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Disclaimer:  I am NOT a medical professional.   I am a CFS sufferer who is relaying some of his experiences and opinions.   None of the information on these pages is to be construed as medical advice. Please see a doctor for such advice.  For further disclaimer information, see Expanded Disclaimer.

Description of Candida Related Complex

For a more complete description of the condition, see "The Yeast Connection Handbook" and the "The Yeast Connection and the Woman" by Dr. William Crook.

Candida Albicans is a yeast and a fungus. It exists in small amounts in everyone's intestinal tract. It is responsible for yeast infections in women, most cases of jock itch, and athlete's foot. It may be responsible for the white coating on your tongue. It can cause prostate problems, which can in turn lead to sexual and urinary dysfunction.

In small amounts Candida is harmless. In large amounts it can be life threatening. In between, it can cause many troubling problems including chronic yeast infections, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, gas and bloating. It can also cause food allergies, skin rashes, thyroid problems, and allergies to mold.

The primary causes of Candida Related Complex AKA Candida overgrowth are immune deficiency, thyroid problems (including Wilson's Thyroid Syndrome), and food allergies.

In everyone's colon there is a large amount of "friendly" bacteria. This bacteria aids digestion, extracting vitamins from the food we eat. Without it we would die.

Candida also exists in the colon. The amount of Candida in a healthy person is quite small. The amount of bacteria is normally quite large. Candida has no known benefits, but in small amounts it is harmless.

Many of the books on the subject list antibiotics as the primary cause of Candida.   While this is certainly a significant cause, many people including many MDs believe that the real cause is immune deficiency.  It is still not known why such immune deficiencies occur in people who otherwise appear healthy.  In my case, I believe that aspartame and allergies were undoubtedly among the major causes.  Low body temperature caused by Wilson's Thyroid Syndrome was another.  I am still looking for other causes.

The growth of Candida in the colon can be encouraged by the consumption of sugar, alcohol and by food allergies. Candida feeds on simple sugars. Food allergies inflame the colon, which encourages more Candida growth. Eliminating sugar, alcohol and foods to which you are allergic can help stop and even reverse the growth of Candida.

Once entrenched in an area of the colon, Candida can remain in place for many years. Candida can lead to a vicious cycle in which it causes food allergies, which in turn inflame the colon, which in turn lead to more Candida growth.

I could go on, but there are web-sites and other sources of information, which do a far better job than I could. Here are a few sites. More can be found under references.

An excellent summary of the condition can be found at The Chronic Candidiasis Syndrome page.

Dr. William Crook has published several books on the subject including "The Yeast Connection Handbook" and the "Yeast Connection and the Woman".

A good web-site discussing the function of the microflora in the colon can be found at http://www.isgnas.org.

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Last modified: 5/9/2004