Herbs and Antifungals

Society makes it easy for fungus to thrive in our bodies.

Antibiotics, birth control pills, other prescription drugs, and many other factors kill the friendly bacteria that our bodies need to fight fungus, and our diets make it worse by feeding the fungus.

Many different types of antifungal medicines are prescribed to treat fungal infections, ranging from those of the nails and skin to candidiasis and even cholesterol problems. These medications include amphotericin B, fluconazole, nystatin and ketoconazole.

Like many prescription drugs, these often come with unwanted side effects; but, they may be necessary in the case of severe fungal infection or where all other treatment options have failed. It is vital that you first consult your qualified physician if you suspect a fungal infection.

Certainly on any health-conscious consumer's list will be the consideration of herbal and nutritional support.

Be sure to see a skilled doctor and inform him or her of what you are doing. If necessary, work with a naturopathic doctor. Be sure to consult a powerful reference source with accurate information, like the PDR for Herbal Medicines. It has generally excellent information on herb-drug interaction and is considered to be an authority.

One of the best herbs for health, neem, long used in Ayurvedic medicine, is known worldwide for its well-documented and broad-ranging antibacterial and antifungal properties. Says the PDR with regard to neem, "No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages." The PDR reports the same for olive leaf, which has long been used in traditional medicine for its antibacterial qualities. Another great source online is HealthNotes (deliciouslivingmag.com/healthnotes/). According to this very well-written compendium of objective natural health information, "Garlic has demonstrated significant antifungal activity against C. albicans in both animal and test-tube studies. Greater anti-candida activity has resulted from exposing candida to garlic, than to nystatin-the most common prescription drug used to fight candida. No clinical studies of garlic in the treatment of candidiasis have yet been conducted." Returning to the PDR, it says garlic is largely safe unless you are taking anticoagulants such as Coumadin, or antiplatelet medicines such as aspirin and dipyridamole.

Another key antifungal compound, caprylic acid, is derived from coconut oil, which is all the rage in natural health today, partially as a result of its well-documented antibacterial and antifungal properties. The research on this fatty acid dates to the 1940s. It was shown to be effective against candidiasis. According to www.naturedoctor.com, this naturally occurring fatty acid has no side effects, though little online information on it was available.

Lactobacillus definitely helps with candidiasis. Indeed, many doctors now tell their patients to eat yogurt or take a quality probiotic supplement when they are prescribed antibiotics or antimicrobials. So here we have a case where the probiotic supports populations of healthy bacteria while the antimicrobial is supposed to destroy the bad guys. "No interactions have been reported" for cranberry either, which is often used as a means of clearing the urinary tract of infections, according to the PDR.

The Kit includes BioPLUS, Probiotic-CSP, Caprylic Acid, Olive Leaf Extract, UGN (Undecylenic Acid, Grapefruit Seed Extract and Neem), Apple Cider Vinegar & Odorless Garlic, and Flaxium, Psyllium Powder capsules or Green Sweep.