How to go about cleansing yeast with salt water

There are really two parts to this type of cleanse, a fast the day before and then the flushing the next day. The fast is a way to prepare the body and stops you adding in any additional toxins or chemicals from the food you eat. After the day of fasting the next morning you can start cleansing the yeast with salt water. You need to do this on a weekend or when you have a couple of days off. The salt water flush itself is easy to make, just use purified water with sea salt added to it, celtic or Himalayan are two ideal kinds. You will need about two teaspoons of sea salt to a quart of warmed purified water. The taste should slightly salty – add more salt and stir if needed and avoid letting it boil, you are just warming it so the salt dissolves into the water.

When this is done you are ready to drink it. Do not guzzle it down quickly to get it over with. You want to drink 2 to 3 cups of the solution taking about twenty minutes to do so. Do not make yourself sick with it as this defeats the purpose. Once you have finished drinking you want to gently rub your stomach to help the solution break the waste up that is in there. The diarrhea will come within 15 minutes to 2 hours of drinking so make sure there is a bathroom nearby. This can take some time for the body to completely empty itself out.

After cleansing the yeast with salt water

You may want to spend the rest of the day relaxing but some people feel energized after a successful flush because all the toxins have been removed. Remember though that a flush is only part of treating candida overgrowth, it does not completely remove the candida, and it does not deal with the root cause of the problem. Take some probiotic supplements to replenish the good bacteria in your body and avoid spicy foods, alcohol and heavy foods.

About Olive Leaf

Olive leaf extract as the name suggests comes from the leaves of the olive trees. Nowadays you will not find many kitchens that do not have olive oil in them, because as well as being tasty, it has been found to be good for us too. However it is important to remember when thinking of treating a yeast infection with olive leaf it is the extract from the leaf we are talking about not the oil from the olive fruits. Olive leaf can help with yeast infections and candida overgrowth because the active component in it called oleuropein turns to elolenic acid in our body, which supports the immune system in fighting not just fungi but also viruses and bacteria. Because the process of extraction is slow the price of it is higher.

How to go about treating a yeast infection with Olive leaf

There are several forms you can buy olive leaf in, but probably the easiest and most popular are the capsules. When you buy it look at the levels of oleuropein in them as if it is a high percentage then you will want to take a lower dose each day. The best idea is to start at a low amount, and then slowly increase the dose depending on how your body is reacting. Olive leaf is non-toxic and safe as long as you do not take amounts too high. And it does not have any of the serious side effects that some drugs have. You may however have something called die-off occur. Remember that your body’s reaction to the candida is a reaction to the toxins the candida releases as waste. When there is a lot of candida being killed by the treatment this will probably lead to a lot of toxins being released and this can cause a temporary worsening of your symptoms. If it does happen to you reduce the dose you are taking until you feel able to cope with what is happening and drink lots of water to flush out the toxins.

How does a rectal yeast infection develop?

There are a couple of ways a rectal yeast infection can come about, one is if you have a vaginal yeast infection it can spread to the rectal area leading to a rectal yeast infection also. Another way it can happen is if you have a problem with overgrowth in your bowels then this can also progress to the rectal area. It can also be triggered by itself in that region by things such as wearing damp clothes for longer than necessary, not drying yourself properly after bathing, eating spicy foods, not washing regularly there, wearing clothing that does not allow the skin to breath such as synthetic fibers, having regular diarrhea or constipation, using perfumed products there, or a having a diet that is generally poor and high in sugars.

Treating a rectal yeast infection

First of all identify the root cause and make changes if possible. If your underwear is synthetic switch to cotton, if you eat a lot of curry, cut back! If you have a diet high in sugars, lower it, eat more fresh foods especially leafy greens, and try switching to organic so that you are not consuming chemicals. Other things you should try to include are whole grains rather than refined foods and to get the probiotics needed to help with your internal candida eat plain yogurt, fermented cabbage, or kefir. You can also look for foods that will help soften the stools so that there is less irritation and it is lubricated, prunes or prune juice, unrefined cold pressed flax seed oil or flax seed itself. Read the labels carefully on the soaps and detergents you use and switch clothing that is looser. Finally you may want to consider getting moist wipes or using a cloth dampened with warm water to wipe yourself rather than toilet paper.

