Please comment on Susun Weed letter titled "Candida is a helper. It is keeping you healthy!" - Page 11

[Panserbjorne]

True, Calm. For infusions I never recommend heating water past the point where you can submerge your hand, comfortably. I prefer sun infusions anyway. I am pretty confident that I get a good amount of nutrients in our teas. They infuse for about 6 hours in direct sunlight with room temp water.

[tempestjewel]

This thread has been an interesting read. When DD1 had severe eczema and seemed to have food allergies to *everything* we took her to a naturopath who was *sure* it was yeast. Well, it wasn't. After we finally got a stool test done, we found out she had a c. difficile infection. We started giving her super-high doses of probiotics (VSL#3) and her skin cleared after 2 weeks.

C. diff. is a pretty nasty little bugger but it did seem to work to overwhelm it with good bacteria. I don't know if perhaps her age or her specific gut set-up made this possible, but when we retested for c. diff it was gone. Over the course of the last year she has gotten to the point where she no longer has any food allergies and even her anaphylactic peanut allergy is gone.

And a slightly off-topic question for the mamas on this thread: is supplementing with the precursors of glutathione (the N-acetyle cysteine, glutamine, and glycine) or glutathione itself cause more mercury to circle your bloodstream (and therefore breastmilk) or does it just help you get rid of what you've got?

[Calm]

Naomi, clostridia is another one that is opportunistic after antibiotics. Acidophillus clears it up, that was probably the probiotic you were one. Acidophillus resides happily with candida but kills clostridia.

This is why people sometimes feel better after taking acidophillus, but then after a couple of weeks, can feel crap again as they only dealt with the clostridia infection.

In the case of your daughter, her leaky gut/allergy cause was perhaps just the clostridia (did you take anything other than acidophillus, btw?), as it will mess with the bowel wall just like yeast will. That's so good she's better now.

[tempestjewel]

Originally Posted by Calm

Naomi, clostridia is another one that is opportunistic after antibiotics. Acidophillus clears it up, that was probably the probiotic you were one. Acidophillus resides happily with candida but kills clostridia.

This is why people sometimes feel better after taking acidophillus, but then after a couple of weeks, can feel crap again as they only dealt with the clostridia infection.

In the case of your daughter, her leaky gut/allergy cause was perhaps just the clostridia (did you take anything other than acidophillus, btw?), as it will mess with the bowel wall just like yeast will. That's so good she's better now.

What was weird with us is that she had not been on antibiotics when the c diff showed up. In fact, she didn't have many symptoms of it other then the terrible skin and food intolerances. The bad skin started coming out when my breastmilk changed over to colostrum when I was pg with DD2 and she was still nursing. I often wonder if my breastmilk had protected her to that point and even after the infection started if it had helped keep it from getting bad. She never had the characteristic bad diarrhea.

We had tried OTC probiotics from the healthfood store, then a few types from the ND, but nothing worked. The VSL#3 worked though- it is guranteed 450 billion live strains (both acidophilus and bifidus strains http://www.vsl3.com/VSL3/default.asp if anyone is curious) per teaspoon/sachet, and she took 1/2 tsp a day to clear it, and then 1/4 tsp a day to heal her up. She'd had all my homecooked goodness- 24 hour yogurt, kombucha, ferments, etc, and none of it had touched the c. diff. I remember reading into the SCD at one point and she specifically says her diet will not kill off c. diff. because it is more nasty then most clostridia.

[joybird]

Tempestjewel~

What kind of stool sample did you do for your dd? Was it the regular culture etc that the doc's office can do or did you pay for the CDSA from Genova or another lab?

I'm wondering if the regular stool test that docs do will identify a c. difficile infection.

[tempestjewel]

Originally Posted by joybird

Tempestjewel~

What kind of stool sample did you do for your dd? Was it the regular culture etc that the doc's office can do or did you pay for the CDSA from Genova or another lab?

I'm wondering if the regular stool test that docs do will identify a c. difficile infection.

