ahhh, yes. Yeast, if out of balance with other good bacteria eventually evolves into a fungal overgrowth. The white tongue is a classic symptom of it.
That's good that you "passed" the VCS image test (I think that's what you mean by "negative"), which helps determine if you have mold sensitivities. Mold and fungal overgrowth are two distinct issues but often related and sx are similar.
Any fungal treatment will require a specific diet that eliminates all processed and natural sugars (no fruit) and all simple carbs that easily turn into sugar (no potatoes, rice, grains) for the first couple of weeks and then you can slowly reintroduce very small amts of specific fruits lower in sugar and other low glycemic foods. But expect to be on a "no thrills" diet for months--this is critical and systemic fungal issues are very difficult to solve. You can find tons of info about
recommended yeast/fungual overgrowth diets online.
I grabbed this from "Know the Cause" website and might be useful. One thing you should keep in mind is to rotate antifungals on a 2-wk basis since the fungus has a tendency to become resistant quite easily. I would double up--use at least 2 different antifungals: use A and B simultaneously for 1 wk; drop A off and substitute with C; use B and C for one week; drop B off and substitute with D; use C and D for one week, etc...
My experience: I had/have tough GI and systemic issues, implemented a strict diet and tried some of the natural remedies below for a couple months and did not see enough results so I'm now taking Nystatin, Diflucan, Grape Seed Extract, Olive Leaf Extract, and Caprylic acid. I only saw a significant impact when I started taking the Nystatin (powder form) & Diflucan, which I've been on for 2 months. Sx returned immediately when I missed 1 dose. At this rate, I may be on the Nystatin indefinitely. The Diflucan is causing high liver enzymes so not sure how long my LLMD will allow me on it.
All of the following may be found at your local health food store.
Excerpt from "Know the Cause":
GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT (GSE): Grapefruit seed extract has been used in the treatment of human fungal infections. It is more effective at killing yeast than bleach, Colloidal Silver , tea tree oil and Iodine (Sachs, The Authoritative Guide to Grapefruit Seed Extract, 1997). In the liquid form, it has a bitter taste and must be diluted in water or juice (carrot juice) or baby’s milk. It can be used for topical conditions as well as internal problems. There have been no side effects observed with use of GSE.
D-LIMONENE: found in essential oils of lemons, oranges, grapefruit, caraway, dill, bergamot, peppermint, spearmint, grasses and tomatoes. D-limonene is among a group of chemicals known as monoterpenes. These substances have been shown to cause regression and prevention of recurrence of mammary tumors in rats (Gould. Cancer Chemoprevention and Therapy by monoterpenes. Environmental Health Perspective, 1997. 105:5977-5979). They also have a direct tumorstatic effect, meaning they inhibit the growth of tumors, as well has the ability to block the initiation and promotion phases of carcinogenesis (Gould).
CAPRYLIC ACID a fatty acid derived from coconuts. Caprylic acid is safe and effective at killing yeast. Follow directions on the individual product label for correct doses.
PROBIOTICS: indiscriminant use of antibiotics leads to overgrowth of the normal intestinal yeast, which may either initiate problems or compound existing symptoms. By replacing the normal intestinal flora, yeast overgrowth may be inhibited. Probiotics are these normal flora, and include such species as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, among others. These are bacteria used in making yogurt- they are the “live active cultures” you see in the ingredients. They are important for the manufacture of B vitamins. They also protect against radiation damage, cancer, eczema, acne, allergies, and digestion disorders (Chaitow et al. Probiotics, 1995).
OLIVE LEAF EXTRACT: Olive leaf extract “has the ability to kill invading fungus rather than merely inhibiting its growth” (Walker, 1997). It contains a phenolic compound called oleuropein, which has antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal, and antibacterial properties (Walker).
GARLIC: Garlic in its natural form is a highly effective, broad-spectrum antifungal (Mowrey, 1986). It can be eaten whole, cooked in recipes, ground up in a carrot juice, or taken as a supplement that offers it in its whole, albeit dried, form.
MALIC ACID: Malic acid is found in apple cider vinegar. Although vinegars and most sauces are not encouraged in an antifungal diet, malic acid is antifungal. One might use a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar diluted in a glass of water to consume once or twice a day.
UNDECYLENIC ACID: An organic fatty acid expressed from castor bean oil that, in the older days, was listed and used as a pharmaceutical antifungal agent. Today, it can be found in an over the counter form and used for the same purpose in products such as Formula SF 722 (Thorne Research). It is also used in many over the counter antifungal powders such as those used to treat athlete’s foot and jock itch. It has approximately six times the antifungal activity of caprylic acid (Neuhauser, 1954). It can also be found in UGN: http://www.bioactivenutrients.com/UGN.html
PAU D'ARCO: May be taken in a capsule or a tea. The bark of this rainforest tree is inherently antifungal. Follow individual product directions for proper use.
Tea Tree Oil: A topical antifungal that should never be used internally, although at one time the leaves of the tree were boiled to form a tea that was consumed in order to prevent scurvy. The oil is derived from the indiginous Australian tree, melaleuca alternifolia, and it has been used for centuries as a general antiseptic, meaning that it kills a wide variety of germs (Carson and Riley, 1998). Studies at the University of Western Australia have documented antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties of tea tree oil. For skin problems, either direct, full strength application or dilution with water for washing purposes is recommended.
CARROT JUICE (Carrots): An article in The Journal of Microbiology in 1988 discussed antifungal properties of carrots. Despite their carbohydrate content, which can be rather high, say, if a large carrot juice is consumed, we generally feel that the nutritional and antifungal properties of carrots outweighs this concern- enjoy a carrot juice today!
HERBS AND VITAMINS: Most herbs and many vitamins that display health benefits, like the antioxidants (Vit. E, A, C, Zinc, etc.), have antifungal properties (Costantini, 1998). For example, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is added to commercial applesauce to prevent the growth of fungi in the jars and cans. We feel that this ability to inhibit fungi may be more responsible for their benefit than their mere nutritional qualities can provide alone, given the documented ability of fungi to cause disease and illness. Please note that if fungi can cause disease, it would probably not be a good idea to supplement with brewer’s yeast, a common practice in the nutritional arena.
others are:
goldenseal
colloid silver
oxygen (Bioxy Cleanse)
oil of oregano
red thyme oil
Biotin 8000 mcg
Barberry
Oregon Grape (THIS ONE REALLY HELPED MY HUSBAND'S BREAKOUT ON THIS HANDS AND A PERSISTENT MOIST COUGH WHEN FIVE DOCTORS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.)
cloves
Kolroex
diatomaceous earth (not an herb - mechanically kills yeast & paasites in intestines)
Hope this helps!
-p
Post Edited (Pirouette) : 5/28/2014 8:43:20 AM (GMT-6)