Candida o. Monila albicans Anhängsel

Kann für Endocarditis bei Herzkathetern o. nach cardiovaskulären Eingriffen verantwortlich sein/Nagel-/Hornhautmykosen. Kommt vor im Intestinaltrakt/Haut(mykosen).

Behandlung = Diät ohne Zucker + Weißmehl. OBST/GEMÜSE. Nahrung ohne Hefezusatz/Sauerteig statt Hefeteig

Stevia/Lapacho/Annanas- + Papayaenzymen/Grapefruitkernenextrakt

Etwas ist "zum Krätze kriegen" = Ausdruck tiefer Verzweiflung erinnert daran, wie es früher war in eine kollektive Krätze/Seuche geraten zu sein. Erkrankt an einer Seuchenerkrankung mit schwer absehbaren Folgen für die nächsten Generationen. Ursache für die Seuchenkrankheit des Individuums = in einer bestimmten Zeit Mitglied eines bestimmten Kollektivs in einer bestimmten Gegend zu sein.

Im Zeitalter des Individualismus wehren wir uns gegen diese Tatsache/versuchen sie zu verdrängen/als ungerecht zu verurteilen/sie umzudeuten, doch das ändert nichts an der grundsätzlichen Möglichkeit, dass zusätzlich zur Möglichkeit einer individuellen Erkrankung in jedem Kollektiv jederzeit eine Seuche ausbrechen kann, an denen ihre „Mitglieder“ vor allem deswegen erkranken, weil sie zur jeweiligen Zeit gerade zum jeweiligen Kollektiv gehören. Im übertragenen Sinne ist dies auch bei größeren Katastrophen und Kriegen so. Wer gerade zum "Kollektivkörper", z.B. einem Volk/Staat/Religion gehört, in denen Katastrophe/Krieg/Seuche ausbricht, den wird es mehr o. weniger erwischen, ob er persönlich dafür verantwortlich sein mag oder nicht.

Und so gibt es auch den Kollektivkörper, der von der Candida-Seuche ergriffen ist und dem wir alle mehr oder weniger angehören, nämlich unsere Gesellschaft in unserer Zeit. Damit gilt für uns alle mehr o. weniger: mit gefangen = mit gehangen!

Gascoigne: Cand associated with pregnancy/sugar intake/tight clothes/synthetic material/allergic reactions/prescribed drugs (corticosteroids/female sex hormones/immunosuppressant drugs)/diabetes mellitus/AIDS/herpes simplex.

The pattern of progression. 1. hypoglycæmia, 2. diabetes. This emphasises the link between candidiasis and diabetes, as does the fact that the organism is identified by the physiological character of its assimilation and fermentation of sugar. The use of Foll. successfully in candidiasis underlines the connection with female sex hormones.

The infection manifests commonly where the skin is moist/in contact with itself (groin/perineum/breasts/axillæ). Nail infections from Cand start at the base/forming ridges/often accompanied by paronychia. On the mouth/genital mucosæ, white curd-like patches occur which, when scraped away, leave a bleeding base. Elderly: Atrophy of gums and angular stomatitis occur. Vaginitis causes intense pruritus + thick creamy leucorrhœa. Systemic candidiasis may present as septicæmia or with features of infection of the œsophageal and gastrointestinal tracts, heart, lungs, urinary tract or brain meninges. There may be an appearance of a skin rash similar to eczema with redness, soreness and some scaling.

The proving shows connections with allergic asthma and polyarticular arthritis.

Candida and the Sycotic Diathesis

close correlation between Candida in potency and Thuj. + Med. (Julian)

Candida is morphologically closer to Treponema pallidum (syphilis) than Neisseria gonorrhœa (gonorrhœa), and as saprophytic fungi flourish in decaying organic matter, this points also to the syphilitic diathesis.

Candidiasis has an apparently close association with conditions involving some degree of compromise to the proper functioning of the immune system in affected individuals, most frequently of iatrogenic origin. Self-help regimes: bodily cleanliness/diet/dietary supplementation/Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Features: Commonly found as an endogenous inhabitant in alimentary tract/mucocutaneous regions of the body, “where it lives in a delicate competitive balance with bacteria and

other microflora of the digestive tract”.

Endogenous organism in humans/animals/has been isolated from the faeces of animals (swine)

Feeds in the bowel on sugars, simple carbohydrates and fermented products (alcohol/cheese).

Found worldwide on fruits and vegetables/in polluted fresh and marine waters.

Colonies mature in 2 - 3 days.

An important characteristic is adhesiveness/remains firmly attached to mucous membranes [less so in Candida parapsilosis].

Genus Monilia is now been divided into two distinct genera. The generic name Monilia is reserved for species pathogenic to plants/fruits [causing brown rot in stone fruits]/

placed in the family Sclerotiniaceae [fungi forming sclerotia].

The generic name Candida: is preferred for species that have their reservoir in humans and animals. Some members of the genus Candida are normal components of intestinal microbiota. Disturbance of the gut flora can trigger them to overgrow and become pathogenic, either locally or systemic.

The vast majority of Candida infections (yeast infections/Candidiasis) caused by Cand..

Problems occur when the numbers of Candida in the body get out of control. This is due to disturbance of the microflora and may result from: abuse of antibiotics/

hormonal imbalance [use of oral contraceptives]/pregnancy [vaginal secretions have higher glycogen levels during pregnancy]/stress/poor nutrition [overuse of sugars or

diets rich in yeast-containing foods]/diabetes/invasive procedures [such as cardiac surgery/indwelling catheters]/immunosuppression.

Proliferating in the intestines, Candida changes its anatomy and physiology from the yeast-like form to the mycelial fungal form. [Dimorphism.]

While the yeast-like state is non-invasive and sugar-fermenting, the fungal state produces invasive, very long root-like structures that penetrate the mucosa.

The establishment of infection with Candida species appears to be a property of the host, not of the organism. The more debilitated the host, the more invasive the disease.

In the past 2 decades Candida spp. have become 5th most common cause of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections.

Candidiasis has as one of its characteristic symptoms “greed for Pane [bread]/Potatoes/Pizza/Pasta.”

Ainsworth: “The expression of candidiasis is remarkable for its diversity”.

“With the exception of the hair, virtually no part of the human body is immune from infection which may occur at any time from the prenatal and neonatal periods to terminal

illness in old age. The classical location for candidiasis is the mouth [thrush in infants/denture stomatitis associated with Candida in the elderly has a higher incidence].”

In general, two major clinical types can be distinguished: Candidiasis of skin and mucosa, and Invasive [or Systemic] Candidiasis.

Candida spp. most frequently Cand., are part of the normal mouth flora in 25 - 50% of healthy individuals, influenced by such factors as salivary flow, salivary pH,

and glucose concentration.

The notion that thrush and other mycoses are affected or even caused by constitutional factors is one of long standing.

Thrush treated with borax or potassium chlorate and honey. In Sweden, thrush lichen or lichen moss [Peltigera aphthosa] boiled in milk was a folk cure for thrush. [Ainsworth]

Thrush is observed in patients with diabetes mellitus and debilitating diseases [cancer/tuberculosis/oral contraceptives and a deficiency of riboflavin (= vitamin B2)]

also predispose to this overwhelming growth of C. albicans. [Kern]

Raue, writing in 1896, gives an excellent description of thrush and some factors that favour its appearance:

Parasitic Stomatitis; Thrush.

This affection is produced by a parasitic fungus, the oidium albicans, and is characterized by the formation of numerous, milk-white patches or elevations which are difficult to

remove. They are not the result of an exudative inflammation, but due to the extensive development of the above named fungus within the mucous membrane.

We may frequently foretell its coming, when we observe that the mouth of the infant is getting dry/hot/red/sticky/its secretion gives an acid reaction. Then after a few hours

white points of the size of a pin’s head appear mostly at first on the inner surface of the cheeks, quickly spreading over various other places and soon covering in some cases

the entire buccal cavity, and even the pharynx and oesophagus with a white membrane. After a while its white colour turns yellowish or brown if bleeding occurs from rough handling.

The first few days this membrane adheres firmly to the mucous membrane; later, on about the 3rd - 4th day, it becomes loose and can easily be wiped away.

[Candida colonies mature in 3 days.]

During the continuance of this fungous growth the mouth of the nursling is hot, has an acid reaction and is sensitive to touch in a degree that even nursing often is painful to the child.

But as long as the affection is not complicated with intestinal catarrh, its course is quite mild and short, and passes away in a few days if proper attention is paid to cleanliness.

It is different with artificially fed children when an intestinal catarrh is superadded to the trouble. Under it the child may sink with signs of follicular enteritis.

