Candida & TCM

Li Hua, L.Ac. TCMD

Candida is a genus of parasitic yeast like fungi commonly found in nature, a few species are found around the skin, feces, and vaginal and pharyngeal tissue, but the gastrointestinal tract is the source of the single most important species. Candida attacks our body different area, cause different problems. In clinic, the main complaints are constipation, diarrhea, colitis, abdominal pain, headaches, bad breath, rectal itching, impotence, memory loss, mood swings, prostatitis, canker sores, persistent heartburn, muscle and joint pain, sore throat, congestion, nagging cough, numbness in the face or extremities, tingling sensations, acne, night sweats, severe itching, clogged sinuses, PMS, burning tongue, white spots on the tongue and in the mouth, extreme fatigue, vaginitis, kidney and bladder infections, arthritis, depression, hyperactivity, hypothyroidism, adrenal problems or even diabetes. In clinic, patients may come with one complaint or have several complaints at the same time. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treats not only the symptoms, but treats the cause and treats the whole body system. I had a patient in clinic. Her main complaint is too much vaginal discharge and itching everyday for three months. Western medicine helped her. When stop taking her western medicine, the symptom came back very quickly. Her gynecologist referred her to me. I had helped her with the oral and external Chinese herbs combined with TuiNa and plus special diet and exercise. At the same time, her energy and concentration had been helped and improved, too. I had another patient. His main complaint is right hand skin peeling, severe itching and dry and chap and fingernails damaged. He said he had visited many different kinds of clinics for 6 years, not getting better but getting worse. He thought it caused by washing dishes in restaurants before. His physician thought he had candida. After checking, I found he also had fatigue, constant heartburn, stomach bloating and low back pain. I thought his problem related with internal and external factors. After courses of TCM treatment, he was very happy about the result and showed his hand to everybody. To get help when get candida is important. Another important thing is how to prevent candida. There are many ways and methods to treat and prevent candida. I do not want to repeat here. Here are my suggestions for your reference. First, living in dry place, reduce chance to live in basement because it is wet and cold. Second, use exercises such as Yuga, Tai Chi Qi Gong and meditation etc. to relief stress as soon as possible. Third, keep mood balance. Forth, not eat hundred percent full each time especially when eat holiday food. Fifth, get enough sunshine. Sixth, when you wash clothes, avoid washing socks with internal clothes such as underwear together.