Fungus Among Us: Herbal Treatments
( from the Herbal Research Foundation http://www.herbs.org/index.html )
by Karyn Siegel-Maier
They're embarrassing, unsightly and, in some cases, even debilitating. What are they?
They are the fungal infections caused by minute parasitic yeasts and molds. Topical fungal
infections can affect several areas of the body, from the scalp to the toenails, and can take
up residence in a person of any age. They can also take considerable time in making their
presence known, making their detection often difficult. What's more, they are contagious.
What's an infected person to do? The first remedial step in treating a suspected fungal
infection is to get a confirmed diagnosis from a qualified practitioner at the first sign of
trouble. Some types of fungal infections become cosmetically apparent soon after exposure.
Others must be identified under a Wood's lamp, a type of ultraviolet light. Once an accurate
diagnosis is made, a specialized course of treatment can then be pursued.
Some types of fungal infections, such as the kind that attacks the nails, can be very
difficult to eradicate. Nail infections in particular are often treated with oral drugs,
such as terbinafine or ketoconazole. However, recent studies continue to indicate that
some of these meds may pose certain health risks. Specifically, ketoconazole has been
linked to liver damage, in a few cases with fatal results. If your physician suggests the
use of such oral drugs, you may want to explore its efficacy and potential side effects
before undergoing treatment. The good news in all of this is that you can successfully
treat fungal infections safely and effectively with natural methods, such as certain botanicals.
The following paragraphs outline the most common types of fungal infections and the best
herbal remedies to ward them off.
Meet the Enemy The most common fungal infections are a form of tinea, or ringworm a group
of organisms known collectively as dermatophytes. The term ringworm refers to the fact that
researchers once speculated that it was caused by a parasitic worm, as evidenced by the tell-
tale round, red lesion it produces. But, of course, we now recognize that ringworm is an invading
fungus. Not only is ringworm highly contagious, but it can be found in seemingly innocent places.
The specific fungus responsible for scalp ringworm infections is found in humans and animals,
including pets. In fact, children typically contract ringworm from the family cat or dog. The
fungus that leads to ringworm of the body (tinea corporis) can be found living in humans, animals
and in ordinary soil. And, the fungus that causes infections of the feet and nails live exclusively
in humans. People pick up these fungi from infected surfaces, such as locker rooms and pools,
and of course, other people.
Athletes Foot ( Tinea pedis )
Athletes foot is characterized by itching and a burning, scaling rash around and between the toes.
Effective treatment of this type of infection is the same as its prevention " keeping the feet as
clean and dry as possible at all times. The application of powder, or cornstarch, can help to reduce
excess moisture. Wearing shoes that provide ventilation and avoiding those that can trap moisture
is also helpful. Ajoene, a garlic-derived organic trisulphur, has a demonstrated ability to check
athletes foot. In a 1996 trial, the use of a cream containing 0.4% ajoene resulted in the complete
cure of 27 out of 34 patients after only one week of treatment. The remaining seven patients
achieved the same result after an additional seven days. Alcohol extracts of garlic or ajoene-
formulated creams can be found in many natural food stores.
Jock Itch (Tinea cruris) While the common name for this fungal infection paints an unpleasant
graphic picture, its attributes are even less attractive. As the name implies, the offending culprit
is often an athletic supporter too long in need of washing. Jock itch is primarily a mans concern,
affecting the groin but rarely spreading to the penis, scrotum or a female partner. It is,however,
aggravated by moisture and friction, making intimate contact less than desirable. Keeping the area
clean and dry will usually correct the problem in 1-2 weeks. Wearing boxer shorts rather than
briefs, and applying powder after bathing, will also speed healing. For persistent tinea cruris,
garlic once again offers relief. In a 1999 study involving 60 soldiers afflicted with either jock
itch or tinea corporis, a 0.6% ajoene gel proved more effective than a 1% terbinafine cream
with a healing rate of 77% compared to 75% after 30 days of treatment.