Treatment can include;

• Anti-fungal creams either from the pharmacy or prescribed
• Aloe vera gel
• Tea tree oil or other essential oils
• Probiotic supplements
• Detoxification
• Herbal anti-fungal treatments such as Pau D’arco

How a yeast infection and rhino-sinusitis are linked

Candida is on most humans and can affect anywhere in the body including the nose and sinuses. Overgrowth can allow the candida to become pathogenic and there are a number of things that can cause this, stress, medications, antibiotics, hormonal imbalance, nose sprays and so on. It is also possible for the candida to spread from the gastrointestinal tract where it is already causing further problems with the immune system, as the body is not getting the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. There have been studies that confirm the link between a yeast infection and rhino-sinusitis but now conventional medicine needs to catch up, as in the past there have been problems with incorrect treatments of anti-histamines and antibiotics both of which actually worsen the condition if it is a fungal matter.

Symptoms

As well as other possible yeast infection symptoms such as a vaginal, or eye infection, and candida overgrowth symptoms there are specific symptoms to sinusitis which include;

• Fever
• Congestion
• A feeling of pressure on your face around your nose and eyes
• Headaches
• A dripping nose
• Unable to smell or taste much
• A cough

Treatment

There is the option of medicated anti-fungal treatment or if you prefer there are alternative options. For example some people have had success with acupuncture, inhaling oil vapors using essential oils like lavender or rosemary, irrigating the sinuses with salt water or a herbal solution and to relieve the pressure using hot and cold compresses.

How hormonal imbalance can cause a yeast infection

Yeast infections are caused by having too much candida in your body, a fungus that lives there normally in low amounts. Sometimes factors can affect the low amounts and allow then to multiply. One factor is hormonal imbalance because the chemical changes that occur are liked by the candida. Usually during pregnancy or menstruation the levels of estrogen are raised, this can help create a better environment for the candida as a woman can have more vaginal discharge.

Yeast infections and the menopause are not about the estrogen

While the menopause is a time when hormones are fluctuating, this time estrogen levels are actually low not raised. However this affects the walls of the vagina, making them thinner and means that during sex, there can be irritation caused to them, which can cause a yeast infection to occur. Plus if a woman decides to take HRT while going through the menopause this raises the estrogen levels again, and if the right balance is not achieved, the levels can go too high. Finally the menopause is a stressful time for some women, and stress to causes chemical changes in the body that allows the possibility of a yeast infection to become more likely.

Treating and preventing a yeast infection

If you are asking about yeast infections and the menopause because you need treatment there are several ways you can go about it. There are natural options that some have success with, there are over the counter medications and there are prescribed treatments from a doctor. If you want to prevent the problem think about the following advice;

• Do not douche
• Wash daily making sure you dry carefully and thoroughly
• Avoid wearing clothing that makes the vaginal area sweaty
• Change out of sweaty or wet clothing as soon as you can
• Use gentle soaps and do not used scented products
• Use lubrication during sex

Patients in hospital are more likely to have a yeast infection of the kidney or bladder from having bladder catheters. Symptoms include a lower back and abdomen pressure, burning when urinating, needing to urinate often but not actually passing much urine when you do go, fever. It can happen when yeast or bacteria enters the urinary tract if there is a penile or vaginal yeast infection. The key to getting an accurate diagnosis and quick treatment is to go to a doctor as soon as you have any bladder problems as he or she will be able to do tests that can tell whether you need bacterial or fungal treatment.

The digestive system

Our intestines when they are healthy are in balance between good and bad bacteria and other micro-organisms like candida. But when something affects the good bacteria numbers, killing them, the imbalance allowed the candida an opportunity to multiply without restriction. Things that can trigger this include antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication, weakened immune systems caused by an existing illness like AIDS, muscular deterioration diseases, chemotherapy treatment, stress and diet. The candida expands attaching to the intestinal walls, the genitals, and mucous membranes like the bronchial and nasal passages. While certain forms of yeast infection are well known, vaginal, oral, skin for example, what is not realized by many candida sufferers is that a sinus yeast infection can also occur.

How does the digestive system affect the sinuses?

A healthy digestive system is important for our overall health, when it starts going wrong it can affect everything and anything. With an overgrowth of candida the body is not able to digest foods properly and the nutrients it requires. This leads to a weakening of the immune system which can lead to other ailments not just a candida problem. Bowel function may deteriorate meaning more waste and toxins are staying inside the body which can enter the bloodstream. The candida moves to mucous membranes and gets into the nasal passages and sinuses, when there the immune system tries to attack with T-Lymphocytes which triggers auto-immune responses in the membranes causing the symptoms of a sinus infection.