The formation of this fungus is favoured by acid fermentation. Secretion of the mouth is a mixture of saliva + mucus. The saliva reacts alkaline, more after a meal, less on an

empty stomach. The buccal mucus, however, has an acid reaction, which is visibly increased on contact with atmospheric air, when acid fermentation at once begins.

In young infants the secretion of mucus is in preponderance over the secretion of saliva; there is therefore a physiological tendency to acidity in a young child, and if, in addition,

the child is nourished artificially/improperly by substances which easily undergo acid fermentation [sucking-bags/poor milk from badly cleansed bottles/ready made nutrition]

an outbreak of thrush is sure to follow.

We find that thrush attacks more frequently children artificially fed than breastfed and for this additional reason that the latter in sucking draw the saliva out of their salivary glands, while the easy flow from the bottle requires nothing but swallowing. I would rather have the baby fed by the spoon, as in this way chewing motions are induced and a more thorough mixture of the food

with saliva is ensured.

We find thrush also in adults, but it is of rare occurrence, and then always in consequence of protracted and exhausting diseases, such as phthisis, diabetes, cancer, etc.

Candida hypersensitive syndrome:

After the American paediatrician William Crook published in 1986 his book The Yeast Connection, in which he postulated that the overgrowth of Candida causes a host of symptoms which he coined the “Candida Hypersensitivity Syndrome”. Since the mid-1980s, several physicians have reported that while treating female patients for candidiasis, they seem to have inadvertently - at first - relieved symptoms of other problems. These include PMS/sexual dysfunction (ranging from nymphomania to loss of libido)/depression. They hypothesize that the cause and effect are not just coincidental but that, in fact, some traditionally psychological disorders may be the consequences of above normal populations of C. albicans.

Dr. W.G. Crook, author of The Yeast Connection and one of the pioneers in this area of medical investigation, suggests several possible mechanisms for the unexpected effects of the yeast. They include toxin production by C. albicans, yeast-induced nutrient imbalance, and ethyl alcohol fermentation. Critics of Crook’s work argue that evidence to support his contentions is wanting. In fact, clinical trials comparing reactions of patients treated with or without the antifungal drug nystatin showed no differences in the test

populations. Nonetheless, the debate continues with a small but vocal cadre of medical professionals convinced that C. albicans is responsible for much more disease than it gets credit for.

[Hudler 1998]

With the public media, health writers and health magazines jumping on the bandwagon, the syndrome grew into a “Candida-Related Complex” of truly miasmatic proportions. Some authors even speak of a “hidden epidemic” that, fuelled “by everything from diet to medication to environmental factors,” affects “as many as 90% of Americans/Canadians.” Candidiasis has become a fashionable diagnosis, culturally defined and anything but individual, consistent with Dr. Crook’s conclusion that “your health problems are probably yeast [Candida] connected if you crave sweets, feel sick all over, have taken many antibiotics, and have seen many physicians and have not found help.”

Many complaints and chronic health problems are, according to Crook, related to Cand., ranging from “fatigue, headache and depression in adults to ear problems, hyperactivity, attention deficits and autism in children,” and include, in addition, “PMS/sexual dysfunction/asthma/psoriasis/digestive and urinary problems/MS/muscle pain.”

[Luc de Schepper]

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE

Psychological profile of the Candida patient. It is not based on clinical cases treated homeopathically, but on general observations concerning patients with candidiasis, similar to the way in which currently, ‘miasms’ such as Malaria, Ringworm, or Cancer are built up.

A summary: Feelings of frustration/being misunderstood/being rejected seem part of life experience. To a Candida patient, these feelings are often magnified; life seldom seems to treat the Candida patient fairly.

In the early childhood experience of the Candida patient, abuse often has been present. The experience of sexual/emotional/physical abuse are indications of a traumatic childhood, in which emotional nourishment/encouragement to set a goal/simply the coherence of a healthily functioning family are absent.

This fear-inducing environment influences one’s immune system in a weakening manner, leaving one susceptible for invasion of diseases.

According to rules of Acupuncture, each emotion is linked to a certain organ.

Fear decreases the energy in the kidneys;

Worry and pensiveness decreases the energy in the spleen etc.

Deficient energy in the kidney organ leads to more fear and anxiety creating a vicious circle etc.

Following next is the common nightmare of the Candida patient. As a child, most of these patients are subjected to an increased antibiotic intake and our modern diet with preservatives and sugars. Most of the symptoms will appear a couple of years later.

Sometimes immediate yeast-related signs surface: mood swings/depression/suicidal tendencies. The sudden mood swings are the most startling symptoms. Patients look and act joyful at 10 h. and are threatening to kill themselves at 14 h. We can understand the scepticism and disbelief of professionals and family; nobody, not even the patient, expects these sudden variations. In the end, the patient is convinced that s/he has become crazy: it is the only possible answer to this yo-yo behaviour.

The real problem of the Candida patient starts (in beginning stages) look too healthy/too handsome. Looking too good to have any kind of disease. Outwardly, it does not look like a disease. The allopatic physician looking for objective signs hardly finds them. How can you see “fogginess” in the brain, burning urination, severe PMS symptoms, decreased attention span … At most, the patient looks depressed.

The emotion though, that predominates this disease, is ANGER. Candida patients have a reservoir of anger, mostly deeply hidden. There is a need to understand the origin of anger and to seek means of dealing with the factors involved. Do not believe that this anger will always show in violent behaviour. There are other levels of manifestation of anger: ulcerative colitis/hypertension/eczema/migraine attacks/depressions/suicidal tendencies can be expressions of this emotion. Most patients will not even admit that they are angry. A lot of expressions imply underlying anger.

Patients who find no place to put their anger, are ridden by guilt, which offers no relief.

Another manifestation of hidden anger in almost every Candida patient is in the bodily reactions. An almost constant symptom in these patients is the pain in the neck and shoulder region, caused by anger and refuse to accept it or are not allowed to bring the anger outward.

Of course, this chronic disease solicits anger as well from the patient as from the rest of the family (partner). Anger may build up for all kinds of reasons7feel constantly rejected/always questioned and doubted about the existence of their disease, and simply because being outside the mainstream and not getting their share of the world’s excitement and rewards. Partners resent this disease immensely because it makes him a prisoner in his own house, without having the disease. They are inconvenienced by their partner’s illness, leading to feelings of frustration and resentment.

DIE-OFF REACTIONS

It will require careful and accurate homeopathic prescribing of Cand. to establish a made-to-measure drug picture that goes beyond the universal character of candidiasis. The symptoms associated with the latter might apply to almost all individuals at some time. We can draw parallels with a remedy like Carcinosin. To narrow down the abundant symptomatology to its possible essence it might help to

consider a phenomenon that occurs during the first days or, rarely, weeks of the treatment of candidiasis with antifungal antibiotics. The phenomenon is termed “die-off” or Herxheimer’s reaction and is mainly observed with the use of nystatin and, to a lesser degree, with other antifungals or with natural treatment. [Herxheimer’s reaction is not uncommon in the treatment of spirochete infections - syphilis, Lyme disease - and with antibiotics in general.]

Nystatin was isolated in 1950 from bacteria of the genus Streptomyces, which, like other soil bacteria, are the natural adversaries of microscopic fungi. Nystatin destroys the cell wall of Candida, with the result that the contents leak out and the cell “bleeds to death.” With the leaking of protoplasm and electrolytes, a number of toxins also escape, the sudden release of which produces a temporary toxic or allergy-like reaction in the host. This is not an adverse reaction to the nystatin itself since it clears up as the nystatin is

continued. The die-off reaction resembles the initial aggravation induced by homeopathic remedies.

Both are, in fact, temporary intoxications, energy-wise or physically, and both evoke body responses to turn the economy into order. Kent compares the initial aggravation with “a process of house cleaning,” a process of elimination, “probably from the bowels, or stomach, by vomiting, by expectoration, or by the kidneys, in those cases where everything has been suppressed.” Die-off reaction includes elimination processes as well

as symptoms caused by the release of Candida toxins. If Candida treatment requires reducing or avoiding coffee/alcohol/chocolate/dairy products/sugar/wheat/yeastfermented foodstuffs, part of the die-off reaction may be due to withdrawal symptoms.

The following is an overview of common die-off reactions, accompanied by some of the comments by the authors of the listing.

Allergy reactions often increase during Candida treatment or if you never had allergies or food sensitivities before, they may temporarily crop up during this time.”

Anger and aggression.can be common during treatment. Tolerance levels seem lower. One reason may be that the yeast is agitated; it in turn agitates you, and you pass it on. During treatment, quick anger is generally a body response - not a real emotion.”