Nail infections The bad news first: Of all the fungal infections one can encounter, tinea unguium
(toenail infection) and onychomycosis (fingernail infection) are the most difficult to conceal and
treat. In this case, the fungus penetrates the nail and continues to spread to other fingers and toes,
causing thickening and discoloration of the nails. Oral drugs, such as griseofulvin, are very expensive
and only offer a 50-70% chance of a cure. Griseofulvin also sometimes produces unwanted effects,
such as headaches and nausea. Furthermore, this drug must be taken until the nail grows out (from
6 months to 1 year) and liver damage is associated with its long-term use. Another drug, terbinafine,
is only administered for a 6-12 week period, but is even more costly and also only has a 50-70%
success rate. Ready for the good news? Significant results can be obtained from treating nail
infections with Australian tea tree. Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) was the subject of a recent
double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which 60 nail infection patients aged 18-80 years
achieved an 80% cure rate after 16 weeks. In addition, none of these patients experienced a
recurrence of infection. Tea tree preparations can be found in health food stores, or a home
treatment of 2 drops tea tree essential oil blended with a vegetable-based carrier oil can be
applied to affected nails twice each day.
addendum by priscilla : In case you don't know....yeast thrives on sugar...so if you have an
active yeast or fungal infection...stay away from sugar amap.
CANDIDA
Diatomaceous Earth : Recently I started using FOOD GRADE D. E. as it's called. It has been
a miracle worker for me and it's cheap. 1 tablespoon in a glass of water at night followed by more water works, or you can add it to a smoothie to disguise the chalky taste and you won't even know it's there. It has the ability also to lower blood pressure. It is supposed to remove viruses, fungus, and
Parasites from your gut so it would be good to take given the contamination of our food and water.
I buy mine at Garden Harvest Supply for 5 lbs, I pay $11.00. It is also something you can use to
deflea your critters, but have to make sure it doesn't get in your nose/lungs or theirs. The bugs eat
it and die, but takes a bit for them to die. they dehydrate to death. It also can be put in garden soil
to kill the harmful bugs. You can read about it by just googling.
Asafoetida - this is recommended by the Natural news guy for candida
The herbal remedies made from the asafoetida are excellent for a variety of nervous conditions
according to the ancient Indian ayurvedic medicine system, the asafoetida is also considered to
be a very valuable spice, in the ayurvedic system the herbal remedy is used in the treatment of
colic, it is also used in the treatment of spasms in the bowel, and for the treatment of spasmodic
coughing arising as a result of whooping cough, complications due to pneumonia, and problems
related to disorders such as bronchitis and related respiratory distress. Many herbalists also
consider the asafoetida as an effective remedy for the treatment of internal worms and to
treat different kinds of intestinal parasites in many patients.
Asafoetida has also been credited as being beneficial for by many patients, who report that
they felt noticeable benefits using the herb as a treatment of flatulence, in the treatment of
digestive weakness, and in the treatment of fungal infections such as candidiasis, and in the
treatment of chronic fatigue.
One author of a book on candida says that Cancer comes from a fungus. And it is well known
that chronic candida can lead to cancer. THANK YOU GOD for keeping me alive !
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Below is from the above webpage
Some of The Best Treatments For Candida Albicans, Anti-Fungal Foods & Herbs It's a good idea to
incorporate some of the major dietary changes before increasing the anti-fungal foods and herbs in
your daily diet, so that you will have already begun starving the yeast and improving your immune
system.
See the Step By Step Diet Guide for more information on how to get started.
That said, here's the list of some of our major players.
Antifungal Foods and Herbs, Excellent Natural Treatments for Candida Albicans
Apple Cider Vinegar - Use raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar liberally in salad dressings, marinades, and mayonnaise. Apple cider vinegar can also be used as a douche in the treatment of vaginal candida yeast infections, or as a topical treatment for fungal infections of the skin, including dandruff, tinea versicolor and seborrheic dermatitis, which occur due a weakened immune system.
Apple cider vinegar is one of the most versatile (and delicious) natural treatments for candida albicans.
Read more on apple cider vinegar and candida here . [ I would say make sure it's ORGANIC as apples that
are not organic are highest in pesticides of all the fruit ]
Barberry - This one of the three most common western medicinal roots containing berberine,
which has potent antifungal properties. Berberine demonstrates significant anti-fungal activity
while leaving beneficial microflora in the gut intact. It's is also good for diarrhea. Research
has shown that berberine can effectively prevent candida yeasts from producing lipase, an
enzyme which they use to help them colonize. You would take barberry as a supplemental treatment
for candida albicans as opposed to cooking with it.