Sinus yeast infection symptoms

• inflammation
• overproduction of mucus
• congestion
• fatigue
• headaches
• pressure
• pain
• constant running
• lack of energy

Diagnosing a sinus yeast infection

Symptoms of a sinus yeast infection are the same as any other sinus infection so diagnosing it can be hard. It is important to make sure the doctor gets it right though, otherwise he or she is likely to prescribe antibiotics which will not treat the problem successfully and will cause further problems and compound the infection. The problem is since this is a recent possibility your doctor may not agree with your suggestion. A sinus yeast infection can also come with a secondary bacterial infection, so yes antibiotics may temporarily make it feel somewhat better, but bacteria are not the root of the problem which is made worse by that treatment. You may want to consider seeing an alternative practitioner if you want your chronic sinus problem investigated for fungal causes and your own doctor is resistant to the idea.

Treating a sinus yeast infection

There are a number of medicated anti-fungals that can be used to treat a sinus yeast infection as well as some natural/herbal options too. Most effective could be a combination treatment, using a yeast treatment like Diflucan for the fungus and a nasal spray to fight the secondary bacteria infection. While on this treatment you can also do some nasal rinses. In a cup of lukewarm water dissolve half a teaspoon of salt and optionally add a pinch of baking soda to make it a more gentle rinse. Inhale some up each nostril one at a time then gently blow your nose. Repeat until the nose is clear and do at least twice a day. This rinses out a lot of the infection while you treat the rest. Try taking a probiotic supplement to replenish the good bacteria needed to control candida growth and avoid sugar in your diet as it is a source of food for the fungus.

Garlic is probably the easiest and most effective ingredient you can use as a vaginal suppository. Here is an easy and quick way to make a homemade garlic vaginal suppository treatment for a yeast infection.

1. Peel a clove of garlic. If you tend to have sensitive skin avoid making any cuts into the flesh of the garlic. If you want however you can make a small cut to allow some of the juice out. However some women find this stings and causes discomfort.
2. Wrap the clove into either gauze or cheesecloth and twist the end so it has a small tail for when it is time to remove.
3. Insert the wrapped clove up the vaginal canal. If you want you can dip the suppository in some herbal oil so that it slides in easier.
4. Take out and replace every 3 to 5 hours and continue when you can for up to five days.

It comes in capsule form and they recommend you take one capsule a day normally or two capsules a day if you are on antibiotics. Antibiotics are one of the main causes of yeast infections as most types of antibiotics do not recognize the difference between good bacteria and bad bacteria so kill them both. Loosing good bacteria upset the digestive system, weakens your immune system, and provides an opportunity of overgrowth to the candida.

Birth control pill are designed to do just that, they mess with your body’s hormones and make your body think it is pregnant, that way it stops releasing eggs and you prevent conception. But the upset in hormones can be a causing factor for some women to triggering a yeast infection. If you have eliminated all other triggers, or are suffering from recurring yeast infections (four or more times a year) you may want to consider coming off the pill and see if that helps. Of course remember to use other forms of birth control.

You can also make an appointment with your doctor, he or she may be able to tell you whether the kind of oral contraception you are taking is strong enough to trigger yeast infections, and they may have alternatives for you.

There are also different forms of yeast infections and each form has its own name or several names! A mouth yeast infection can also be called oral candidiasis, an oral yeast infection, Thrush, in older texts, oral moniliasis. A vaginal yeast infection may also be called vaginal candidiasis or candidal vulvovaginitis. Wikipedia lists the following names of subcategories for candida;

• Oral candidiasis (Thrush)
• Perleche (Angular cheilitis)
• Candidal vulvovaginitis
• Candidal intertrigo
• Diaper candidiasis
• Congenital cutaneous candidiasis
• Perianal candidiasis
• Candidal paronychia
• Erosi interdigitalis blastomycetica
• Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis
• Systemic candidiasis
• Candidid
• Antibiotic candidiasis (latrogenic candidiasis)

There are more names then even this for more specific forms.

In order to counteract this problem try doing the following;

• change clothing when it becomes damp
• wear loose clothing to allow the air to circulate and try to keep it drier
• wash and dry thoroughly more frequently
• wear natural fibers as this allows the skin to breathe, cotton for example
• be active in the morning and evening when it is cooler
• seek shade and cool areas during the hotter times of day

Often people take acidophilus supplements along with their candida treatment and some continue to take those supplements even in times of health, as a way to help prevent re-infection. You can get acidophilus supplements from your local health food store and possibly your pharmacy. It comes in a couple of forms, either pill or liquid. When buying acidophilus supplements make sure the container is glass rather than plastic, as plastic can affect the potency of it. Also make sure there are at least two billion colony forming units per gram. FOS is a nice thing to have in it too, as this is food for the acidophilus and means the good bacteria will grow quicker.