We sent in for a comprehensive stool sample through the ND, I think Diagnos-techs was the lab. We were testing for everything- yeast, parasites, bacteria, immunoglobins, pretty much everything that could be tested for. She was negative for yeast and parasites but positive for both strains of c. diff. My dh changed jobs and we lost our "alternative" healthcare because it is not covered by our new employer : so I went to our mainstream family doctor for a follow up stool test to make sure the c. difficile was gone. So at least our "regular doc" could order the test without issue (and it was covered by our strict insurance). For the comprehensive test it involved taking several samples, but the one with our regular doc I just had to wait till DD gave me a fresh specimen and drove it straight to the hospital lab.

[Brisen]

I'm a newbie to all of this yeast stuff... just hoping someone can answer a question from way back on the first page

Originally Posted by Calm

You need to kill the yeast first. There are many ways to do this. One is fast and painful (die off symptoms hit fast) and that is the bacterium product nystatin. It is not absorbed and therefore prescribed for babies with oral thrush - it is safe. It wipes all those #%##%s out. Then you can repopulate, and they will STICK. Fastest method out there to feeling well.

So, nystatin is over the counter? I did google, but I mostly found websites selling Canadian drugs to Americans (I'm in Canada).

Mercury was mentioned -- how would I know if I have mercury fillings?

Off to read more... I have suspected problems with yeast for a while, and it seems to be flaring up now in the form of thrush and a vaginal yeast infection. Bleh.

[quelindo]

Sorry, OT, but Calm, your PM box is full.

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by tempestjewel

What was weird with us is that she had not been on antibiotics when the c diff showed up. In fact, she didn't have many symptoms of it other then the terrible skin and food intolerances. The bad skin started coming out when my breastmilk changed over to colostrum when I was pg with DD2 and she was still nursing. I often wonder if my breastmilk had protected her to that point and even after the infection started if it had helped keep it from getting bad. She never had the characteristic bad diarrhea.

We had tried OTC probiotics from the healthfood store, then a few types from the ND, but nothing worked. The VSL#3 worked though- it is guranteed 450 billion live strains (both acidophilus and bifidus strains http://www.vsl3.com/VSL3/default.asp if anyone is curious) per teaspoon/sachet, and she took 1/2 tsp a day to clear it, and then 1/4 tsp a day to heal her up. She'd had all my homecooked goodness- 24 hour yogurt, kombucha, ferments, etc, and none of it had touched the c. diff. I remember reading into the SCD at one point and she specifically says her diet will not kill off c. diff. because it is more nasty then most clostridia.

I wonder if it was the bifidobacterium in the VSL3 that was the trick? 'Cause ferments don't contain it.

Bifido is the dominent probiotic in the colon (lactobacillus is in the small intestine and numbers only 10% of bifido...yet most think of lactobacillus and l. acidophilus when they think of probiotics). Do you know where C. Diff lives? If it's chiefly the large intestine, then I think this could be the reason.

[ChristieB]

Originally Posted by Brisen

I'm a newbie to all of this yeast stuff... just hoping someone can answer a question from way back on the first page



So, nystatin is over the counter? I did google, but I mostly found websites selling Canadian drugs to Americans (I'm in Canada).

Mercury was mentioned -- how would I know if I have mercury fillings?

Off to read more... I have suspected problems with yeast for a while, and it seems to be flaring up now in the form of thrush and a vaginal yeast infection. Bleh.

Nystatin is a prescription drug (at least here in the US).

If you have metal fillings (shiny, silver) in your mouth, then you have mercury in your mouth.

[tempestjewel]

Originally Posted by JaneS

I wonder if it was the bifidobacterium in the VSL3 that was the trick? 'Cause ferments don't contain it.

Bifido is the dominent probiotic in the colon (lactobacillus is in the small intestine and numbers only 10% of bifido...yet most think of lactobacillus and l. acidophilus when they think of probiotics). Do you know where C. Diff lives? If it's chiefly the large intestine, then I think this could be the reason.

The probiotics we had done before had bifidobacterium strains, so I'm not sure. I wonder with the VSL3 if it just had the right combination of strains in high enough concentrations to work. In the book, "Bacteria for Breakfast" the mom also cures her son's c. diff. with VSL3- I think he was on even a higher dose then my DD. I've heard sacchromeyces boulardii helps fight c. diff. as well, but we never had to try it. Funny that a strain of yeast might be introduced to fight off the c. diff, but I was told that s. boulardii is a transient strain and does not take up residence in intestines.

