Candida albicans

¦ I got a heavy flu some years ago, and every time I bent down it felt as if I was going to fall over.

It improved slightly but I am still not right. I am coughing and have a chest infection from mucus going down the back of the throat. I have been to the doctor, got antibiotics and sprays for my blocked nose but no good.

Now I think I might have candida albicans. Could you let me know some natural products to treat it?

My osteopath said I was allergic to cows milk so I switched to goats milk and cheese, but it didn’t make any difference. I think

I have a fungus also under my left eye, it has a slight bloated look. My energy is low from all this. I am a woman of 56.

>> >> You certainly have a lot going on, it is no wonder your energy is feeling low. Candida albicans is a yeast which exists in everyone’s gut, and only becomes problematic when the immune system is low which leads to it multiplying beyond control.

Chances are that a candida overgrowth issue could have appeared as a result of illness and lowered immune function combined with the antibiotics, which destroy the beneficial gut bacteria keeping Candida albicans in check.

Evidence shows that the fat/ sugar combination in foods is what candida albicans thrives on rather than simply the sugars as previously thought. While processed sugars are out, you can still enjoy your fresh fruit as long as you also watch your intake of fats, (including avocado, butter, meats, nuts, and seeds), and be careful not to combine the two at one sitting. Avoiding yeast is definitely the right thing to do.

There is a natural and effective product range for treating fungal infection which has been developed and formulated in New Zealand using the native herb, horopito, (Pseudowintera colorata).

You will need to take the capsules with a large glass of water and ensure that you have eaten first. Forest Herbs Kolorex is available from health stores or Noma Ltd, contact 00 44 2380 770 513 or email [e-mail].

Threelac is a probiotic specifically formulated to destroy candida and restore intestinal balance. Take 4 sachets per day for the first month, and then reduce to 2 sachets per day until you no longer experience the symptoms. Continue the 2 sachets for a full month after symptoms have stopped and then reduce to a maintenance dose of 1 sachet per day.

Threelac is available from Down to Earth (01-6719702) or you can order it online from www.bodykind.ie where one pack of 60 sachets costs €50.68.

Regarding the cows’ milk, it may be that you need to eliminate all dairy products, including goat and sheep milk, cheeses and yoghurts.

Continue for at least three months, and make sure that you keep a food diary with notes on how you feel after eating each meal or snack so that you can pinpoint potential trigger foods.

Your original illness with the imbalanced and blocked feeling sounds very much like an inner ear issue, especially since you are still not feeling quite right.

There are such a wide range of causes and conditions that can lead to the symptoms you describe, so it is very important to get yourself checked by an ear, nose & throat specialist rather than trial and error.

As far as a natural nose spray goes, try Nutribiotic Nasal Spray with Grapefruit seed extract. This spray is all natural, with anti-bacterial, anti-fungal & anti-viral properties. If you can’t find it at your local health store, then try searching for an online supplier.