• oncology patients,
• HIV or AIDS patients,
• low birth weight newborns,
• surgical patients – candida biofilms can form on surgical instruments.
• those with intravenous catheters – these have the potential to have candida biofilms form on them allowing the fungus to get into the blood stream.
• those on dialysis – same reason as above.
• use of broad spectrum antibiotics – antibiotics kill the good bacteria in a person’s body which are what usually keep the candida at low numbers. With the good bacteria gone the candida can overgrow.
• Diabetics – if a person does not control their diabetes their blood sugar levels are high and candida feeds on sugar.
• Steroids – interfere with the immune system and cause blood sugar levels to rise.
• burn patients – have weakened immune systems.

Symptoms of Fungemia Candida

• flu like symptoms
• fever
• pain
• mental problems
• fatigue
• sweating
• itching
• muscle fatigue
• sleeping problems
• edema
• elevated heart rate
• quick breathing
• chills
• elevated white blood cell count

Plus symptoms linked to any organs the fungus is able to reach and cause damage to. Any organ can be affected, brain ,heart, lungs, eyes, liver, kidneys etc. And because of that Fungemia candida is a life threatening condition particularly since patients are usually already weakened. Over 40% of cases are fatal.

Treatment of Fungemia candida

The two usual medications used to treat Fungemia candida are amphotericin B and fluconazole. Amphotericin B is the most likely to work but it has its own side effects and for really weak patients they may not be able to handle it. Therefore fluconazole may be used first. A third option is itraconazole, a more recently developed drug, and is useful since more strains of candida are now becoming resistant to fluconazole. Other drugs may be used to help support organs and nutrient IV fluids will also be administered. If lungs or kidneys are failing something like artificial respiration or dialysis will be used.

• Irritation caused by chemicals in foods that we eat, such as hot sauces, spices, peppers.
• Psoriasis.
• Frequent liquid or soft stools, or diarrhea can make the area constantly moist which increases the chances of infection, especially of a yeast infection.
• Fistulas can form, (abnormal passageways from the colon or small intestine to the skin around the anus) which bring fluids that irritate the area.
• Skin tags can form, abnormal growth of anal skin.
• Fissures or tears in the anal skin.
• Hemorrhoids.
• Pinworms.

If the itching lasts for a few days and is causing you discomfort and making it difficult to lead a normal life see your doctor for an examination. He or she can diagnose the cause of your anal itching and get you started on the right treatment.

Men can also get a penis yeast infection from having sex with a woman who has a vaginal yeast infection, although this method of infection is uncommon. If either man or woman has a yeast infection it needs to be treated and either abstain until it is cleared up or use a condom to be sure.

Symptoms of Fungal meningitis

Symptoms of fungal meningitis include;

• blurred vision
• vomiting
• headaches
• stiff neck
• fatigue
• fever
• confusion
• vomiting
• irritability
• drowsiness
• seizures

Causes of fungal meningitis

There are a few fungi that can be the cause of fungal meningitis, they include;

• Candida albicans – the cause of most yeast infections. Candida albicans can cause fungal meningitis in premature babies with low birth weights and has a high mortality rate.
• Cryptococcus neoformans – is the cause of most cases of fungal meningitis and is found all around us including in the soil. Symptoms can appear gradually not always suddenly like bacterial meningitis. It also has a high mortality rate.
• Histoplasma – is a fungus also found in soil and is harmless to those with healthy immune systems.

Other causing fungi include coccidioides immitis, blastomyces dermatitidis and aspergillus amongst others.

Diagnosing fungal meningitis

If a patient begins to present symptoms of meningitis a neurological examination will be undertaken which will include doing a spinal tap or lumbar puncture. This is where they take some of the fluid there, cerebrospinal fluid, to analyze. They can from that see if it is meningitis and what is causing the meningitis, bacteria, fungus or virus. Other tests may include an MRI and and a CT scan.

Prognosis of fungal meningitis

If left untreated fungal meningitis can be fatal and can cause long term permanent damage such as seizures, learning problems, hearing loss, problems talking, brain damage and paralysis.

Treating fungal meningitis

Treatment for fungal meningitis involves using anti-fungal medication such as amphotericin B or fluconazole. Maintenance therapy that involves longer term medication may also be needed. Other medications to help with symptoms that your doctor may prescribe you are pain medications, fever medications, and anti-nausea medications. Patients with fungal meningitis are usually hospitalized and drugs are administered intravenously. In very severe cases a catheter may be placed into the fluid filled spaces in the brain so that treatment gets directly to the cerebrospinal fluid.