Bloating. “This is common during Candida treatment and cleansing.”

Constipation/Diarrhoea.

Blood sugar problems.

Bruise easily. “Usually only very sensitive people have problems with this.”

Colds. Sore throat. Cold extremities.

Crying.

Depression.

Energy lows.

Emotional experiences.

Headaches.

Hyperactivity. “During treatment, this may occur when overworking or overplaying is done. …

Not enough food or too high a Candida treatment dosage can lead to hyperactivity, too.

… Parasites can contribute to this, as they are greatly agitated during treatment.”

Indigestion.

Lack of coordination. “May occur more often during treatment.”

Mental confusion, spacey.

Mucus.

Paranoia. “Temporary mental problems and confusion can be caused by parasite treatment. Poisons being eliminated can flood the body and brain and may contribute to creating delusional thoughts and emotions.”

Skin problems. Skin irritations or rash. “Temporary food intolerances may become evident during treatment. One could become agitated by dairy foods/tomatoes/meats/nuts/other foods you are not normally allergic to.”

Sleepless.

[Jeanne Marie Martin + Zoltan P. Rona]

Anger, expressed or suppressed.

The phenomenon of suppression is very evident in Cand., first of all in the form of suppressed anger. During the provings, rage was experienced directly and immediately. However, in practice I usually saw conditions of suppressed anger, of anger that was not allowed. In many cases the anger could not be kept down and was therefore permanently looking for an outlet.

‘Wut im Bauch haben’ is a common idiom in the German language, which could be translated as ‘having anger in my belly’. This expression fits very well with the central physical symptoms concerning the digestive system [flatulence/fullness/diarrhoea/cramping]. It has been confirmed in this proving, as well as in others, that mental and physical symptoms form a corresponding unit and the disease is reflected on

different levels.

The aggression itself can be completely hidden, but can also be very violent, almost driving the patient mad. There may be an impulse to destroy everything, simply smash everything to pieces. A typical expression of one of the provers is: ‘I feel such tremendous aggression in me that I can hardly handle it. I have to muster all my strength not to destroy something.’

Fatigue.

Another striking symptom is the tremendous lack of energy in this remedy. [Is this a result of the suppressed anger?] Tiredness up to severe exhaustion occurred in the whole proving and in many of the treated cases.

Craving for sweets.

We could understand the greatly increased desire for sweets, certainly a high degree symptom, as an attempt to make up for the lack of energy. [This craving is also common to the mycosis-patient.]

Overwhelmed.

The Cand. patient seems to be a typical ‘product’ of modern western society, which is characterized by the following features:

Too many demands made upon a person by a tough, efficiency-oriented society which is too complex for the individual to grasp and experienced as threatening.

A multitude of daily impressions to which he is exposed, can overwhelm the individual.

A hectic state, tension, stress and a daily feeling of ‘too much.’

Ignored emotions and an outward presentation of a smooth and clean surface.

Too many requirements/expectations/impressions [odours/noises etc]. Too much to do and no way out …

The basic sensation of ‘too much’ is a feeling of inability to cope, of being overburdened, a feeling of not being able to fulfil the demands of everyday life and sometimes even of the whole life. [A typical phrase from the proving is: ‘Even the little demands of everyday life are too much for me.’]

Cand. patients feel overwhelmed by daily routines/requirements/duties. A feeling of restriction develops and takes over, and they cannot get rid of it.

Restless and hectic.

The reaction [to the inability to cope] is that they feel restless and hectic. RestLESS remedy/ceaselessly in action [or more precisely, the feeling of being ceaselessly in action]/always having something to do/no time to relax.

They quickly get into a state of stress and tension. Examples in the provings are: ‘I cannot get anything done. This is the most stressful week. Dates, driving. Everything is too much.’ And: ‘Towards the evening everything is too much; a feeling of being hurried and rushed. A strong desire for rest and being alone.’

Chaos.

Forgetfulness/lack of concentration/sometimes real confusion + other symptoms. Chaotic conditions are central. One prover wrote: ‘I was very confused and had to think about normal routin before carrying them out. I had forgotten what I had planned to buy in the supermarket and once in the car park, I had to think where I was, where I wanted to go and how to get there.’

Background.

In order to answer the question of ‘what is the cause of this kind of manifestations, why is this anger not allowed to be expressed, why are these people so confused,’ etc., we should look at a number of cured Cand. cases.

These people have been inhibited/often hindered and suppressed in expressing their free will and this suppression had become the central theme of their lives. [DD: Carcinosin]

We talk about dominated people who were not allowed to develop their own personality. In some way we could say we are dealing with parasitic relationships. We observe exploitative relationships, with the Cand. patient being the victim, being used or abused, in which the equilibrium of giving and taking has been

shifted. The tendency towards exploitative relationships often continues and is repeated again and again according to a fixed pattern. Candida patients usually react helplessly and defencelessly in this kind of situation, showing vagueness and indirect and ineffectual aggression.

They are unable to be clear and precise and cannot set limits. In some cases the patient repeatedly became the involuntary supporter of a partner or a parent; the used, abused or energetically sucked out ‘victim.’

Dreams.

The most important themes in the dreams: Blood/brutality/murder/bombs/explosion/hell/rape.

Appetite + Digestion

Constant hunger. Can’t stop eating; fasting impossible. Overeating; stuffing oneself.

Craving for sweets

Constant sensation of fullness and satiation.

Desire for high-calorie foods, < in evening; i.e. chocolate/cold milk/remoulade/crisps/pizza.

Weight gain.

Gnawing pain in stomach, as from an ulcer, > eating.

„As if lump“ in stomach, pressing upwards.

Watery diarrhoea, smelling like rotten eggs.

Constipation with sensation of fullness in rectum and flatulence.

Pressing frontal headache > stool.

Peculiars

Painful swelling of axillary lymph glands.

Offensive axillary perspiration.

Sensation of emptiness in chest and abdomen.

Tickling in chest > swallowing.

Palpitations before falling asleep, > hand on chest.

Painful stiffness in hollow of feet in morning on rising.

Buzzing sensation in arms, legs, and down the back.

Clinical simptoms

Delusion/sensation: alone in the world/about to sink into annihilation/powerless/defenceless/persecuted/despised/eaten up/consumed/internal emptiness/surrounded by enemies/floating in air/forsaken/helpless/caught/imprisoned/separated from the world/stupid/thin /time passes too quickly/unloved by parents, partner, friends/has done wrong

Anxiety/Fear: business failure/bankruptcy/money matters/poverty/impending disease/health (own/relatives)/something will happen/punishment/robbers/thieves;

Concomitants

Headache + empty sensation in head

Headache + sensitivity to strong odours

Coryza + itching of eyes and lachrymation

Throat pain + nausea

Stomach pain + vertigo

Food/Drinks: <: Apples/farinaceous food/fish/milk/sweets; Desires: choc./cold drinks (milk)/salt/sweets;

Modalities

Headache < coughing exertion light before menses noise stooping

change of weather

Clenching teeth firmly together at night

Burning pain in oesophagus < concentration [mind]

Itching external throat < scratching

Heartburn after eating or drinking

Abdominal cramps + heat/at night

Sensation of rectal constriction after stool

Difficult respiration < lying/> sitting

Constriction chest > weeping

Profuse perspiration at night

Itching at night < scratching

‡ Folgendes hat anthroposofische Einschlüße ‡

Frei nach: Karl-Reinhard Kummer

The multifarious symptomatology of intestinal mycosis is given consideration in natural medicine, though it is not yet possible to say if it is a primary or secondary disorder. There are indications that the presence of Cand. in the intestinal flora may play a central role in atopic diseases (psoriasis/seborrheic dermatitis).

Fungi show tremendous variety in growth and biological characteristics/they and the diseases associated with develope in cool and humid environment. As retarded life forms, they cause retardation in human metabolism (warmth organism). They exist where the human being is unable to give his I-organization and above all his warmth and light organism adequate structure in the lower human being. Treatment should therefore aim to strengthen I-activity in the organism (intestines).

Symptoms: alternating diarrhea, flatus, lowered resistance to infection, asthma, eczema, neurodermatitis and psychological symptoms such as lack of drive, depression.

Others consider the presence of Cand. in the intestines as a secondary phenomenon when the intestinal milieu is abnormal (food intolerance/neurodermatitis/urticaria). Others only accept infection with a confirmed physiologic correlate as pathological candidiasis. The absence of confirmed infection parameters does not, however, permit the conclusion that Candida in the intestinal flora is of no significance. Low-grade infections may exist (intestinal mycosis is often symptomless). Some patients actually only realize that they had not been well before once they have been treated. Some authors assume that the absence of inflammatory changes is actually a characteristic of the syndrome. We thus also have to ask how "healthy" individuals with Candida in their flora will feel in a few years' time.

