Of Fungal Origin

Antifungal Cleansing 101

As seen in The Doctor's Prescription for Healthy Living Magazine July 2007, Volume 11, No. 6, pp 26-27.

Doug Kaufmann is an American hero. He has dedicated himself to exploring the often-overlooked (by mainstream medical science) fungal link to disease.

Yet, if you believe Kaufmann (and scientific studies bear him out, as you'll read), many of our most tragic and difficult-to-heal conditions, both common and uncommon, have a fungal origin. To Kaufmann, a Vietnam medic who delivered battlefield emergency care, the world is alive with fungal organisms and their toxins (often referred to as mycotoxins). Indeed, it was returning from Vietnam with such a fungal disease that led him to this area of research.

"Did you know that the first diagnosed disease was a fungal infection?" says Kaufmann. "France, where the silk industry was strong in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, suffered a tremendous blow when the silkworms began dying in droves. Without silkworms, there would be no silk, and without silk, there would be no employment. One of the brilliant scientists of the time actually diagnosed the silkworm disease as 'Muscardine,' today known as a fungal infection of silkworms caused by the fungus, Beauveria bassiana."

The point of all of this is simple. Although it was the first germ diagnosis ever made, today fungus is rarely thought of in clinical medicine. "This is most unfortunate, because many researchers, including me, believe that serious diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer very often have a fungal root cause. This being the case, a very valid argument can be made for the use of antifungal remedies as health enhancing, prescriptive or otherwise."

One of the early drugs developed by Pfizer for use in AIDS patients was Diflucan. Within a few years, however, not only infectious-disease doctors were prescribing Diflucan. Ironically, Diflucan proved itself to gynecologists also because of its ability to cure vaginal yeast conditions with one single pill. "Think about that. Diflucan kills yeast and fungi and it was developed specifically to treat AIDS patients. What then, must be the cause of the onset of AIDS in HIV-positive people? BINGO! Today, every oncologist in America prescribes antifungal medications for what they believe to be 'secondary' yeast infections. What if the yeast infection were primary and mimicked cancer?"

There are millions of Americans whom Kaufmann believes would benefit tremendously by taking antifungal remedies, but one major problem exists: Physicians rarely prescribe them because they feel that infectious agents are almost exclusively bacterial or viral.

What is an educated patient to do when an antifungal approach seems so logical to them, yet their physician will not prescribe antifungal drugs? First, and most importantly, understand the reason that the physician will not prescribe antifungal drugs, because there may be a very good one. Says Kaufmann, "Ask the doctor if he would object to your trying the antifungal diet and natural, nontoxic antifungal remedies like those from BioActive. Most docs will not object."

CANCER AND MYCOTOXINS
Mycotoxins are toxic fungal metabolites that are structurally diverse. Yet they are common contaminants of the ingredients in animal feed and human food. They or their effects can be transmitted from animal feed to the animal to humans.

To date, mycotoxins with carcinogenic potency in experimental animal models include aflatoxins, sterigmatocystin, ochratoxin, fumonisins, zearalenone, and some penicillium toxins.

In one 1993 study, researchers examined human breast cancer tissue for evidence of the presence of aflatoxin, a recognized, potent carcinogenic mycotoxin found in inferior peanut butter and other nut and dairy products.

According to an online information source, "The researchers examined human DNA from a variety of tissues and organs to identify and quantify aflatoxin DNA-adducts. Such adducts are considered to be proof of the mycotoxin's presence in a particular tissue."

Their finding? "Tumor tissues had higher aflatoxin-adduct levels than did normal tissue from the same individual."

DIABETES
Kaufmann describes one case that demonstrates why some cases of diabetes may not be diabetes at all but rather symptoms of fungal toxins. "Maggie was only 15 years old. Her doctors had diagnosed her with type 2 diabetes 20 months earlier, and virtually every medical opinion her father had gathered offered the same unpleasant conclusion: shots, pills, special needs and numerous doctors and hospitals for the rest of her life," he says.