Cloves - Make clove tea from freshly ground cloves, add ground cloves to spice rubs.
You will also find clove oil in some drug stores, which is sold as a topical application for the relief
of toothache. Clove oil can be taken internally, but start small, it's potent! One drop at first
will be plenty, washed back with a glass of water.
Clove oil is an extremely effective anti-fungal when taken internally, but also when applied
topically to fungal infections of the toenail or the fingernail. Clove oil is one of the most
powerful weapons among the dietary treatments for candida albicans. Bye bye yeast!
Coconut Oil - Caprylic acid, a medium chain saturated fatty acid found in coconut oil
has been demonstrated to inhibit fungal growth, both topically and internally.
Get a good quality virgin coconut oil for eating raw. Stir it into steamed vegetables,
add a dollop to a bowl of soup. This is one of the most powerful foods for candida treatment.
Here's an informative book about coconut oil.
There are less expensive (refined and deodorized) coconut oils which can be used for cooking,
such as a stir fry or for sauteeing. The refined and/or deodorized kind of coconut oil is good
for people who don't like coconut flavor. Even the refined coconut oils are better than most
other oils for cooking due to their tolerance to heat, but for the best anti-fungal properties,
invest in some virgin coconut oil.
Really impotant note - no way, under any circumstance do you want to purchase hydrogenated
or partially hydrogenated oil. I'm referring in this section to "virgin coconut oil" or, second
best, "refined, deodorized" coconut oil which I have found for sale in health food stores and
online. Your oils should never be hydrogenated in any way. Hydrogenated, processed oils lead to
high cholesterol levels and are toxic to your liver.
Garlic - Fresh garlic contains a large number of sulphur containing compounds which have
potent anti-fungal properties. Among the most studied are allicin, alliin, alliinase and S-allylcysteine.
When eaten raw (especially crushed, which releases these powerful agents), this little bulb is about
the best anti-fungal available! Blend it into salad dressings, or how about some garlicky aioli for a
grilled artichoke or asparagus? Yum! Add raw crushed garlic to tapenades, fresh salsas, and raw
veggie dips. If I had to choose one anti-fungal food to use in my natural treatments for candida
albicans, raw crushed garlic would be a contender.
Ginger While not the most potent antifungal food, ginger is an excellent healing food,
it's worth adding to this list. Ginger root is used to treat a number of health problems including
abdominal bloating, loss of appetite, coughing, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, fevers, diarrhea,
arthritis and rheumatism, among many others.
The aroma of ginger is such a pleasant one, and to sip a cup of ginger tea for a sore throat or
an upset stomach really feels like you're taking something that has some "oomph!" Add some lime
juice and honey for tea...it's awesome. I used to drink this when I was in India.
And it does indeed have "oomph". Ginger contains volatile oils which give it its characteristic
taste and aroma. The aromatic constituents in ginger include zingiberene and bisabolene, while
the pungent constituents (which are probably responsible for the calming effects on nausea)
are known as gingerols and shogaols. Ginger is also used in many formulations to cleanse the
liver, and has been used for thousands of years in various corners of the globe as a detoxifying
remedy. The liver is often overly toxic when dealing with an overgrowth of yeast in the
body. That alone gives ginger a place on the list of our best culinary (and medicinal)
treatments for candida.
Goldenseal - Not so delicious as a food, but this root is a powerful antifungal, so it's great
as part of a treatment for candida. Goldenseal contains berberine. Berberine demonstrates
significant anti-fungal activity while leaving beneficial microflora in the gut intact. It's also
good for diarrhea. Research has shown that berberine can effectively prevent candida yeasts
from producing lipase, an enzyme which they use to help them colonize. You would take
goldenseal as an herbal treatment for candida, as opposed to cooking with it.
Oregano Oil - Also called Oil of Oregano. This is sold as an herbal supplement or an
essential oil, but it is totally edible! A good one will be made of the essential oil of wild
harvested, mountain grown oregano infused into extra virgin olive oil.
Oil of Oregano contains a phenol called carvacrol, which is the antifungal agent of the plant.