Some authors maintain that Cand. is part of the physiologic intestinal flora. Male disputes this, despite the fact that he takes a critical view of the so-called "Candida syndrome" or of it being taken to extremes. In his view, intestinal fungi were much more uncommon before antibiotics came in, and also in primitive peoples. He also speaks of the role played by excess nutrition (infants substitute formulas). Candida is not part of the primary flora developing in the intestines of the newborn. Most authors who consider intestinal Candida mycosis to be pathological believe there to be a connection with a disorder of intestinal homeostasis. Only yeasts and Bifidum bacteria remain when antibiotics reduce the normal bacterial flora. Proliferation of yeasts in the intestine may cause vitamins to be withdrawn. No evidence has thus been brought that Cand. is physiologic in the intestine.

The pathogenic Candida factors causing infection are well known - adherence, development of mycelia which may be invasive, enzyme production. It is not clear, however, when and why saprophytic growth becomes pathologic. The secretory activity of immunoglobulin A, acting as a mediator between mucosal cells and the inner intestine, is inhibited. It has now been shown that Saccharomyces boulardii yeast can be taken up into the intestine like particles derived from lifeless nature. The situation may be expected to be similar with pathogenic yeasts. Authors agree that fungal infections indicate an area of least resistance in the host. It is also known that small amounts of alcohols are produced in cases of intestinal Candida mycosis. Treatment of intestinal Candida reduces the blood alcohol levels, which are low in any case.

Investigation of the intestinal micro ecology presents considerable methodological problems. (anaerobic organisms that make up the greater part of the intestinal flora). According to Sonnenbom and Greinwald a complete analysis of a single individual's intestinal flora done at a specialist institute would take a year! Positive tests for Candida in serum, stools or biopsy material do not correlate with identifiable pathologic conditions, which makes it difficult to evaluate the results. It is also difficult to establish in which part of the intestine the yeasts are growing.

Not much is known about possible symbiosis of yeasts and the human intestinal mucosa. More data are available on therapeutic exhibition of Saccharomyces boulardii.

The clinical relevance of a shift in intestinal organisms is discussed by Chapoy and by Sonnenbom and Greinwald, for example. Abnormalities in the intestinal flora may even induce premature births. This does, however, require fuller investigation. Lack of knowledg is confirmed by Gibson, Stremmel and by Wedding et al.(13, 51) Stremmel(51) does refer to the many investigations stored under "Candida" in databanks, but not on intestinal mycosis. The Medline Databank has no record of work on mycotoxins and on alcohol production by Candida or yeasts in humans for the years 1991-1996. Thus the effect of yeasts on the mucosal surfaces of the intestine or of enzymes secreted into the intestinal lumen is not yet known.

Basically, evidence of yeasts in the intestine or stools does not call for treatment. In children in particular this may be a passing phenomenon. Minor infections may quite often be followed by short-term fungal growth in the intestine and this is spontaneously reversible. With food allergies an elimination diet often reduces even massive yeast levels.

In the view of those who consider intestinal mycosis to be a definite syndrome, it involves chronic changes that are difficult to detect. One thus gets a varied picture of absent or mild symptoms and is not sure whether to treat them or not. As fungi tend to be parasitic or saprophytic, their existence goes largely unnoticed. In this respect, too, they behave differently from pathogenic bacteria which as a rule evoke inflammatory defense reactions. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is thus the exception, lack of symptoms with intestinal mycosis the rule.

Many people say after successful treatment that they feel a great deal bette (auch möglich mit glutenfreier Nahrung?). Unidentifiable abdominal problems with fungi found in stool cultures may be an indication for ex iuvantibus treatment. It has to be considered that the detection of fungi in stool smears may also give falsely negative results.

Unless we have a concept of "health", with criteria for "well" or "ill", we can only have opinions. The essential nature of the human being has to be considered as a whole, including soul and spirit, to know if one is dealing with states of health or illness.

The nature of fungi

Simonis has giving a loving botanical description of the fungi as seen by a physician. He calls them retarded life forms that still have an echo of the ancient Saturn period of human and earth evolution and have been unable to relate to the more recent development of the Sun period. In terms of earth evolution they may be considered to belong to the Moon period of earth evolution known as Lemuria.

Schoeffler considers above all the points of view and way of thinking that have led to the use of antibiotics.

The systematics of fungi cover many categories. Those that play a role in medicine are epidermophytes (Microsporum, Trichophyton), molds (Mucor, Fusarium, cephalospores, Aspergillus, penicillin, cladospores and alternaria), yeasts (blastomycetes) such as Candida, Cryptococcus, Saccharomyces, Trichosporum, Geotrichum, dimorph fungi (Blastomyces, Histoplasma, Coccidioides, Sporothrix), etc. About 180 species have been found to be potentially pathogenic to humans.

Steiner and Simonis referred to fungi as life forms living in the Moon region of the earth. They originate in the element of warmth, like pollen, but then go into the sphere of decay as saprophytes. Their fruiting bodies face the soil and not the light as in higher plants. Rudolf Steiner spoke of the way algae and fungi strongly absorb the astrality of an environment.

Fungi may really be considered to be unicellular. They are eukaryotic and without chlorophyll and therefore have to depend on nutrients in organic matter as a source of energy. On the other hand they are also capable of living under exclusion of light. Fungi can specialize and elongate, sprout and produce hyphae. These may form networks called mycelia. Deriving from a single cell these are called thalli, and if loosely structured colonies. Fungi are able to bud or grow spores to produce conidia, some of them mobile. The spores may be sexual or asexual. Some produce hyphae which then produce mushrooms, as they are commonly called (boletus, fly agaric). The spores are shed in autumn, similar to the pollen of flowering plants.

Fungal spore allergy in autumn is the counter image in time of the seasonal pollen allergy in spring.

Fungi do not produce fruit in the proper sense. Their fruiting element are the asexual spores, as in Aspergillus. Sexual reproduction of spores involves reproduction from the thallus itself with the aid of sexual mechanisms and heterosexual reproduction from different kinds of genetic material. There are fungi where such structures are not known, and also parasexual exchanges between different fungi.

Like Agar. many fungi produce surface pigments to face the light. Their actual growth sphere is colorless, however. In this they differ fundamentally from many higher plants (those producing pigmented roots). We might go so far as to say that fungi do the opposite of higher plants when it comes to color. A rose producing red in its leaves seeks to fend off astralization. In pigment-producing fungi, however, the color is part of the astrality they seek to absorb (Agarici). Steiner referred to diphtheria as fungus-like and suggested treating it with cinnabar red, saying that this would tie up the astral body more closely with the ether body (Agar.).

In many respects fungi hold a half-way position in nature. Their skeletal matter is the chitin of insects (not in yeasts). In their great variety, the alternation of spore, resting stage and shoot form they are close to the algae. Steiner stressed this: "... and so everything that is fungal by nature has a close relationship with the lower animal world, bacteria and similar creatures, and particularly with harmful parasites“. Fungi may thus be said to be a kind of chameleon in lower nature, adapting to any given situation.

Fungi grow at widely differing temperatures. In the human body they thrive at 37 °C (lower temperatures)/in a cool, dark space. But they do not shun humid warmth either. Some specialists among them thrive at quite high environmental temperatures. Spores in particular may be extremely heat resistant whilst they also tolerate very cold temperatures, retaining their germinative power for a long time.

Fungi live in a sphere of warmth that is as yet undifferentiated and in an excess of organic matter. Harking back to earlier stages of earth evolution they have a relationship to the ancient nitrogen and cyanide atmosphere. They do not as a rule generate heat energy in their quite considerable metabolic processes but consume it. They will thus often maintain cold.

Bacterial processes on the other hand tend to generate heat, as in the spontaneous ignition of hay. Fungi often produce gases and relate more to the watery and airy rather than the heat element. This preference for the watery and airy elements may be the reason why they preferably attack the lungs and intestines in human infections.

Symbiotic union of fungi and the roots of plants produce mycorrhiza, a borderline region between organically structured plant matter and the completely lifeless mineral soil. Such mediation between plant and soil prefigures life, providing excess nitrogen is present.

