Candida on overall health. They
often
suggest that Candida is only an issue in patients that are severely
immunocompromised, such as patients with HIV, cancer, or patients that have
undergone
chemotherapy or radiation. This perspective is quite limited and misses the
majority of patients whose health is in fact impacted by Candida.
Candida Related Complex has been called the **Yeast Syndrome**, the **Yeast
Connection**, and Thrush, among other terms. It has also been called
*imaginary*, *nonsense*, *fraud*, and *charlatanism* by those that do not
understand
its implications and prevalence.
Not only does Dr. Levin believe that CRC is real, often overlooked and
generally under-treated, but he has found that many people with a diagnosis of
Lyme disease are experiencing symptoms that are partially, or entirely,
attributable to Candida Related Complex, not to Lyme disease itself. Since the
mid
20th century, five major changes in Western societies have created the perfect
storm for establishment of Candida Related Complex:
1. The tremendous increase in refined and processed foods, especially sugars
and chemical additives.
2. The introduction - and overuse - of antibiotics.
3. The introduction - and overuse - of cortisone and its natural and
artificial derivatives.
4. The introduction and widespread use of Birth Control Pills, which are
supposed to be **estrogen and progesterone** combinations, but are actually
artificial, synthesized foreign molecules that are very successful in
preventing
pregnancy. Unfortunately, they also interfere with normal hormonal balances,
and produce changes in the vaginal tissues that predispose women to Candida
infection.
5. The introduction- and overuse - of drugs that suppress stomach acid
production, thus depriving the users of the normal killing of foreign
organisms
that are ingested with food (such as Candida) and also preventing the proper
digestion of protein which over time leads to malnutrition, even with healthy
diets.
Dr. Levin believes that CRC is a complex problem which plays a role in
multiple chronic and degenerative disease syndromes. CRC is more than just a
yeast
infection. In fact, most often, CRC exists without the presence of an
obvious yeast infection. The belief that CRC occurs only in women is
erroneous. Men
are commonly impacted by CRC and its many resulting effects as well.
It is not only the presence of these disease-causing fungal organisms that
results in illness. Symptoms are often the result of the body's allergic
response to the organisms. It is this chronic Candida infection mixed with the
body's allergic response to the organisms that results in Candida Related
Complex. Asthma, otitis, colitis, fungal infections such as athlete's foot,
eczema,
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, cystitis, ADHD and many other conditions can be
the direct result of CRC. Every child that has had repeated courses of
antibiotics, often to treat ear infections, should be considered a suspect for
CRC
especially when the child presents with conditions that appear to be
allergy-based.
Yeast can result in prostate infections in men as well as chronic bladder
disorders and urinary symptoms in both men and women. Seborrhea ("dandruff")
and Psoriasis are common signs. Approximately 40% of psoriasis cases can be
controlled with an anti-Candida program.
Itching around the vagina, or vaginitis, is often caused by yeast. It has
been demonstrated that specific anti-Candida IgE antibodies can be found in
the
vagina illustrating that persistent vaginitis is largely the result of
allergy. In much the same way that sinus problems can be due to food
allergies,
although there are no foods in the nose, symptoms in the vagina can be the
result of an allergic response to infection elsewhere in the body.
Abnormalities
in the immune system can be related to chronic yeast infection. Polycystic
ovaries and endometriosis are conditions that can be greatly improved through
the proper treatment of Candida.
Women with recurring vaginal yeast infections that don't seem to resolve
after repeated localized treatment courses may be re-infecting themselves due
to
the close location of the anus to the vagina. It is not difficult for yeast
colonizing the digestive tract to make its way from the rectum to the vaginal
area. When the intestinal reservoir of yeast is diminished, vaginal yeast
infections are often controlled as well.
Allergic reactions such as hay fever, asthma, headaches, and eczema are
exacerbated by chronic yeast infections. Arthritis and Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus have responded in some patients to anti-fungal treatment. IBS,
Colitis,
and Crohn's disease are often complicated by the presence of chronic yeast,
parasites, and food allergies.