It has a really strong taste, but I absolutely love it! You can add it to salad dressing, or add
a few drops to a serving of good Italian style meat sauce. If the taste is too much, just put
a small amount of water into a shot glass, add a few drops of the oil, and knock it back!
Follow with a glass of water.
Oil of Oregano is also one of the best oral treatments for candida albicans overgrowth in the
mouth, called oral thrush (a white coating on the tongue). Mix it with olive oil to apply to
fungal skin infections, or use it straight on toenail and fingernail fungus infections.
There are stronger concentrations of oregano oil available for skin use, but you need to mix with
olive oil so it won't burn your skin. Same with internal use...needs to be more diluted.
Oregon Grape Root - Another root containing berberine. Berberine demonstrates significant
anti-fungal activity while leaving beneficial microflora in the gut intact. It's is also good for
diarrhea. Research has shown that berberine can effectively prevent candida yeasts from
producing lipase, an enzyme which they use to help them colonize. You would take Oregon
Grape Root as an herbal treatment for candida albicans as opposed to cooking with it.
Pau D'Arco - This is a milder anti-fungal, but is well known for its immune supporting qualities
due to its high levels of antioxidants. Because it's milder in its effects than the other foods
on this list, it's the best one to include early on as part of your dietary treatments for candida.
Pau D'Arco is made from the bark of a rainforest tree. Sometimes it's called Taheebo or Lapacho.
A popular preparation is to make it into tea. You can get it in tea bags, or, a less expensive
option is to buy the loose bark in the bulk herb section of a natural food store.
It is a mahogany-colored thin bark, usually sold in small strips or shreds. Be sure you buy Pau
D'arco Tea form a reputable source, there are many species of Pau D'arco tree, but only one
variety is potently medicinal (Tabebuia avellanedae, synonym = Tabebuia impetiginosa). Also,
the bark shavings are sometimes mixed with other wood shavings lumber yards and packaged
as "pure".
Here's a good tincture for treating candida made from Pau D'Arco
(along with marigold and lemongrass) - this is from a reputable company which I trust
More on Pau D'Arco http://www.candida-cure-recipes.com/pau-d-arco-tea.html
Pungent Spices - Let's talk curry. Especially Indian-style curries. The pungent spices found
in curry blends are great detoxifiers , blood cleansers, and very helpful for repelling candida
yeast! It's best to make your curry dishes at home, especially the Thai curries, which often
have sugars added when you order them at the restaurant.
Some of the most potent antifungal pungent spices are asafoetida, ajwain seeds, cinnamon,
cloves, and coriander (the essential oil found in the coriander leaves especially-also called
cilantro). Get into curries, enjoy those pungent spice blends, they're some of the tastiest
treatments for candida albicans.
Organic curry blends
We don't need prescription drugs and over-the-counter chemical creams, ointments and
suppositories when we can use effective natural remedies instead. These foods & potent
herbs, when used in conjunction with a proper diet, are truly some of the best natural
treatments for candida albicans!
Author's source for excellent quality herbs, spices and body products -
and they ship right to your door:
_____________________________________________________________
Threelac Review, The Clinically Proven Yeast Eating Probiotic, Or Not? Http://www.yeastinfectionadvisor.com/threelacreview.HTML
Alternative treatment recommendations:
I started taking 3 lac which is not cheap...$48.00 and it does help, but I felt because of
looking at the bacteria in it, that I needed to look them up specifically and see what they were,
and found there is a risk in some places with the Enterococcus faecalis related to heart problems,
reported in Australia and antibiotic resistance in hospitals in America according to the above article.
So I looked for an alternative and found this product with lemon grass
And pau d'arco that this guy recommended...Called CANDIDATE.
Also found one of the ingredients in 3 lac which is SAFE & is sold as sustenex...here for
$14.00 in pill form, and touted to be much better than any number of yogurts.
This is also more available, at Wal mart, CVS,or online through www.amazon.com
IHerb.com or Swansons vitamins also good sources for online.
So you might want to check out all this information if you have struggled with yeast Infection.
Aluminum free sodium bicarb like Red Hill brand boiled at 100 degrees F for 5 min with real
maple syrup 1:3 ratio will also alkalinize body and help kill candida, taken by mouth.
see cancer tutor site for more details. http://cancertutor.com/