Substances produced in the mycorrhiza have a deadening effect on the surrounding area. Substances from bacteria inhibit fungal growth and vice versa [griseofulvin from penicillin (Nebenwirkungen Schlafstörungen/Schwindel/Kopfschmerz/auch rheumatische Nebenwirkungen)]. Most modern antibiotics derive largely from fungi, or were originally derived from their substances. Rimpler et al. thus also refer to tumor-active substances in fungi. Steiner's abovementioned comments may be taken as a spiritual scientific pointer to possible antibiotic actions; which is what Simonis thought. Nystatin has however been isolated from Streptomyces strains capable of producing both antibacterial and antimycotic substances. Toxin production thus seems to be a characteristic of the whole group of fungi, and this no doubt also includes Candida. Nothing of any account has however been published on Candida toxins in recent years.

Whilst bacteria relate more to warmth, algae differ from fungi in that they show a definite orientation towards light. With their chlorophyll they draw the light down into the water, using it to produce matter in photosynthesis. Binding of iodine by algae also relates to the light.

Fungi do not have these important faculties, being unable to open up to light. They actually prefer the lightless sphere of humus and the roots of higher plants and thrive best under light exclusion. It is only occasionally that they send the fruiting bodies we know as mushrooms up into the air from the damp rotting soil. This would seem to be to seek the air, however, rather than the light, so that their spores may spread.

The basic shape of the spore, is spherical. We thus have a plant in the plant world that consists entirely in a kind of head. Fungi do not develop the leaf sphere which is so much the essence of plant nature. They therefore also do not relate to the rhythmic processes connected with leaf development. Instead they produce a "flower" at ground level, as Steiner put it, also saying that their development is peculiarly astralized. This would explain why they do not relate to the human intestinal system, which is based on plant leaf-type principles, but may become pathogenic in it, similar to the lung.

Steiner also spoke of the soil itself being the basis for fungal life, with fungi not rising above its sphere. It is different with trees. The powers of the earth make them grow beyond the soil, taking them up into the light. Fungal metabolism thus also relates little to light, unlike that of intestinal bacteria.

Putrefactive bacteria convert matter into bound heat and light energy in their high-energy metabolism. Their heat and light processes integrate in the organism. This is not the case with parasitic fungi. They generally use only partial stages of metabolism, leaving the rest to putrefaction. Their metabolism thus does not submit to the principles that guide the human organism, which relates strongly to light.

Fungi play an important role in dealing with dying matter in the soil. They show a preference for residues from living organisms that contain nitrogen, and thus facilitate nitrogen metabolism for plants. Fungi also contribute a great deal to carbon conversion in the world.

Their capacity for converting large amounts of substrate makes them an ideal means of conducting metabolic processes in an industrial context. They also have the advantage that they do not on the whole bring about complete lysis but perform only part stages. Another important advantage is that they finally yield the original substance again, either as a substrate or as a gas such as CO2. Bacterial metabolism on the other hand not only converts matter to heat energy, as mentioned above, but this energy is often converted to high energy matter and stored in the bacterium. Fungi thus are selfless in their metabolism, releasing the substance they have been processing. On the other hand they are also toxic, releasing their metabolic products unprotected into the environment.

Large scale industrial utilization of fungi started in the late 1920s. Citric acid is almost exclusively produced with the aid of fungi, annual production being more than 100.000 tons. There is unlikely to be any field in the food and chemical industries where fungi do not play a major role. The numerous enzymatic processes used in the food industry also imitate fungal metabolism.

Rudolf Steiner characterized their growth, with degradation, decomposition and excess of matter as dying life. Compared to bacteria, fungi appear to take the degradation of matter only to a certain level. Thus fermentation, a self-limiting process with a relatively low energy yield, is one of their characteristics. They limit their activity in the conversion of matter, letting others take the process to completion. Constructive metabolism is taken care of by plants in the soil and by intestinal bacteria in the human intestine, in either case with the aid of light processes. It may be assumed that the attachment to dying processes seen in fungi means that humans suffering from mycosis are confronted with increased levels of toxic decomposition products.

This behavior towards matter, with retardation of a whole digestive process in favor of part processes, concerns an aspect of fungal pathology that has so far been given little attention. Fungi prevent the complete digestion necessary for the human organism. Humans need to convert all matter into a form that is their own. "Anything taken in from outside (into the human organism, author) must either merely be something that enables it to develop its own activity; or it has to act in such a way in the body that the foreign activity does not differ from one of the body's own inner activities once it has entered into the body“. Fungi not only remain parasitic foreign bodies in man but also provide their host with a parasitic metabolism, at least in the intestine.

It has long been known that fungi grow more actively in sugar solutions. Vaginal mycosis thus develops quite often during pregnancy with its tendency towards pre-diabetes. This still calls for more large-scale studies. It seems that one-sided excess of matter with high-level sugar consumption favors fungal growth.

Ways of gaining insight into intestinal fungal growth in the light of the anthroposophical view of man

Behavior of I-organization and astral body

As one would expect, medical nomenclature tends to obscure the situation rather than clarify it. It is difficult to know if a fungus is "just there" (commensal), on the borderline to being pathogenic ("mutualist"), takes away important nutrients ("parasite") or is directly pathogenic by producing toxins or by means of invasive infection.

The basic process we find in humans with intestinal mycosis has to do with conditions Steiner described under the heading of neurasthenia. Pathological processes may develop if the upper and lower activities in the human organization are not sufficiently in accord with each other, with the upper not intervening adequately in the lower, and head processes staying among themselves. The digestion is weak as a result, unable to assimilate foreign food matter adequately. The individual's attention is too much on the outside world, allowing foreign processes to enter to excess and meeting this with an excessive secondary reaction. These processes, which one also sees with allergies, were described by Rudolf Steiner.

Weakness of definition may also be due to the opposite condition, which is the kind of hypersensitivity one sees with hysteria. Metabolism makes itself independent, and wounds may be caused. An example of the overweening metabolic activity described by Steiner would be candidal diaper rash of short duration when infants are teething. It generally ends when the teeth erupt.

Relationship to allergy

Allergies arise because foreign processes are not properly perceived. Food allergies are often seen in conjunction with intestinal mycosis. The intolerance often only shows itself with a careful elimination and re-exposition diet. The human being is not able to register the foreign nature of the food nor the foreign fungal flora. In the author's experience people allergic to milk protein, hen's egg white, almond and soya tend to attract Candida rather than other yeasts. These are often people with an overweening metabolism who are more inclined towards hysterical disorders. People in whose stools Aspergillus has been detected will often show a neurasthenic component and have cereal grain allergies (Gluten-unverträglichkeit?).

Fungal infection might be seen as a barometer indicating that the I-organization is not intervening adequately in the organism. Humans differ from animals in that foods must be thoroughly killed off and then built up again in a completely individual way. With both allergy and intestinal mycosis we may assume that the origin lies in a neurasthenic constitution. Metabolic predominance and hysterical wounding are then secondary phenomena. It seems likely that such foreign processes also appear temporarily in the course of acute diseases that weaken the constitution as a whole.

It is possible that fungi with their foreign substance are in themselves an allergen. It may also be possible that their presence "triggers" the actions of other allergens. Some patients with neurodermatitis do not improve with diet and constitutional treatment but only when their intestinal mycosis has been dealt with.

Fungal growth in the intestine has its own dynamics. The I or the I-organization cannot integrate them into its own growth principles. The result is that an area in the organism which is not under control is occupied by other life forms with foreign activity. In connection with the "bacillus theory", Steiner repeatedly said that it was the soil which mattered and not the bacillus. Fungi also work against the I-organization in another respect. They produce alcohols from higher fatty acids. These not only cause destruction and toxic effects but also make people sleepy, weakening the human I-organization.

The activities of the I depend on warmth and light. Abnormal fat absorption may cause too much or too little fat to enter the organism. In the first case one gets pathological heat foci, in the second, malnutrition. Post's thermography shows intestinal areas subject to mycotic changes to be colder, possibly because the fungi act against the warmth organization. This would be another possible explanation of their negative effect on immune defenses.

Aspects relating to the treatment of intestinal mycosis

The main aim of treatment based on the anthroposophical view of the human being must be to give the I or I-organization and the astral body better access to the lower human being and intestine. Actual treatment of the mycosis is of secondary importance. The suggestions made below can only be general. Treatment has to be individual to each patient. An attempt will also be made to consider the treatments suggested in the literature and find the rationale for their actions in the light of anthroposophical physiology.

Eurythmy therapy

The main aim of this is to support the I-organization in its actions in the body. This calls for general treatment to promote health in soul and spirit, to support the human being in his activity. Steiner had a great deal to say about the digestion, devoting the whole of the 4th lecture in the eurythmy therapy course to it.(45) Eurythmy therapy is therefore the method that does most to strengthen the I-organization, for it directly addresses the activity of the human individual.

