One of the leading herbal antibiotic, anti-fungal, antiviral medicines is goldenseal, and Candida is one of the maladies that it fights the best. While there are many illnesses that goldenseal can be taken for, the way that it relieves the symptoms of Candida is truly remarkable.
What Is Candida?
Candida Albicans is a type of yeast that naturally lives in the human body. When the body is healthy and balanced, it is not a problem and performs important functions in the digestive system. However when something upsets the natural balance in the body, Candida can become out of control and begin to cause many types of health problems.
This yeast is normally found only in the intestinal tract, genitals, mouth, and throat but when it gets out of control it can actually burrow through the intestinal walls and enter the blood stream. In this way, it can attack any organ in the body. As it courses through the blood it also emits up to 70 different toxins causing various symptoms.
Symptoms of Candida Albicans
The difficulty in diagnosing Candida is that it has many different symptoms and can imitate several other illnesses.
- Abdominal gas
- Headaches and migraines
- Excessive fatigue
- Cravings for alcohol
- Cravings for carbohydrates
- Panic attacks
- Anxiety
- Cravings for sweets
- Foggy thoughts
- Hyperactivity
- PMS
- Mood swings
- Vaginitis
- Rectal itching
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Acne
- Eczema
- Depression
- Sinus inflammation
- Vertigo
- Coughing
- Earaches
- Low Sex Drive
- Acid reflux
- Muscle weakness
- Irritability
- Learning problems
- Chemical sensitivity
- Thrush
- Athlete's foot
There are many more symptoms and illnesses caused by Candida, with more being recognized every day. Another difficulty in diagnosing Candida is that the symptoms vary from person to person. Often someone will have different symptoms from day to day. One day there may be joint pain while the next day you may experience diarrhea.
Fighting Candida
Prescription treatments for Candida generally include antifungal medications. These medications can lead to the development of drug resistant strains of yeast. A higher dose is then required to kill the Candida and this becomes a vicious cycle which ultimately weakens the immune system.
Once Candida gets a foothold in your body it can seem impossible to get rid of. Fighting Candida requires a combination of lifestyle changes, dietary changes, antifungal herbs and immune support. Native Americans knew about goldenseal and Candida centuries ago. They used goldenseal tea to fight oral thrush as well as other illnesses.
Goldenseal acts both as an antifungal and as strong support for a suppressed immune system. The active compound berberine in goldenseal kills Candida. It also stimulates your immune system as well as helps detoxify the liver. Because of the natural ability of goldenseal to detoxify the liver there may be fewer unpleasant side effects from the Candida die off than would normally occur.
Cautions and Side Effects
Goldenseal should be taken for no more than two weeks at a time. When you have hit the two week mark, change to another herbal remedy for Candida for a week and then go back on the goldenseal. Continue in that cycle as long as necessary to allow your body to heal.
Pregnant and nursing women should not take goldenseal. It does show up in breast milk and has been shown to cause uterine contractions during pregnancy. It is unwise to treat Candida during pregnancy and lactation without advice from your health care provider.
There are few other side effects from goldenseal. Long term, heavy use can result in nausea and vomiting so the cycle of two weeks on and one week off, or three weeks on and two weeks off should be followed.
More About Goldenseal and Candida
There is more in depth information about goldenseal and Candida on the Internet. Some of the most helpful websites are:
- Botanical
- The Candida Diet
- Candidiasis
- Goldenseal Formula E & F
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Treating Candida with goldenseal, in addition to the recommended dietary and lifestyle changes can bring Candidiasis under control and eventually totally eradicate your body of this problem. Always talk to your health care provider before beginning any new herbal supplements.