[greencat]

Sorry, jumping in as I am still catching up to read this thread; my overdue homework.

Someone asked on this thread a list of good foods for our kind of health condition. And, wondering, what kind of sourdough bread is better for us? What do I look for? I have a recipe that uses spelt from book "Wild Fermentation." Other alternatives to avoid gluten??

I make yogurt from (commerciall sold) goat milk with SCD recommended starter. I incubate for 24hr. as known to all the SCD practitioner. I used to make nut milk yogurt with almond and cashew milk, but no longer.

Recently, a friend of mine had learned how to make Miso.
I'm trying to order a starter for Natto as well, but not sure if it will pass the custom.

I tried coconut water kefir. Loved it, but too much die-off. We'll try this again after we reduce more yeast in our system. And, buying fresh coconut here in mid west is somewhat difficult and expensive. Wondering to give Kombu-cha a try or not... If anyone has tips for me, I'd appreciate it.

I like the cultured veggies, with cabbage, carrots, seaweed and apples. I'm gonna give a try to Nuka-zuke next.

Friend of mine is making wine with raspberries from their garden. Hope they will share.

thanks,

[desertpenguin]

isn't alcohol an antibacterial though? whenever i drink alcohol i will have a candida flare up. i have never had a candida flare up from kombucha or from mushrooms, which i have heard advice saying these are no-nos when dealing with candida.

[Rachel Wolf]

Feedback on my plan?

Stumbling upon this thread tonight was lovely proof of the law of attraction.

I am on day two of a candida cleanse for myself and my 22mo dd after our naturopath diagnosed us both with yeasties. I have very mild eczema and dry scalp and dd has a chin rash (primarially after nursing or eating).

I have been struggling with the lack of fermented foods on the cleanse, which just didn't make sense to me. I keep googling things like "why no fermented foods candida cleanse" and "Weston Price candida diet". To no avail, until now. Hello old friend, MCB.

So after reading this thread, here is my intention (chime in, would ya please mamas?):
1. Continue on a modified cleanse to limit complex carbs (similar to SCD)
2. Take Threelac (is this safe for my dd to take? I am more comfortable here than with a pharmaceutical) and
3. Restore flora balance with cultured foods, homemade SF/NT style goodness.

Any thoughts or corrections?

(As an aside, I did the Specific Carbohydrate Diet for one year, just before becoming pregnant with dd and after years of IBS. It never occurred to me that I was treating yeast. At that time my IBS began to clear after just a few days, and before long my eczema and dry scalp were also gone. Then during pregnancy I started to feel yeasty and dd and I have been ping-ponging yeast ever since. And so reaappears the eczema/scalp/rash trio - but no recurrence of IBS symptoms to date).

Thanks to each of you for all you have shared-

Blessings,
Rachel

[Panserbjorne]

I don't know how old your dd is, but I gave my dd threelac at about 15 months IIRC. She was on it for a few months and loved it. Still asks for it years later if she sees a packet that reminds her of it!

[Koalamom]

Soapmama,
It is good you found us! I have dealt with so much yeast, and I after reading susun weeds letter, it motivated me to try something different. I wasn't getting results with "anti-yeast" diets.

I wonder why so many people say to treat yeast, to be on a low carb diet. When I reduced the carbs, I felt worse (not die off, just worse.) I now eat carbs again, and sour ones, and I feel fine. I noticed that something in my diet was wrong since no matter how I tried (see all my above posts) I couldn't get rid of the yeast. I am happy to say that I am feeling better than ever. I continued to eat lots of yogurt every day, sour grains, veggies- lots raw and cooked, limited fruit, but mainly cooked, meat a few times a week, miso. I started drinking 2 cups of raspberry infusion (and gave some to my daughter) and here is the big thing quit using honey. It was so hard for me to do, and I only use maple syrup. I don't think others should quit honey, but I did because I was doing much thinking and tuning into my body, and felt that every time I used honey, my liver would feel tight and sore, and then soon after, my yeast would get worse. So it makes so much sense that we should eliminate things that we my be allergic too. But using maple syrup is good for me.

