Apple Cider Vinegar and Fungal infections

Hi..Hearing all the time how good apple cider vinegar is for so many things....just wondering if anyone out there has tried it...if they have systemic candida/fungal/mold....Vinegar is fermented, and fungal can grow off fermented foods....Try, or not try...that is the question.

My family and friends use Braggs ASV for tummy aches and food poisoning. Works within 20 minutes most of the time. Some of my family carries it in a 3oz bottle when they travel in case they eat something that makes them sick. Works wonders.

How much did you add to the glass of water? I add about 1 - 2 tsp to 6 oz of water, then add in my tinctures and GSE.

Candida die-off can be similar to Lyme herx.

Braggs ACV is like oxygen… a beautiful thing. It is a fantastic maintenance tool.

But… if you have already developed a yeast/fungal problem you shouldn't drink it. And should try some GSE, bitters, and virgin coconut oil. Those measures did not work for me (I had a severe case) so I had to go directly to the antifungals Rx. Let me know if you have q's—

-p

Post Edited (Pirouette) : 12/4/2014 2:21:44 PM (GMT-7)

Those are really good questions.

I agree—what your doc prescribed is not aggressive enough if the yeast has already taken hold. What makes him think it's candida? And what makes him think it's systemic? Did you have stool analysis or bloodwork? Or is it a clinical dx?

Yes—as tickbite mentioned, candida die off is confusingly similar to lyme herx. I would guess that your immediate reaction to drinking the ACV potion (which is an excellent alkalizing drink, btw) was a yeast reaction. I cannot handle the fermentation—as most people w/ yeast/fungal issues. I do agree that ACV is good for PREVENTING candida and has many other wonderful benefits.

But once the yeast has overgrown, you're in an entirely different ballgame and you need to hit it hard and fast. No natural ANYTHING worked for me and I spent about 6 months experimenting with everything under the sun. If I could do it over again, I wouldn't have wasted all that time and money while the yeast got a lot worse.

I highly recommend asking either your current or future doc for an Rx for PURE Nystatin powder (1,000,000 units). They're going to want to prescribe the typical Nystatin capsules (5,000 units), which has a lot of other fillers and crap in it or maybe even the liquid which also has SUGAR in it. But ask specifically for the pure powder (there is a 100,000 unit powder on the market—don't bother with it).

This is very inexpensive at a compounding pharmacy (mine ships all over the country so please let me know if you would like his contact info)—about 60-75 day supply for $60. Twice a day you put 1/16t in water, let it dissolve and drink it—it coats your mouth, throat, upper GI and tummy. I eventually doubled my dose and it has worked really well.

I tried various doses of nystatin capsules but had IMMEDIATE results with the powder. It's awesome. The other benefit of the Nystatin is that it is a local GI-focused anti-fungal and does not cross the intestinal barrier (like other systemic anti-fungals that are very hard on the body). You can take Nystatin long-term without much harm. I have always avoided ANY drugs whatsoever but I totally caved when I realized how bad my yeast/fungus issue was. I have a lot fewer sx now that it's managed, which helps clarify what is going on with the lyme, bart & babs treatment.

I will be on the Nystatin for the duration of my treatment—maybe longer. I have read pretty horrible suggestions by experts stating that once you have a yeast issue—you will always be more susceptible to it. I have major GI problems and I cannot afford to mess around with it. So as long as I can manage it w/ the powder, I'm OK assuming it is a long-term part of my treatment.

-p

Honestly, it could be either —growth or killing. But if it was a die off, the continued fermenting in your stomach is like a brewery in your belly. I wouldn't try too hard to solve that mystery, it's just a general approach not to eat anything fermented if you already have a yeast/fungal issue. You might be able to return to ACV sometime in the future.

If you do have a systemic yeast/fungal, you're likely going to need to take a systemic antifungal for more than a week. But it is very hard on your liver. So I would take it ONLY if you really think you need it. And, if I were you, I would focus on controlling your GI fungus and see if your other sx improve. If not, then go back to the systemic anti fungal.

And some yeast/fungus are resistant to various natural and Rx remedies. Doctor's Data stool tests will indicate this for you. My stool test showed that Ketoconazole would be more effective so I switched. But I've been taking a systemic anti fungal for several months and getting my liver enzymes tested every month (and now, more frequently with the abx treatment). I found that milk thistle seed and burdock root help bring the enzymes down pretty quickly.

I had major sinusitis and bronchitis fungal issues. Now, we didn't know if they were simply an extension of GI issues or if it was a systemic problem but didn't want to take a chance because it got so bad and I was worried about the infection getting into my brain. But I just started taking abx by IV so until I get a few more weeks under my belt to make sure the issues don't flare up again, I'll stay on the systemic. But I hope to be off it in a month and just stick w/ the Nystatin for the remainder of my treatment..

I take a binder - activated charcoal, bentonite clay, or cholestyramine are all very effective. And your doc is RIGHT about chelating w/ methylation issues! That is awesome that he knew this. Chelating draws way too much into your system that your body cannot get rid of quickly enough, so the toxins get re-absorbed, making you worse. It can be a dangerous situation. But taking a binder stays in your gut for digestion and is less intense.

So, with your mutation, your methylation and detoxing is functioning at about 30% of a normal person. That means you have to go very slowly in whatever you do—supplementing, detoxing. But you still probably need a binder. And you definitely need to start with a low dose of nystatin powder (if the capsules did nothing for you, the powder will but go slowly). I am heterozygous A1298C and C677T and I stuck with the lowest nystatin dose for a good 2 months before increasing and have had no problems with it.

