An intestinal yeast
infection is basically a condition in which there is
an overgrowth of the fungus, Candida albicans which
leads to medical condition commonly referred to as
Candidasis. The yeast resides in our system but flares
up during times of intense stress or poor diet. The
organism Candida Albicans is capable of existing in two
different forms. In the common form it is just yeast
normally present in the human intestine and it is
harmless as long as it remains in this form. It is the second
fungal state in which the organism can wreck havoc on
your intestine and cause a series of apparently
unrelated problems. Intestinal
Candida is capable of mutating into the fungal form due
to numerous reasons and one prime reason is the over use
of antibiotics. This is because antibiotics kill off
many of the bacteria which would normally keep the
growth of fungus under check.
Other
reasons include prolonged periods of poor dietary
conditions, short period of intense stress such as break
ups, bereavement and relationship strains. Once the yeast
morphs into the fungal state, it grows leg like
structure known as rhizoids which is capable of
penetrating the intestinal mucosa and causes numerous
problems. In severe cases the fungus actually burrows
through the entire intestine wall and causes a deadly
condition known as “Leaky Gut Syndrome”. In this case
the partly digested proteins and the yeast itself leaks
out of the intestine and enters the blood stream where
they are treated as toxins.
The
symptoms include maddeningly severe joint pains and
intestinal distress. The symptoms manifested by Candida
attack is so varied that one would actually find it
difficult to believe that it is caused by the same
organism. Common symptoms include joint pain, recurring
headache, intestinal bloating, sinus troubles, fuzzy
thinking or brain fog, thrush, hangover symptoms after a
snack of cakes or bread, athletes’ foot, mood swings,
constantly feeling low and blue and rashes in the skin.
However, the best way to figure out if you have a yeast
infection is to get a test done.
There are
quite a number of tests which has proved to be helpful
in detecting yeast infection in intestine. The Indican
test will test the ratio of good and bad bacteria in the
patients gut and also tests whether the gut is absorbing
enough proteins and carbohydrates from the digested
food. Another is the Gut Fermentation Test in which the
blood alcohol is tested after glucose shot. The third
and less commonly used one is the intestinal
permeability test.
If you are only vaguely suspicious you can do a
home Candida test, First thing in the morning before you
eat or drink anything, drop a spittle on a clear glass of
water. After 10 mts observe the water, if the spittle
stays on the top then you are safe. If the spittle
breaks up or you notice streamer like particles going
down into the water then you may have an imbalance.
No matter what amount of over-the-counter medication you take, it is impossible to take down an infection which is so very relentless. The only proven method of uprooting the intestinal yeast infection is to by incorporating a holistic solution with a multi-pronged approach.