"If I had graduated from medical school, I, too, would have diagnosed diabetes in Maggie's case, given her symptom pattern and the progression of this disease," Kaufmann says. "However, years before, I read an interesting research paper that I thought might offer a clue as to Maggie's ill health. In a nutshell, it stated that mice, widely used for diabetes research, did not naturally get diabetes. Rather, laboratory workers had to induce diabetes in research mice by injecting them with a fungal byproduct (mycotoxin) called streptozotocin. After being injected, they became infected with this fungal poison, inducing diabetes.

"After researching this fungal metabolite, I began wondering if we humans aren't also somehow being 'infected' with these powerful mycotoxins, and afterwards being diagnosed with a set of symptoms referred to as 'diabetes,' when what we really had was a nasty fungal infection that mimics diabetes."

Maggie began taking caprylic acid, a safe antifungal product derived from coconut. Since Kaufmann suspected that her pancreatic problems also had to do with her diet, he recommended the "phase one" diet, which eliminates all grains, including sugar.

Although it isn't widely known, mycotoxins commonly contaminate our grain supply in America. If fungi had somehow gained access to Maggie's internal organs, they may have been the pathogenic type, those capable of making poisonous mycotoxins. Fungi are parasites of man, so knowing what they eat to thrive is critical. Interestingly, fungi love carbohydrates. Hence, the need for dietary restrictions, including reducing or eliminating refined sugar.

This story has a happy ending. Maggie responded quickly to the use of diet and supplementation with caprylic acid. Within weeks, her symptoms had improved, but it took much longer to rid her body of the mycotoxins that had mimicked diabetes.

TIPS FOR A FUNGAL CLEANSE
The most common symptoms are vaginal yeast infections, sinus problems, digestive problems like heartburn, headaches, itchy scalp, ringing in the ears, sore joints, athlete's foot, jock itch and even high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and blood sugar ratings that are out of whack. However, as Kaufmann notes, several of our most challenging modern conditions including cancer and diabetes might also be linked with fungal infections.

Be a smart shopper. Purchase only certified organic or natural (raised without hormones) beef products. Buy peanuts and nut butters from quality companies; companies such as Arrowhead Mills have a reputation for producing aflatoxin-free peanut butter. We recommend certified organic dairy products whenever possible. Good brands that closely monitor such levels are Horizon, Alta-Dena, and Organic Valley.

Remove indoor and refrigerator mold. Many homes today are mold infested due to flooding, storms and other weather events. Be sure to use a proven indoor air filter such as the Pionair Air Treatment System and a refrigerator food guardian like the MiniMate.

Cleanse. A fungal cleanse can be highly protective and a good preventive. Kaufmann recommends BioActive Nutrients' Antifungal Kit, which he says makes fungal cleansing convenient by packaging everything together. The savings and simplicity in this kit are important shopping points.

Kaufmann calls the kit a Godsend for fungal cleansing. He says, "It contains some of the most powerful natural phytochemicals today for supporting the body's defenses against fungal and microbial organisms. Plus, the kit offers a holistic approach and addresses overall health while you cleanse."

Among key ingredients in the Antifungal Kit are garlic, olive leaf, neem, grapefruit seed extract, apple cider vinegar, and caprylic and undecylenic acids. Each ingredient is recognized for possessing potent antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic properties. Besides these major proven fungal cleansing agents, the kit includes flax and psyllium and a special BioPLUS multivitamin. The products support the body's innate ability to rid itself of causes of fungal infections. Flaxium with psyllium acts like a sponge when ingested, absorbing lifeless fungi and their toxins.

The natural properties of garlic have earned it the popular name "nature's antibiotic," but this incredible stinking rose can provide a full range of activity against fungi, yeasts, and viruses.

Olive leaf with d-lenolate has been widely studied for its antimicrobial properties and is consumed worldwide as a cleansing tea.

Neem, grapefruit seed extract and apple cider vinegar are widely used by natural health advocates for supporting the body's quest to prevent infections.

Both caprylic and undecylenic acids are organic fatty acids that have been used for centuries as antimicrobial agents, originally in the manufacture of soaps. In the last 50 years, however, they have found use as yeast and mold inhibitors in food and as topical and systemic antifungals. In particular, undecylenic acid aids in maintaining a healthy balance of intestinal and vaginal flora.

According to nutritionists, caprylic acid is excellent for dealing with candida in the intestines, which are frequently colonized by this pathogen.

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