Nutrition

Many authors refer to the importance of the diet. The negative effect of refined sugar is stressed by all. This is understandable, for the preparation of sugar is one of the central functions of the I-organization. Taking too much refined and processed sugar, one relieves the I-organization of its function and thus weakens it.

A special diet always addresses a person's will. Steiner thus also spoke of the helpfulness of a diet chosen of one's own free will and of the way activity is reduced by a diet taken in a purely passive way. Many of the diets suggested in the lay press unfortunately ask people to follow the advice of others blindly. One also suspects that some have no proper foundation. Thus it is difficult to see how a fungus can be "starved out". The opposite view, that a low-sugar diet to "starve it out" would give the fungus an extra appetite for the intestinal wall, is equally difficult to understand. Many of the measures recommended in the literature weaken patients rather than strengthening them. Special diets are always "asocial" and egotistical by nature, as Steiner made very clear. They should therefore only be of limited duration.

A sudden change to a wholegrain diet which is difficult to digest may also prove harmful. High proportions of roughage containing cellulose may induce fermentation with negative consequences.

The foods we eat relate to some degree to our organs. f(bitter) food influences the liver are recommended. A root diet with its mineral content strengthens the astral head powers in the upper human being, with the result that he no longer has to be active in metabolism. Lactic fermentation products such as sauerkraut or yogurt strengthen the astral body.

Strengthening the I-organization medically

Medicines based on quartz or silica serve this purpose. According to Steiner, "silica is the external correlate, outward directed activity for the I-organization" or "the physical basis for the I-organization“. Treatment with Cichorium also comes under this heading, for instance as Cichorium/ Pancreas comp. pilules (Wala).

Stibium (= Antomonium) supports delimiting processes in the intestine, also if the basic problem is an allergy, Antimonite 6x trit. w being an example. Kalium aceticum compositum dil. w or Plumbum 1x/Stannum 14x trit. w facilitates I-organization intervention or its delimiting function. Finally all mercury preparations help the mercurial process in which the I-organization is active in the small intestine. Respiratory function in the lower human being can be encouraged with an iron silicate preparation = nontronite D 12x w. Treatment with roots containing pigments or extracts of these would also go in this direction carrot juice, beetroot, aloes.

Phos. and Sulph. based medicines strengthen the lower abdomen

The relationship between phosphorous flowering processes and the lower abdominal organs was shown by Steiner. All medicines based on flowering plants have this effect, wormwood for example, with the flowering green part of the plant used (Absinthium 1x dil. w. Treatment with Aloe (1x dil. w, Resina Laricis 1x dil. w, propolis extract, evening primrose oil (Epogam ®, Gammocur or similar), borage oil, garlic (All-s 1x dil. w) onion (Allium cepa 1x dil. w) or Myrrhinil-intest ® (chamomile flores/charcoal from Coff./myrrh). Fern and bracken spores [Digestodoron w or Aquilinum comp. pilules (Wala)], have the sulfurous character of the spores as their active principle. Steiner referred to their action as strengthening the catabolic principles in the digestive tract.

The effect pigments have on the astral body is also an important aspect of diet: beetroot/carrots/roots/leaf vegetables. The common aspect to this treatment is that the powers of light are enhanced in the intestine.

Suggested treatments for intestinal mycosis thus resemble those for warts or worms, where the weakness of the astral body towards external influences is increased. Thuja is also used for this.

The phosphorus process exists also in the antimycotics used in conventional medicine. These contain either pigments such as gentian violet with its surface action, or they may be regarded as pigments, azoles (micono-/ketoko-/fluconazole), or may be chemically converted to pigments. Tonoftal (allopatische creme gegen Pilz) is a high-energy substance. As their action is purely physical, the effect often lasts only for as long as they are given. Etheric activity has to take over. If this does not happen, or we do not aim to make it happen with treatment, the danger of resistance developing is great also with fungi, though this was not considered possible in the past. Instead of giving chemical antimycotics one may also try relatively high vitamin C doses, 1/2 tsp t.i.d., starting low and gradually going up to this. Sandthom (sea buckthorn) original or "low sugar" elixir w have a similar effect.

Insufflation of ozone into the intestine is another sulfurous type of treatment. About 200 ml are produced using a generator and insufflated into the rectum using a syringe and catheter. The ozone is bound to break down pretty quickly at body temperature, and its effect as a substance probably does not go beyond the sigmoid, yet convincing results have been seen in treating severe neurodermatitis with Candida confirmed in the stools.

Sugars, bitters, tannins

Roots with their sugars, bitter principles and tannins directly stimulate I, astral body and physical body activity (GA 319). This strengthens the totality of the upper human being's activity in the digestion. Instead of a pathological head-development in the lower human beings, as in the case of malnutrition, one has penetration of the digestive functions. Examples are Gentiana lutea (Gentiana lutea Rh 5% dil., w /Gentiana comp. pilules, Wala) or Geum urbanum Rh D3 dil. w.

In the author's experience there is a point to focusing on particular organs in treating different forms of intestinal mycosis. In his experience, treatment with the emphasis on the liver is effective with Candida mycosis, giving Hepatodoron, Chelidonium, Taraxacum or Cichorium, for example. Aspergillus mycosis appears to be more of a kidney problem, and Carbo Betulae or Equisetum may be considered, possibly in form of Equisetum cum sulfure tostum 6x trit. w

Pancreatic extracts or bitters to encourage secretion are also helpful, Pancreas 1x trit. w.

Cichorium/Pancreas comp. pilules (Wala) or Cichorium Rh 3x dil. w may be considered. Treatment with pancreatic enzymes may sometimes serve the purpose, possibly in combination with bile acids, or also gastric acid substitution.

Antagonism between bacteria and fungi

Another approach to treatment involves substitution and promotion of the physiologic intestinal flora. Steiner spoke of antagonism between bacteria and fungi in 1924. A wide range of preparations is now available that contain Bifidum bacteria, lactobacilli, Bacteroides or Bacterium subtilis. Though widely used, data are not really adequate in this field. Many preparations contain lactose or milk protein, which has to be taken into account if there are allergies in this direction. Treatment has to be long-term, which means it is more costly. If the choice of substitution is right, the method does, however, frequently prove effective.

Guided symbiosis is said to influence immune functions. Again it has to be continued for some time. One often starts with a preliminary phase using metabolic products of E. coli (Pro Symbioflor/Colibiogen/Rephalysin/Hylak). The next phase is with lactobacilli or coccal preparations (Symbioflor 1, Acidophilus, Eugalan, Paidoflor) to stimulate the acid-producing flora.

Thirdly one would try substitution with Coli bacteria to restore the milieu, e.g. with Symbioflor 2 or Mutaflor. Others recommend Coli substitution only, to match the development of the first flora in the newbom. Some laboratories specialize in producing individual symbiont preparations based on an analysis of the intestinal flora. These methods often effective but costly.

A principle Steiner mentioned in the Agriculture course probably has not yet been systematically applied to clinical treatment for humans. He suggested river or wetland meadows among the fields. "For if we manage to have not only woodlands (birds live above all in softwood trees, mammals in shrubs and bushes, author) but also river or wetland meadows suitably close to the farm, these meadows will prove particularly helpful to farming in that they provide a good soil for fungi. And one should see to it that the soil of those meadows contains fungi. You will then make the strange discovery that where you have wetland meadows, meadows rich in fungi... close to a farm, these fungi will because of their relationship to bacteria and other parasitic creatures keep such creatures away from others. ... The right balance and placing of woodland, orchards, shrubs and bushes and wetland meadows with a certain natural fungal culture is so much the essence of a good farming situation that one may even have to reduce the area utilizable for agricultural purposes to some extent...".

Displacement treatment using apathogenic yeasts

This has been used in a particular section of natural medicine in recent times. The yeast referred to as apathogenic which is generally used is Saccharomyces boulardii.

Monilia albicans 30x pilules (Staufen) or Albicansan 5x dil./ Nigersan 5x dil. (Sanum Kehlbeck),

Candida infections are on the increase (immune deficits/premature infants/epiglottitis). Fungi are also getting resistant to antimycotics, probably by selection of resistant strains after antimycotic treatment.

Unfortunately the issue of an abnormal intestinal flora (dysbacteria/overgrowth syndrome) mainly discussed by physicians working with natural medicine. This should not be a matter for division between conventional and natural medicine but for more intensive basic research. Koletzko and Baumler-Meri are asking that the discussion should be more objective and not emotive. This would also mean that patients' feelings of being unwell must be taken seriously.