So my daughter rashes are almost gone, and my yeast is completely gone in my breasts (no more sore nursing!!!), and vaginally it is almost gone!

[Panserbjorne]

I agree that everyone has their own path to walk, and that everyone is different physiologically. I think it depends WHY one has yeast when determining how to treat it. I'm glad you found this thread at the right time for you!

[Rachel Wolf]

Does anyone have any experience with Fivelac? It has additional probiotics over Threelac and is supposed to help more with recolonization.

Thanks for any thoughts!
Rachel

[tolovemercy]

Originally Posted by soapmama

Stumbling upon this thread tonight was lovely proof of the law of attraction.

I am on day two of a candida cleanse for myself and my 22mo dd after our naturopath diagnosed us both with yeasties. I have very mild eczema and dry scalp and dd has a chin rash (primarially after nursing or eating).

I have been struggling with the lack of fermented foods on the cleanse, which just didn't make sense to me. I keep googling things like "why no fermented foods candida cleanse" and "Weston Price candida diet". To no avail, until now. Hello old friend, MCB.

So after reading this thread, here is my intention (chime in, would ya please mamas?):
1. Continue on a modified cleanse to limit complex carbs (similar to SCD)
2. Take Threelac (is this safe for my dd to take? I am more comfortable here than with a pharmaceutical) and
3. Restore flora balance with cultured foods, homemade SF/NT style goodness.

Any thoughts or corrections?

(As an aside, I did the Specific Carbohydrate Diet for one year, just before becoming pregnant with dd and after years of IBS. It never occurred to me that I was treating yeast. At that time my IBS began to clear after just a few days, and before long my eczema and dry scalp were also gone. Then during pregnancy I started to feel yeasty and dd and I have been ping-ponging yeast ever since. And so reaappears the eczema/scalp/rash trio - but no recurrence of IBS symptoms to date).

Thanks to each of you for all you have shared-

Blessings,
Rachel

nak. Glad you posted--this sounds very much like the plan I am on, since reading this thread. I'm sticking to a pretty strict anti-candida diet, plus fermented foods (mostly kombucha, kefir), and taking threelac. I just started threelac about 10 days ago, so it's hard to say what it's doing. I'm encouraged by the die-off symptoms I've had, though!!

I'd love to hear other's experiences with threelac/fivelac. A few days after I started taking the stuff my yeast flared up, and it was *angry* (fighting back??). It seems to be subsiding a bit now. Nothing changed in my diet. Anyone else experience this?

[Calm]

Newmama, I cleared out some room, try again .

Nystatin is prescription in Australia too. Except for "nilstat" for babies, which is over the counter. And the stuff when you get it is full of crap. You can't get the pure stuff here. I would buy from Canada. I intend to when I "getaroundtoit".

Does anyone have any experience with Fivelac? It has additional probiotics over Threelac and is supposed to help more with recolonization.

Thanks for any thoughts!
Rachel

I haven't had it but I would think it would be better, having the extra probiotics in there. I haven't researched it either, to see what those other two do in the body, if it is a recolonisation thing or another yeast zapper. I'll have a look when I can.

I'd love to hear other's experiences with threelac/fivelac. A few days after I started taking the stuff my yeast flared up, and it was *angry* (fighting back??). It seems to be subsiding a bit now. Nothing changed in my diet. Anyone else experience this?

I don't have any obvious symptoms of yeast, so I can't say it "flared up", but I know that it does happen. It's one of the main things to happen initially. It isn't that the yeast flares up in many cases, but that the chemicals released during the die off (which are usually what cause the symptoms anyway) are in much higher numbers - therefore symptoms are stronger.

For instance, in autism, it is the yeast chemicals that reach the brain that mess up the functioning of the brain, not the yeast itself which reside in the colon. So when the autistic start killing yeast, they can get much worse before they get better as the dying yeast release all those chems straight into the system.

Eczema can get worse, and other skin conditions, basically whatever issue you have, it can get worse first - not exactly "die off symptoms", but it is related to the death of the yeast.