Monthly Archives: January 2011

How These Herbs Help You to Stop a Recurring Yeast Infection

dandelion

For people with recurring yeast infections
by Greg Lee

When I was a kid, my mother would pour weed killer on dandelions to try to grow more grass in our yard. Somehow, other weeds like crabgrass, plantain, and buttercups would spring up in their place despite repeated use of harsh herbicides. These other weeds were more persistent in taking over the lawn than dandelions.

How are stubborn weeds like a recurring yeast infection?

Just like weeds that keep coming back, yeast can return over and over again in Lyme disease patients
Yeast infections, also known as Candidiasis, is an overgrowth of the Candida species of yeast in the body. Candida albicans is the most common species and it can infect the mouth, genitals, or the entire body. Immune compromised patients, like people with Lyme disease, are more susceptible to yeast infections. In addition, antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease kills off beneficial bacteria, which increases the areas for yeast to grow in the body. Medications can help reduce a yeast infection.

Anti-fungal medications reduce yeast infections in the body
Symptoms of a yeast infection are: itching, redness, inflammation, cottage cheese-like discharge with a foul odor, white coating on the tongue and throat, asthma, psoriasis, or multiple sclerosis1. Some symptoms may be triggered by eating products containing refined sugars, wheat, or dairy. These symptoms include: fatigue, irritability, mood swings, bloating, or cramping pain. Many Lyme disease patients with yeast get relief from anti-fungal medications like Diflucan (fluconazole) or Nystatin. Unfortunately, yeast infections often return.

Supplements can also help reduce a yeast infection
Taking probiotics helps to resupply your system with healthy bacteria that prevent yeast from taking over. Garlic and grapefruit seed extract are also effective anti-yeast supplements. However, some patients have reactions to garlic or they dislike having garlic body odor. And some people are on medications which interact with grapefruit. Other herbs like lavender, echinachea, and tea tree can reduce yeast.

Are there other ways to help eliminate a recurring yeast infection?

There are three herbs that help to significantly reduce the recurring symptoms of a yeast infection
These anti-yeast herbs not only eliminate Candida, but also many other infectious germs.

Herb #1: Radix Gentianae, Chinese name: Long Dan Cao2
The properties of this herb are bitter, cold, clears heat, and reduces infection. This is used to treat jaundice, eczema, lack of appetite, abdominal fullness, genital itching, foul smelling yellow vaginal discharge, and yellow scanty urine. This herb is also used to treat stomach pain, headache, deafness, bitter taste in the mouth, red eyes, sexually transmitted diseases, seizures and convulsions, and infectious hepatitis. The ability of this herb to clear heat reduces symptoms of high fever, burning stomach pain, dry throat, severe tinnitus, ear pain or discharge, irritability, short temper, insomnia or nightmares, and constipation with yellow urine.

Long Dan Cao is contraindicated in patients with coldness in the stomach, anemia, and severe fatigue. Small doses of this herb before meals stimulate gastric acid production and enhance absorption. People with sensitive stomachs are encouraged to take this herb with food. This herb may be associated with drowsiness and sedation. People who take this herb should exercise caution while driving or operating machinery. This herb has a diuretic effect, so use with diuretic drugs may increase the elimination of water and electrolytes. This herb potentiates the effects of barbiturates.

Long Dan Cao has demonstrated liver protecting properties in mice studies. This herb is also effective in inhibiting Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus proteus, Salmonella typhi, Diplococcus meningitidis, Staphylococcus aureus (staph), and some dermaphytes. One extract of this herb, Gentiopicrin demonstrated toxicity for malaria parasites.

Herb #2: Herba Lysimachiae or gold money grass, Chinese name: Jin Qian Cao3
The properties of this herb are sweet, salty, cool, clears heat, and eliminates toxins. It is used to clear infections, reduce painful urination, clear kidney and gallbladder stones. It also treats stomach pain, distention, chest fullness, emotional instability, and frequent sighing. It is used to treat jaundice, skin sores, lesions, and snake bites. This herb can be applied topically or taken internally.

Research shows that it increases the production of bile in rats. In another study, it doubled the blood perfusion in the heart and kidneys of dogs. This herb inhibits the growth of Corynebacterium diphtheriae (diphtheria), Staphylococcus aureus (staph), Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, and E. coli. This herb has a diuretic effect, so use with diuretic drugs may increase the elimination of water and electrolytes.

Herb #3: Caulis Lonicerae or honeysuckle stem, Chinese name: Ren Dong Teng4
The properties of this herb are sweet, cold, clears heat, eliminates toxins, and dispels infection. It is used to treat itching, swelling, redness, and burning pain. It also helps to relieve spasms and cramps in the intestines and the respitory tract. This herb inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (staph), Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus proteus, Bacillus dysenteriae, and H. suis. It is also used to treat a spirochete infection called leptospirosis. There are no known drug interactions at the time of publication.

How do you know that these herbs are working to kill off your yeast infection?

Patients report a significant reduction of yeast symptoms
After adding the above herbs to their anti-Lyme herbs, several patients have reported a decrease in vaginal discharge, increased energy, stamina and decreased brain fog in as little as one week. Several of these patients were also taking antibiotic medications. The right combination can help reduce persistent yeast infection symptoms.

The right herb combination can help you to stop a recurring yeast infection
Just like eliminating pesky weeds from your lawn, the proper combination of herbs helps you to stop a returning yeast infection. Since some of these herbs come with cautions on their use, work with a Lyme literate herbalist to develop a safe and effective herbal strategy for your condition.

– Greg

1. Crook, William G. 1986. The yeast connection: a medical breakthrough. New York: Vintage Books.
2. Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., pp. 148 – 150.
3. Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., pp. 413 – 414.
4. Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., pp. 173 – 174.

Note: This information has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is generic and for general information purposes only, and is not meant to prevent, diagnose, treat or cure any condition, illness, or disease. It is very important that you make no change in your health care plan or  regimen without researching and discussing it in collaboration with your  professional health care team.

Next Step: Internet Radio Interview with Greg Lee this Sunday evening on the “In Short Order” Talk Show
A live interview on alternative treatments for healing Lyme disease
with Greg Lee co-founder of the Two Frogs Healing Center.
Hosted by: Sue Vogan and Dr. Warren Levin
Sunday January 16th, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Click here for more information:
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/in-short-order