Dr. Levin uses the analogy of **weeds in the garden** to explain the balance
of organisms in the digestive tract. A healthy lawn is one that has been
cultivated with topsoil, tilled, fertilized, watered, weeded without poisons,
and seeded. This is a lawn that is both beautiful and without weeds. One can
blow dandelion seeds on the lawn and though they will sprout, they cannot
penetrate the interlocking root system. They are rejected and die.
When looking at the inevitable number of organisms that we swallow on a
regular basis, it is the healthy bacteria in the digestive tract that should
create an environment that does not support the persistence of these
pathenogenic
microbes. Unfortunately, antibiotics destroy good bacteria and create a
perfect environment which supports the growth of undesired yeast. When the
healthy bacteria are gone and the yeast takes over, we are further predisposed
to
other unhealthy parasites and bacteria. All of these become weeds in the
garden. Unfortunately, once yeast, parasites, and harmful bacteria have all
arrived to the party, an attempt to resolve the yeast infection without also
resolving the parasite and bacterial overgrowth generally fails. When yeast is
present, one must aggressively look for and address other organisms in order to
ensure the highest possible chance of treatment success.
Healthy bacteria in the digestive tract serve a number of important
functions in the body. They produce vitamins which cannot be manufactured by
the body
itself. They also help to control the overgrowth of pathenogenic microbes in
the gut. In fact, there are more bacteria in a healthy stool than cells in
the entire human body. More than 50% of the dry weight of the stool is
bacteria. These bacteria defend us against many harmful organisms such as
yeast.
Unfortunately, antibiotics destroy healthy bacteria and result in a
welcoming environment for **weeds in the garden**. At first, these weeds are
like the
dandelions, though these organisms quickly seize the opportunity to colonize
and shift the balance in their favor. At this stage, even when the healthy
bacteria are restored, it may not be enough to eradicate the well-implanted
yeast. The yeast take nutrition from the environment and make waste products,
which are then dumped into our bodies and are absorbed, acting as toxins or
poisons. Most people can tolerate small amounts of toxins, but when a certain
threshold is reached, symptoms begin and we become toxic. Headaches,
intestinal problems, aches, pains, fatigue, fuzzy thinking, and nasal
stuffiness are
among the many symptoms that these fungal toxins may produce.
It is the body*s allergic response to these organisms and the toxins they
produce that generate the majority of the symptoms experienced. Once an
allergic response begins, even the elimination of the majority of the yeast
may not
be enough to resolve symptoms. A small remaining amount becomes enough to
trigger the allergic response and thus produce ongoing symptoms.
Unfortunately, much like with Lyme disease, lab testing often misses the
presence of Candida infection. Testing for Candida using stool samples often
yields many **false negative** results. Dr. Levin has come to the conclusion
that Candida creates *roots*, or fungal filaments, which anchor it strongly to
the wall of the digestive tract. He believes this is a survival mechanism as
the organisms could not persist if they were purged from the body. In the book
The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton, PhD, this theory of a consciousness
for self-preservation is scientifically supported. This adherence to the gut
wall significantly reduces the amount of Candida that may be observed in the
stool and results in these **false negative** test results.
As is seen with Lyme disease, antibody testing for Candida often yields
negative results as well. This is a characteristic sign of a suppressed immune
response that simply does not have the fortitude to create antibodies.
In the past, darkfield microscopy was used to observe fungal forms in the
blood. Unfortunately, the practice of using darkfield microscopy by MDs and
DOs
in this manner has since been outlawed by CLIA, the federal agency in charge
of laboratories. The technique may still be employed by chiropractors and
naturopathic physicians, but they do not have the ability to prescribe the
necessary antifungal agents potentially required to address the issue.
Interestingly, fungal forms observed in the blood with darkfield microscopes
do not
persist in the blood after subsequent antifungal treatment with a systemic
antifungal agent.
