» The Yeast Syndrome
DEFINITION: Chronic Candida syndrome, Candidiasis, Chronic Candidiasis, Systemic Yeast Syndrome, etc. are various names used to describe a constellation of symptoms associated with over-colonization of the skin and, more commonly, mucous membranes (intestine/vaginal/sinus/etc.) with one or more of several members of the species of the medically important Genus of yeast known as Candida. The formal medical term for this condition is "Chronic Muco-Cutaneous Candidiasis" (CMCC).
DIAGNOSIS: This is a chronic, debilitating condition that affects women to a much greater extent than it does men - with a ratio of about 4 to 1. In years past, mainstream medical practitioners did not often recognize the difficult constellation of symptoms accompanying this condition, and many of its sufferers were dismissed as neurotic or "crocks." Now, there is a growing body of scientific evidence published in respected medical journals substantiating the existence of this "yeast syndrome," and more clinicians are now beginning to adopt a careful regard for patients with this condition and its multiple system complaints. In conditions of good health, this organism does not usually cause any problems. It is therefore not a pathogen, or a "bad" germ. Under certain conditions of poor health, however, it can "seize the opportunity" to grow beyond its normal confines and cause illness. For this reason it is called "opportunistic." There are a number of predisposing factors that can create conditions for Candida to grow. These factors include: diet (high sugar and phosphorous); long term or frequent antibiotic use; treatment with steroids like cortisone; more than three full term pregnancies; and a history of birth control pill use. These last two factors explain why the condition can be more of a problem for women.
The most common form of acute medical Candidiasis is a localized infection, such a vaginitis (acute "yeast infection"). These respond to simple treatment and generally clear up quickly and completely and are diagnosed "clinically," rather than by lab confirmation. "Systemic Candidiasis," on the other hand, is a chronic medical condition that may or may not be accompanied by "clinically obvious" infection. The presenting symptoms of a chronic Candida albicans overgrowth involve multiple systems in the body, and the symptoms are many and varied. Fatigue, headache, numerous allergies to various things, abdominal pain and especially abdominal bloating, menstrual irregularities, constipation or diarrhea, recurrent vaginal yeast infections, recurrent sinus infections, various skin eruptions, and many others are frequently encountered. Chronic Candidiasis is fundamentally a problem of the immune system, rather than simply a localized infection. In these cases, excessive colonization by yeast organisms of the internal mucous membranes produces many widespread and chronic Neuro-Endocrine-Immune symptoms resulting in many apparently unrelated complaints that usually defy standard diagnostic tests. However, there are specific scientific tests that may accurately confirm the diagnosis and these should be used to confirm the diagnosis. However, the clinical diagnosis of Chronic Candidiasis is made mostly by having a high index of clinical suspicion.
TREATMENT: Since this condition is, by definition "CHRONIC," quick "cures" may sound good, but simply do not exist. Management of the symptoms using a combination of patient Education, Lifestyle Changes to improve diet, exercise, etc., careful use of Nutritional Supplements, Immune Stimulation to enhance immune function and discourage excessive colonization, specific Natural Probiotic Organisms to reduce excess colonization and, in many cases, the informed use of pharmaceutical Anti-Fungals to reduce excessive colonization. The treatment of Chronic Candidiasis is an excellent example of integrated medical practice. This disease cannot be treated successfully by either "conventional" or "natural" means alone. Usually a combination of prescription drug therapy, along with dietary management, detoxification, immune stimulation therapy and nutritional supplementation play essential roles in controlling this condition. Notice the word "controlling" here. Candidiasis is not a disease like pneumonia where you cure it with antibiotics and then go back to living just the way you did before. On the contrary, it takes an intelligent program of lifestyle modification - followed with consistency - to get the job done, and to keep it done. At Bio Health Center, Dr. Edwards and the certified staff work with Chronic Yeast patients on a regular basis. And while there are no "quick fixes" for this chronic condition, the use of Homeopathic Integrative therapy for controlling the excessive colonization within the body, along with Herbal, Homeopathic, Bio Oxidative, Ozone and UVBI therapies for Immune Stimulation commonly results in a more successful clinical outcome for this condition of modern society than drugs alone. Each patient with Chronic Yeast Syndrome must make choices based on accurate diagnosis and personal education regarding treatment... and at Bio Health Center, we believe it is All about personal health care choice.
"No where in today's managed care, third party, media circus does anyone present the patient and clinical practitioners philosophy... For years I listened to the insurers, managers, experts, professors, news pundits, bureaucrats and opinion makers. But I ultimately realized that I still had to sleep at night. From all third party perspectives any clinical practice is, in essence, 'anecdotal.' So now I listen to mainly to my conscience. I had good teachers, good mentors and loyal patients as well. Although I think 'science' is important, technology, politics and economics are not science. The professional oath I took upon becoming a physician was to relieve patient suffering, honor those who taught me, teach those willing to learn and reveal no information shared with me in confidence. It didn't have anything to do with third parties. That oath is our philosophy at Bio Health Center..."
- David A. Edwards, MD, HMD