It may be justifiable to refer to psychopathologic phenomena in many instances. But these only apply to a small proportion of patients. If both physician and patient are realistic in their expectations, the risk of aggravating any hysterical and depressive desire to be sick, with "fungi in the intestines“, is low. On the other hand there is no reason to put on airs and declare that this disorder does not rank as a disease at all.

Modern medicine clearly is still only beginning to get somewhere with fungus research. The literature relating to industrial uses is vast. But the last investigation of fungal infections in German swimming baths is more than 10 years old. The simple treatment of oral candidiasis is also less effective than is often thought. Nor are people in the habit of giving much thought to the matter of intestinal homeostasis, as may be seen from a paper by B. Koletzko, who denies the existence of problems due to the wrong bacterial flora. Patients experience a lack of understanding, with the result that attempts at lay treatment are common. The modern school of medicine must be challenged to pay attention to these syndromes and not deny their existence.

To date, then, Candida mycosis is not an accepted disease entity, and work has not gone beyond the description of individual cases. The uncertainties that exist in relation to diagnosis and treatment have to be accepted. They make it possible for practitioners to refuse to accept intestinal mycosis as a syndrome or to include it in their own critical review of potential treatments. Until firmer data are available, the positive results of a treatment must be accepted "ex iuvantibus". It would not be the first time that new perspectives have arisen in medicine by humbly taking note of existing uncertainties.

Dr. Kurt A. Moosburger

Seit vielen Jahren wird in regelmäßigen Abständen immer wieder das Thema „Darmpilze“ aktualisiert. Man liest oder hört darüber in gewissen Medien, die sich als „Gesundheitsmagazine“ verstehen. Urheber ist ein bestimmter Teil der Ärzteschaft, die „alternative“ Medizin betreiben und propagieren und die Glauben machen wollen, daß sämtliche Krankheiten ihren Ursprung im Darm haben („Der Tod sitzt im Darm“).

Dadurch werden die Menschen einseitig bzw. fehlinformiert und zwangsläufig verunsichert. Verängstigte PatientInnen glauben sich krank, weil „verpilzt“ und unterziehen sich einer fragwürdigen Stuhluntersuchung auf Candida. Nicht selten wird trotz Beschwerdefreiheit eine „Darmverpilzung“ festgestellt und dann eine bestimmte Diät, manchmal sogar Antimykotika (chemotherapeutische Antipilzmedikamente), verordnet. Eine medikamentöse Pilzbehandlung muß jedoch medizinisch gerechtfertigt sein und bedarf einer strengen Indikation. Das kann z.B. bei hartnäckigem Nagelpilz der Fall sein. Die sogenannte „Darmverpilzung“, die immer wieder bei gesunden Menschen festgestellt wird, ist aber weder eine Erkrankung noch Ursache für angeblich so viele Beschwerden und Krankheiten, wie oft behauptet wird, und somit nicht behandlungsbedürftig.

Candida ist kein „Feind“ im Darm! Wir alle haben diesen Hefepilz in uns - er gehört zu unserer normalen und natürlichen Darmflora, die ja aus unzähligen verschiedenen Keimen besteht. Auch auf unserer Haut lebt eine Heerschar von Pilzen, ohne daß wir deshalb krank sind. Nicht „Stress“ oder „falsche“ Ernährung machen aus den Hefepilzen ernstzunehmende Krankheitserreger, sondern vielmehr eine schwerwiegende Schwächung des Immunsystems, wie es bei AIDS, schwerer Leukämie, Knochenmarkstransplantation oder hochdosierter Zytostatikatherapie von Krebserkrankungen der Fall ist. Dann nämlich können die Darmpilze ihre Wohnstätte verlassen und andere innere Organe besiedeln, wie z.B. die Lunge (Pilzpneumonie) oder zur „Blutvergiftung“ führen (Pilzsepsis). Das sind lebensbedrohliche Komplikationen, weshalb man Risikopatienten mit geschwächter Immunabwehr in der Regel schon vorbeugend Antipilzmittel verabreicht

Bei den vielfältigen Magen-Darm-Störungen darf nicht voreilig Candida als Ursache angeschuldigt werden - damit würde man es sich zu einfach machen -, sondern muss eine sorgfältige Abklärung betrieben werden. Auch wenn man hiebei nicht immer sofort „fündig“ wird, sollte man als Arzt in diesem Fall eher an ein Reizdarmsyndrom als an Candida denken und nicht eine unzweckmäßige „Pilzdiät“ verordnen oder sogar Antipilzmedikamente aufgrund der „Darmverpilzung“, die, wie schon gesagt, keine Erkrankung darstellt, verschreiben.

Immer wieder kann man hören oder lesen, dass starkes Verlangen nach Süßem auf Candida zurückzuführen ist, weil der Pilz Glukose (Traubenzucker) aus der Nahrung entziehen soll. Dies ist jedoch eine irrige, naive Vorstellung über den menschlichen Stoffwechsel. Hiefür gibt es andere, nachvollziehbare Ursachen als den vermeintlichen „Feind im Darm“. Ebenso besteht kein nachweisbarer, geschweige denn logischer Zusammenhang zwischen “Darmverpilzung“ und chronischer Müdigkeit, Depressionen, Kopfschmerzen usw. bis hin zu mangelnder Libido... Auch hier gilt es, die wirklichen Ursachen zu finden und zu beheben. Unser Organismus besteht ja nicht nur aus dem Darm mit seiner Flora, sondern ist sehr komplex, und es kann mitunter schwierig sein, anhand der Symptomen die eigentliche Krankheitsursache zu diagnostizieren. Candida ist jedenfalls nicht der „Sündenbock“!

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Nun zur „Pilzdiät“, die den Darmpilz „aushungern“ soll. Dabei wird eine zucker- und weißmehlfreie Kost verordnet, die jedoch keinen Sinn macht. Erstens genügt dem Hefepilz schon der Zuckergehalt im Speichel, um zu gedeihen und zu wachsen - man dürfte also niemals den eigenen Speichel schlucken. Zweitens macht die zucker- und weißmehlfreie Diät keinen Sinn, weil auch die komplexen Kohlenhydrate im Verdauungstrakt (beginnt bereits in der Mundhöhle) in Zucker (genauer: Traubenzucker = Glukose) aufgespaltet werden. Es kann nämlich nur Zucker aus dem Darm ins Blut aufgenommen werden. Fazit: Im Darm ist immer Zucker - u.a. auch als Nahrung der Pilze - vorhanden, auch wenn wir uns zuckerfrei ernähren!

Abgesehen davon ist ein maßvoller Zuckerkonsum - dazu zählt auch Honig, der keineswegs gesünder ist, wie viele glauben - ohnehin Bestandteil einer gesunden Ernährung. Und niemand wird wohl auf die absurde Idee kommen, eine kohlenhydratfreie Kost zu propagieren...

Also: keine unbegründete Angst vor Candida und „Darmverpilzung“!

Dr. Kurt A. Moosburger

www.dr-moosburger.at

Innsbruck, im Juni 1998 (für die Gesundheitsseite der Tiroler Tageszeitung)

Link: Candida - “Anti-Pilz-Diät“ als Therapiemaßnahme sinnvoll ?

Stellungnahme Prof. Dr. Volker Eckardt (Gastroenterologe in Wiesbaden) in der Medical Tribune Nr. 1/2, 12. Januar 1996:

Heilpraktiker und Ärzte, die sich als Heilpraktiker betätigen, haben eine neue Einkommensquelle entdeckt, nämlich die “Mikroökologie“ des Darmes. Das Prinzip ist einfach: zunächst schürt man die Sorge der Bevölkerung vor Erkrankung, bietet dann kostenintensive Verfahren zur Frühdiagnose an und verspricht schließlich Heilung durch dubiose Therapiemethoden. Ein Paradebeispiel für dieses Vorgehen sind die Diagnose und Therapie von Pilzen im Darm.

Ein mittelhessisches Institut für Mikroökologie suggeriert in Hochglanzbroschüren, dass 30 bis 40 Millionen aller Bundesbürger an Pilzbefall erkrankt sind, ohne für diese groteske Aussage auch nur den geringsten Beweis anzutreten. Hier wird offensichtlich Pilzerkrankung mit Pilzbesiedlung verwechselt. Ersteres ist eine Rarität und findet sich fast ausnahmslos bei vorgegebener Schädigung des Immunsystems oder der Integrität der Körperoberfläche. Letzteres ist dagegen als Normalzustand zu betrachten und bedarf vor allen Dingen keiner therapeutischer Maßnahmen.