The two forms of garlic you can use are as a supplement or the raw real thing. However take care if you decide to use a supplement because of the smell of the real thing. The smell actually comes from the component allicin that you want. If you get a supplement that promises no odor, and contains no allicin it will not be effective. Choose a brand you can trust and talk with your health food store owner about options that will help.

Cooking the garlic will affect its anti-fungal properties, it should be raw. Sprinkle chopped garlic on salads, blend it in drinks, for intestinal benefits, or insert a clove into the vagina for a vaginal treatment.

“The …AAP promotes the inclusion of the gynecologic examination in the primary care setting within the medical home…Gynecologic issues are commonly seen by clinicians who provide primary care to adolescents. Some of the most common concerns include questions related to pubertal development; menstrual disorders such as dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, and abnormal uterine bleeding; contraception; and sexually transmitted and non–sexually transmitted infections.”

With half of high school students now sexually active it is important they feel able to be examined safely with the risk of vaginal infections, STIs and pregnancy. Children and adolescents should have an annual visit at least that includes a physical examination that involves at the least an examination of the external genitalia. Reasons for a pelvic exan can include;

• Persistent vaginal discharge;
• Dysuria or other urinary symptoms in a sexually active adolescent girl;
• Dysmenorrhea unrelieved by treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Amenorrhea;
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding;
• Lower abdominal pain;
• Contraceptive counseling regarding use of an intrauterine device or diaphragm;
• Performing a Papanicolaou test;
• Evaluating suspected or reported rape or sexual abuse; or
• Pregnancy.

The exam does not need to include a speculum examination when vaginal swabs can determine bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections, and urine based tests can determine STIs and pregnancy. At all times the patient should be made to feel comfortable, to be reassured and there should be a female relative or chaperone.

“For conditions that require a complete pelvic examination, the patient may prefer to have it performed in a familiar setting rather than being referred to another provider,” the report authors conclude. “There are instances in which the pelvic examination must be performed during a problem visit and cannot be deferred to a separate, dedicated appointment time slot. …With appropriate backup from a gynecologist, most medical gynecologic issues can be managed by the clinician in the primary care office setting.”

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/727761

How do you get tinea pedis?

The fungus can be found in many places, floors, swimming pools, airports, nail salons, gyms, showers, locker rooms and so on. Walking barefoot in such locations means you are more at risk to pick up tinea pedis. It can also be spread from person to person. Some people are more prone to fungal infections than others and some are fairly resistant, why this is so is not known right now. 70% of people will get or have had tinea pedis but when they are more susceptible to fungal infections they are more likely to get it more than once in their life.

Other causes of tinea pedis include;

• irritation
• contact dermatitis
• allergic reaction to shoes or creams
• skin allergy rash
• psoriasis
  
• bacterial infection

Symptoms of tinea pedis

While some people do not have symptoms when they have tinea pedis, others think it is just a dry skin problem. For those that do have symptoms they can include;

• itching
• burning
• dry skin
• flaking or peeling
• cracking
• pain
• bleeding
• blisters
• redness
• dampness and peeling between the 4^th and 5^th toe
• inflammation
• a hand may become infected
• jock itch
• fungal nail infection

Diagnosing tinea pedis

As well as hearing symptoms and observing the infection a doctor can do a test called a KOH or a microscopic fungal examination. He or she will take a scraping of flakes of skin from the infected area and examine them under a microscope. Most do this in their office then and there and within minutes know the results, rarely they may need to remove a small piece of skin and send it to a lab for a biopsy.

Treating tinea pedis

It is important with athlete’s foot to have excellent standards of hygiene as well as using anti-fungal treatment. The foot needs to be kept clean and dry so that the environment is less hospitable for the fungus. Shoes should be made of leather as they let the feet breathe, wear socks that are cotton for the same reason. There are powders that can be used to help keep feet dry and there are drying solutions your feet can be soaked in such as aluminum acetate or a home made solution of 4 parts water and 1 part white vinegar.

Then there is using an anti-fungal treatment which can come in several forms, washes, creams, powders or pill. Creams, powders or washes can be purchased from a pharmacy over the counter, and if the tinea pedis is more severe, a doctor can prescribe something stronger such as a course of oral treatment in pill form. Drugs that may be used to treat tinea pedis include;

• miconazole
• econazole nitrate
• clotrimazole
• terbinafine
• itraconazole
• fluconazole

Using topical corticosteroid creams in the infection should be avoided as it can actually make the problem worse not better.

There are also home remedy options such as vinegar soaks, clorax soaks, and some have even used the shampoo head and shoulders or selsun blue! To use vinegar, make a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water. A clorax soak involves diluting a quarter cup of clorax bleach in a bath of water.