More recently, additional mechanisms for evaluating the presence of Candida
have become available. William Shaw, PhD, the force behind Great Plains
Laboratory, discovered metabolic waste products which could be identified in
the
urine using a test called the **Organic Acids Test**. More specifically, the
presence of Arabinose and Tartaric Acid, never found in healthy humans, are
powerful indicators of the presence of Candida. This can often help to confirm
the presence of systemic yeast when stool cultures, or other similar tests,
have returned negative but suspicion of yeast involvement remains high.
There have also been additional advances in the area of Candida testing
which may be helpful when yeast organisms are found in cultures. The first is
the
ability to identify the specific yeast species. The second is testing to
determine the best possible treatment option by performing an anti-fungal drug
sensitivity test. This test will look at various options available, both
herbal and prescription, and suggest which may be the most effective treatment
intervention for a given patient.
In looking at treatment options, Nystatin is generally considered to be a
good option for treating Candida infections in the digestive tract. The major
advantage of using Nystatin is the low risk of serious systemic side effects,
as the drug is not systemically absorbed. Unfortunately, this characteristic
of Nystatin is also its downside. It can act as a lawnmower to remove the
dandelions, though it cannot get to the root system and, as a result, may not
be
an effective approach in the treatment of CRC after it has passed the
initial stages. Once the yeast has penetrated the intestinal wall, Nystatin may
be
able to help clear out the intestines, but it leaves the roots behind and the
yeast will simply reemerge.
Until about twenty years ago, there were few other options for the treatment
of Candida. Fortunately, today, there are several oral medications that are
absorbed and work their way through the blood to attack the root system and
more successfully address entrenched chronic fungal infection.
Ketaconazole (Nizoral), Fluconazole (Diflucan), Itraconazole (Sporanox) and
more recently Voriconazole (VFend) are some of the more common agents that
can help to address CRC at a deeper level. Clotrimazole (Lotrimin) is another
"azole" drug used for the treatment of yeast, though it is generally only used
for external yeast infections such as vaginal infection, athlete's foot,
jock itch, and ringworm and is not used to address yeast systemically in this
country. Tinidazole (Tindamax) is not FDA-approved for the treatment of yeast
and may not be available in an oral form strong enough to be beneficial,
though it is beneficial in cases of parasites such as giardia, amoebas, and
trichomonas. Metronidazole (Flagyl) is often the drug of choice for parasites
and
vaginal trichomonas, though it does not have any anti-Candida properties. In
fact, the PDR warns that using Flagyl may promote the overgrowth of Candida.
Long-term use of Ketaconazole can inhibit adrenal function and production of
testicular hormones. Unfortunately, the FDA made a decision years ago to allow
a single dose of Diflucan to be used for the treatment of chronic recurrent
vaginitis. This decision has created a super-strain of Candida that is not
only resistant to Fluconazole but to other **azole** drugs as well.
It is important to understand that while Nystatin is not absorbed and thus
has a low incidence of side effects, the more systemic anti-fungal agents such
as the "azoles" do bring with them a higher risk of liver toxicity and
elevation of liver enzymes. It is necessary to monitor the liver closely when
using these systemic agents. Given the significance of CRC on overall health,
these medications offer great potential, even with the possible side effects
they may bring, as long as the patient is appropriately monitored.
Other important considerations when treating CRC are the prebiotics and
probiotics. Lactobacillus and Bifidus are healthy probiotic organisms that
help
to inhibit the overgrowth of yeast, as well as producing vitamins and
conferring numerous other health benefits. Prebiotics are less commonly
understood.
Their purpose is to serve as fertilizer for the good bacteria. Prebiotics
consist primarily of fructooligosaccha rides (FOS) and inulin. They are
indigestible carbohydrates that support the growth of the probiotics. They are
in
effect a form of **Miracle Gro®** for beneficial bacteria. A number of
prebiotic
and probiotic products are readily available.