Dass Pilzbefall für unspezifische Symptome wie Meteorismus* und wechselnde Stuhlgewohnheiten verantwortlich ist, ist wilde Spekulation und widerspricht jedem erwiesenen Konzept der Pathophysiologie gastrointestinaler Symptome. Viel eher sind diese Symptome auf bakteriellen Metabolismus von Kohlenhydraten und Motilitäts- bzw. Sensitivitätsstörungen des Darmes zurückzuführen. Der Versuch, das Colon irritabile zur Pilzerkrankung zu deklarieren, mag zwar dem einen oder anderen Institut zur Existenzsicherung dienen, beinhaltet jedoch erhebliche ökonomische Schäden für unser Gesundheitssystem und eine zusätzliche Belastung für den ohnehin psychisch vorgeschädigten Patienten.

(* “Blähungen“)

Zusammenfassung:

Die Pilzbesiedlung des Darmes ist physiologisch und nicht gleichzusetzen mit einer Pilzerkrankung, die vorwiegend bei Patienten mit verminderter Immunkompetenz vorkommt.

[Luc de Schepper]

Psychological profile :

Feelings of frustration, being misunderstood and rejected seem to be part of our life experience. To a Candida patient, these feelings are often magnified; life seldom seems to treat the Candida patient fairly.

In the early childhood experience of the Candida patient, abuse often has been present. The experience of sexual, emotional, or physical abuse are indications of a traumatic childhood, in which emotional nourishment, encouragement in goal-setting, or simply the coherence of a healthily functioning family are absent.

This fear inducing environment influences one's immune system in a weakening manner, leaving one susceptible for invasion of diseases. Ancient medicine practices, such as Acupuncture and Homeopathy,

have indicated the relationship between physical illnesses and emotions. According to the philosophy of Acupuncture, each emotion is linked to a certain organ. Fear, for instance, will decrease

the energy in the Kidney organ, worry and pensiveness will do the same in the Spleen. A sudden, extreme shift in one's emotions, thus, will effect one's equilibrium, leaving one temporarily open to the

invasion of viruses, bacteria, yeast cells, or in the worst case, to the onset of debilitating disease. A good example is the occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis after a sudden, extreme fearful event: a divorce,

sudden death in the family, loss of a job are all situations related to extreme anxiety and fear. This negative emotion will deplete the energy in the Kidney organ, and usually leads to the onset of the first arthritis attack

a couple of months later. What makes it even worse, deficiency of energy in the Kidney organ leads to more fear and anxiety, pulling the patient in a vicious circle. What fear does to the Kidney, worry does to the Spleen.

People get obsessed with the past, isolate themselves, leading to a crash down of energy in the Spleen.

What follows next is the common nightmare of the Candida patient. As a child, most of these patients are subjected to an increased antibiotic intake and our modern diet with preservatives and sugars.

Most of the symptoms will appear a couple of years later, but sometimes immediate yeast-related signs surface: mood swings, depression or suicidal tendencies. The sudden mood swings are the most startling symptoms.

Patients look and act joyful at 10 a.m. and are threatening to kill themselves by 14 h. We can understand the skepticism and disbelief of professionals and family; nobody, not even the patient, expects these sudden variations.

At the end, the patient self is convinced that s/he had become crazy: it is the only possible answer on this yo-yo behavior.

You know where the real problem of the Candida patient starts?

Most of these victims, especially in the beginning stages, look too healthy, too handsome . . . In fact, they look too good to have any kind of disease! This is the Catch-22: outwardly, it does not look like a disease.

And, for the text-book physician, looking for objective signs, he hardly finds them. How can you see "fogginess" in the brain, burning urination, severe PMS symptoms, decreased attention span... The most, the patient looks depressed. "Go shopping'/"Eat a cake',' (how ironic) or "Take a short vacation',' are frequently heard and well meant advices.

The emotion though, that predominates this disease, is ANGER!

All Candida patients have a reservoir of anger, mostly deeply hidden.

There is a need to understand the origin of anger and to seek means of dealing with the factors involved. Do not believe that this anger will always show in violent behaviour.

There are other levels of manifestation of anger: colitis ulcerosa, hypertension, eczema, migraine attacks, depressions and suicidal tendencies can be expressions of this emotion. Most patients will not even admit that

they are angry. However, a lot of their expressions imply underlying anger. "I am bitter the way my doctor treats me" or "I am fed up the way my husband denies this problem',' "It irritates me, I cannot get

any explanation from anyone" are only anger in disguise. In fact, anger, frustration and irritability are all emotions linked in acupuncture to an imbalance in the Liver organ.

However, I feel that it makes more sense to recognize and accept the anger as such. Patients who find no place to put their anger, are ridden by guilt, which offers no relief. Letting the anger out, little by little, is like relieving

some steam. Somebody in a support group said, "Since nobody seems to understand my problem, I stopped talking about it" She might not be aware of it, but there is an immense amount of anger behind this passive behaviour.

Another manifestation of hidden anger in almost every Candida patient is bodily reactions to it. An almost constant symptom in these patients is the pain in the neck and shoulder region. We know the expression, "You are a

pain in the neck',' these patients actually have pain in the neck because they ARE angry and they refuse to accept it or are not allowed to bring the anger outwardly.

Of course, this chronic disease solicits anger as well from the patient as from the rest of the family, especially the partner. The patient may build up the anger for all kinds of reasons. They feel constantly rejected, are always questioned and doubted about the existence of this disease, and simply because they are outside the mainstream and do not get their share of the world's excitement and rewards. The partner resents this disease immensely

because it makes him a prisoner in his own house, without having the disease.

They are inconvenienced by their partner's illness, leading to feelings of frustration and resentment.

Why do some of these patients turn out well, while others go completely on the wrong track, socially and healthwise? I believe that we use the frustrations of growing up to form a certain force that will be constructively for the first group, but destructively for the latter one. Candida patients, as a group belonging to the most abused ones, unfortunately use that energy to manifest their anger, isolating them as "trouble makers',' "nuts',' and "lazy people" Crying spells in a Candida patient are nothing else but an expression of their anger, it is, in fact, in a lot of cases, their sole outlet for it. At least it might trigger more sympathy than overt hostility and irritability,

but in essence, it will be the same. During their whole lives, anger has been built up, there is a whole storage that needs only a small stimulus to erupt in a volcano of stored-up emotions, unfortunately, easily put on the wrong persons. Children have an easier time expressing their anger, directly towards the person involved. My son, at the ripe age of six, expresses his anger towards me very easily, "I hate you'.' It does not make him a monster, all he is saying is, "I am angry at you'.'

Returning to the Candida patients, their mood swings can turn into suicidal thoughts. Again, this is the ultimate form of their bottled anger, turned against the self. The anger and frustration can be so big, that they are literally "trying to kill themselves'/ mainly as an ultimate expression of their anger and dejection, turned inward. What can the patient do to channel this anger in a positive force?

First, the patient has to accept that there is anger. It is my experience that most Candida patients do this. Their first sentence to me is often, "I am angry at all these doctors..." For them to identify the source of this emotion,

is not so difficult, at least not a first hand.

Doctors who are not able to diagnose the disease are the main culprits for their "lost years'.' However, there might be some displacement involvement. I am sure some of these doctors deserve the anger they get for being narrow-minded and incompassionate. It is typically for abused children to feel guilty. "They must have attracted this abuse because of their behaviour." However, since this anger had no outlet in childhood, the doctor-patient relationship is perfectly suited to let some steam off and to direct some anger at another person.

Of course, many Candida patients know exactly why they are angry. They have been wandering around for years, suffering with pain, depression, fatigue, but the man they turned to for help, their doctor, failed to recognize the source of their problems. Once the patient realizes it was NOT "all in his head',' and lost, therefore, years of his life, s/he naturally berates all those doctors for not supplying the help they need.

How can we deal with this anger?

We might confront those doctors that failed to recognize our condition. However, in case of the Candida patient, it might be a catch-22: still now, most doctors deny the existence of this disease, adding fuel to our anger.

So, it might be necessary to find some other outlets for our emotions. Do not fall into the trap that you are angry! Better communication with the direct family to create an immediate support group is a satisfactory solution.

And, it is an excellent idea to take the spouse along to Candida support groups, to meet other people with the same problems. Having gone through these different steps should really solve the problem. Unfortunately, life is a lot more complex, and theory does not always translate into practice. However, dealing better with your anger will avoid from turning this negative feeling against yourself, therefore, hampering your full recovery. Drive, determination and a positive mental attitude will prevent breakdowns. The real key to resolve most of the problems for any patient is good communication.

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