» College of Naturopathic Medicine: Dear Jacquie
Your health queries answered with Jacquie Lane from the College of Naturopathic Medicine
“I keep getting recurrent bouts of thrush. I’m also tired and I can’t concentrate. I’ve read that these can be symptoms of Candida. Is it worth me going on an anti-Candida diet and taking supplements?”
RG, Kemp Town
Candida is a much used general term. Usually it refers to Candida Albicans. The condition can sometimes be caused by moulds like Aspergillus niger, the black mould you find in some bathrooms.
Candida is a kind of yeast, a tiny single cell organism that in small numbers lives happily in our intestines. It is only when our immune system or ‘good’ gut flora
is low that the cell count grows out of hand and causes symptoms.
The main symptoms of Candida are: bloating, especially after eating; skin problems; lethargy and being more tired than usual; anal itching which is worse at night; frequent cystitis; nausea and acid regurgitation; frequent thrush; hyperactivity and lack of concentration in children; irregular passing of stools; hunger attacks and cravings, especially for sugar; food sensitivities; foggy head; painful joints, and winter blues.
There is a lot of information on the internet and in books about Candida. Some of it is misleading. Symptoms are many and varied per person, and other conditions, such as pancreas insufficiency and parasites may present the same symptoms. If you can tick more than five symptoms from this list then I recommend seeing a therapist,
who will be able to advise on the most appropriate testing solution to confirm whether Candida is the problem. I’ve seen patients who had put themselves on very restrictive long term anti-candida diets only to discover that in fact they didn’t have it to begin with. It is pointless wasting time and money on the wrong therapy!
One of the most effective ways to truly know if you have Candida is to do a stool test. Once the tests confirm the problem, your therapist can devise a targeted therapy plan specifically for you.
We’re lucky enough to have some brilliant therapists in the Brighton area. Additionally, The College of Naturopathic medicine runs a student clinic at weekends in Brighton at which final year students take cases under supervision. You can book an appointment by calling 07519 575 483.
If you have a general health query that you would like to raise here you can email Jacquie at healthqueriesforWave@naturopathy-uk.com. Please note that Jacquie cannot enter into individual correspondence unless your query is chosen for publication.
CNM open day
If you want to find out more about naturopathic nutrition or would like to train to be a nutritional therapist, join CNM for their open day at Brighton University on Saturday 6 March from 10am–12pm. Call 01342 410505 or visit www.naturopathy-uk.com