Beyond killing yeast with an anti-microbial, any CRC treatment program
should include both a probiotic and prebiotic. Dr. Levin recommends that
patients
use only the highest quality products among the probiotics, and that the
specific product should be changed after six-to-eight weeks to provide as many
different strains of probiotics as possible. Glutamine can be helpful for
restoring the integrity of the bowel wall. Butyric acid can provide an energy
source for the cells of the colon.
Non-prescription products which can be helpful include oregano oil, tea tree
oil used topically, and high quality colloidal silver products (Note:
Colloidal silver products should be obtained from manufacturers, not made at
home.
Attempting to make colloidal silver at home significantly increases the risk
of adverse events.). These interventions are more beneficial earlier in the co
ndition. Once the yeast is well-entrenched, the more powerful prescription
anti-fungals may be required.
Another technique that Dr. Levin finds useful is to measure RBC (red blood
cell) levels of minerals. If molybdenum is low, it should be supplemented. A
waste product of Candida is called **acetylaldehyde**. Aldehydes affect
neurological, metabolic, endocrine, and immune function. More specifically,
with
Candida, it is the creation of acetylaldehyde that overload the system.
Molybdenum helps to break down the aldehydes produced by the yeasts so that
they can
be more readily excreted by the body.
Diet is another key to resolving CRC. A diet high in simple sugars nourishes
the yeast organisms. A low-carbohydrate, high protein diet should be
followed. The diet should restrict fruit and contain no fruit juices. Yeast in
any
form should be avoided. This includes fermented foods made with yeast such as
wine, beer, vinegar, breads, cakes, pastries, and most cheeses. Strawberries,
blueberries, raspberries, and grapes tend to become moldy and should be
avoided. Even small amounts of yeast can trigger yeast allergy symptoms to
emerge. Another important aspect of diet when treating yeast-related
conditions is
the focus on an alkaline diet which may include the incorporation of one of a
number of high-quality **Green** drinks.
Not only do the symptoms of Candida Related Complex and Lyme disease have
significant overlap, but often, the treatment of Lyme disease contributes to
CRC. The refusal of mainstream doctors to consider Candida combined with the
use of antibiotics to treat Lyme disease results in the stage being set for
the
development of CRC.
Anyone that takes more than four weeks of antibiotic therapy and is on the
**Standard American Diet**, which Dr. Levin refers to as **SAD**, is likely to
have Candida overgrowth. Ideally, a combination of probiotics and the
anti-fungal Nystatin would be considered a protective therapy and given to
everyone
on antibiotics in order to minimize the risk of a more entrenched systemic
fungal infection. Once CRC takes hold, more aggressive therapy is often
required.
The more one understands about Candida Related Complex, the better
positioned they are to work with their doctor on evaluating whether or not CRC
is a
part of the overall symptom picture. In a significant number of cases of
people
with Lyme disease, CRC plays a key role. A failure to address this
likelihood undermines the overall Lyme disease treatment protocol.
Successfully
addressing CRC often leads to a significant improvement in overall health and
wellness.
Resources:
Dr. Levin has several lectures available on CD, including one on Candida.
Others include Asthma, Hypoglycemia, Food Allergy, and Intravenous Chelation
Therapy. He can be contacted through his web site: _www.warrenmlevinmd.net_
(http://www.warrenmlevinmd.net) [EMAIL PROTECTED]
(mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED])
To find a doctor in your area visit the American College for the Advancement
of Medicine at _www.acam.org_ (http://www.acam.org) or The American Academy
of Environmental Medicine at _http://www.aaem.com_ (http://www.aaem.com) .
The Yeast Connection For Women: A Medical Breakthrough by William G. Crook
The Yeast Connection Handbook by William G. Crook
The Yeast Syndrome: How to Help Your Doctor Identify & Treat the Real Cause
of Your Yeast-Related Illness by John P. Trowbridge and Morton Walker
Coping With Candida Cookbook by Sally Rockwell
Marjorie Crandall, PhD _www.yeastconsulting.com_
(http://www.yeastconsulting.com)
(http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm)
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