You should also add in a binder and maybe a gentle fiber (like psyllium husk) if you can handle it—if not, leave the fiber out. And candida diet is CRITICAL. And go easy with the detox baths—they can be powerful. Do the bath but use half (or less!) the volume of epsom salts and whatever else you include. And very gentle dry brushing is good. Go WAY easy with any heat-related activities. To this day I cannot tolerate hot tubs or saunas.

Please let us know how things are going with you. You have more complications with the homozygous mutations, I'm sorry. You have to be extra careful with everything and go easy. Is he supporting you with methyl B's (B12, B6)?

-p

I suspect I have even more mutations but don't have the energy to check yet. ;)

I think you should follow your instincts about the klinghardt approach. be sure and let us know how it all goes for you.

Bue sure to take the methyl forms of B12 and B6 and any folates.

It IS a tough balance—lyme affects everything. People who aren't experiencing it have no idea. Do you do coffee enemas? Posters here SWEAR by it and it has been on my "to do" list for a very long time. I hope I can get to it in the next couple of wks. My blood pressure used to be 80/50 and it's now generally over 120. Insanity. And I used to faint in the shower too! In retrospect, I think it was die off.

I, too, was very fixed on natural methods and was so against using regular meds when I first started but with the weight of the infections, my weak immune system, my problems detoxing and trying to manage stress, I decide I really just need to let some things go and look for the best, most direct route to healing. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to get over a hump. Then you can recalibrate and adjust your approach. But yes, you will figure out your path—everyone is different.

You are in good company!

-p

Thanks p! i appreciate ur support.
Tickbite666, many say acv is good for candida. I just know that acv is fermented, which helps fungus grow....so i wasnt sure what my body was telling me w/ my reaction. There is a chance it was die-off....what does ur gut tell u? a doc. Online told me....most w/ candida are ok w/ it....try a little, but if u react stop...just him saying b safe. which doesnt answer die-off or growth....so it may b ok for u....then again, u still have the candida, and part of diet is no fermented food(except acv??????)
I guess for me to really know is to have s/t else that is yeasty/ fermented and compare my reaction...if not as bad...its die off......if the same...its growth....but i am not going to do that to myself....

Don't know what to think anymore... here's a good article on what you may have experienced with your dose of ACV

http://www.candida-cure-recipes.com/apple-cider-vinegar-cure.html

Sorry—one more thing:
i strongly encourage you to take 1 billion multi-strain probiotic twice a day—take it away from abx and herbs.

dying2getwell—
Thanks for the tips on the coffee! I bought some organic coffee but had not considered any specific brand. I do not need anything else complicating my protocol, that's for sure. Sorry you had such a hassle. Please swear by them—maybe there's a reason I'm delaying it—maybe it's my intuition telling me I'm not quite prepared yet.

God luck with the knocking down that yeast, everyone. I hope you can all get it to a manageable place. Only time will tell if we can fully eradicate it. One of my DNA mutations Makes it tough for me to metabolize sugar so I suspect that contributes to the yeast getting out of hand… so for me, an anti-yeast diet and extra measures may just be a life-time commitment.

-p

just read through this post and learned a few things, thanks!

my son (4) who I've mentioned in other posts, is about 95-99% symptom free from lyme. He was on antibiotics for 14 weeks and then when the llmd suspected a yeast/fungal issue (due to symptoms), he did fluconazole for a month and went on to feel even better than he had in over 9 months. I know the antibiotics helped him, but then the yeast treatment stepped in and helped a lot too.
Anyway, we stopped the antibiotics at that point and switched to herbals in Sept.

The herbal product he has, has lyme fighting and yeast fighting herbs too. I slacked on his probiotics unfortunately while he was starting herbs and anyway…he herxed badly with some motor ticcing after about 3 weeks on herbs, and when we slightly increased them.

The ticcing started up in mid-October; it rose and started to fall, almost to the point of being gone…so close and so minimal. But now he was ticcing more today and the past few days again. Nothing out of control, but more than the week or two before.

here's my theory: lyme die-off and yeast (probably overgrowth and die-off from the herbs) caused the ticcing. Dr. Semon mentions in his book that toxins (including from yeast) in the brain can cause ticcing.
As of today I haven't given him the herbs for over a month, and still the ticcing isn't 100% gone; again, worse today.
full moon? bad diet the past week? (sugar contributing to yeast), lyme flaring up (ugh.)? probably a combination. but with the herbals out of the picture now a good 5 weeks, I start to suspect yeast more (or again, lyme but not die-off though :( )

I'm going to run this by his lmd this week in an email, and ask her opinion about an Rx anti-fungal. She had him on flucanozole before, I think b/c the yeast was seeming to cause sore throats and fungal rashes, and not just upset tummy issues.

If he needs to detox more, I hate taxing his liver even more with flucanozole, but I just really wonder if maybe if would help the ticcing go away 100%.

I've read in a book by Dr. Bruce Semon, that, in his opinion flucanozole can make it easier for yeast to come back once off of it.

Pirouette, (or anyone) Do you anything about that? I sure wouldn't want to set him up for it coming back stronger.
Dr. Semon, recommends nystatin too, and says he has a lot of success with it. I'll run that by our llmd.

THanks for any thoughts or ideas!

dying2getwell said...
Hi..Hearing all the time how good apple cider vinegar is for so many things....just wondering if anyone out there has tried it...if they have systemic candida/fungal/mold....Vinegar is fermented, and fungal can grow off fermented foods....Try, or not try...that is the question.

I sometimes use apple cider vinegar + nigella sativa.

I read it is good for parasites.

Can you take Nystatin for the GI tract and Fluconazole for the body infection together?