Herbal Remedy Database

Systemic yeast infection is one of the most controversial conditions in all of alternative medicine. Mainstream experts may deny that it even exits but a growing number of people who cut out table sugar and other refined carbohydrates are having those "Ah-ha!" moments.

System-wide yeast is characterized by an overgrowth of Candida organisms in the human digestive system. Although a number of these yeast-like fungi can be found in the body, the one most often blamed for systemic yeast is the one scientists call Candida albicans and it's the species most often responsible for vaginal yeast infections in women.

Diet's Role In Systemic Yeast Infections

Very few clinical studies have been done on the connection between systemic yeast and foods however many people who believe they have the condition have reported good results after eliminating or reducing their intake of certain foods. Dairy, refined sugars and foods with high level of yeast have all been blamed.

And they may be right. A 1984 study directly linked dairy, artificial sweeteners and sucrose to overgrowths of yeast in women. In this study, the levels of sugar in the women's urine was directly tied to their intake of diary foods and their use of certain sugar substitutes.

When women in this study restricted their intake of those foods they saw up to a 90% reduction in the number of yeast infections they experienced the following year. And some reported no yeast infections at all.

But if certain foods can encourage systemic yeast, other foods may be able to discourage it, too. Yogurt is a perfect, if somewhat old-fashioned, method for dealing with yeast and now we not only have scientific proof that it works; we also know how it works.

In your digestive tract live several species of germs. These make up what doctors call your "flora". One of the keys to a healthy digestive system is keeping your "good" flora balanced with your "bad" flora. And the bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus is certainly one of the "good" guys. Widely referred to as "probiotics", beneficial bacteria like L. acidophilus restore your body's digestive flora to healthy levels and proportions.

Herbal Remedies for Systemic Yeast Infection

To date, no actual human studies on herbal remedies for system yeast infections have been done but a number of herbs have been proven to have anti-yeast and anti-fungal activities in in vitro experiments. Not surprisingly, these are the same herbs that have a long history of herbal use as well.

Garlic

Dozens and dozens of studies have looked at the lowly garlic clove and found that freshly chopped garlic demonstrates potent antimicrobial actions. While no study has looked at it specifically for systemic yeast syndrome, in vitro tests have found it more effective than the most common anti-fungal prescription drug.

Sources:

Horowitz, B., et al. (1984). Sugar chromatography studies in recurrent Candida vulvovaginitis. Journal of Reproductive Medicine.

Wagner, R., et al. (1998). Variable biotherapeutic effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus isolates on orogastric and systemic candidiasis in immunodeficient mice. Revista Iberoamericana de Micología.

Arora, D., et al. (1999). Anti-microbial activity of spices. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents.

Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is condition in which the muscles of your intestines work out of sync with one another and with your brain. While IBS-like symptoms can accompany a number of other conditions, true IBS is thought to be rooted in a miscommunication between the brain and the muscles of the digestive tract.

Irritable bowel syndrome used to be called "spastic" colon. It is twice as common in women than men and more likely to strike young adults. It is often associated with stress--especially poorly managed stress--and this fact has made it difficult for its sufferers to be taken seriously.

Do Food Allergies Cause IBS?

Food allergies have long been blamed for the symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome but scientific studies suggest that only a small number IBS patients have food allergies or intolerances. And even when food intolerances are suspected, experts can't agree on exactly how to go about identifying them. Some experts believe that traditional allergy tests can't properly identify conditions like lactose or gluten intolerances; other experts claim that elimination diets are ineffective because a particular food has to be re-introduced then consumed in large quantities and at frequently intervals to be ruled out (or in) as an offender.

Herbal Remedies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Psyllium

IBS patients are often told to increase their intake of dietary fiber but if an undiagnosed gluten intolerance is at the heart of their IBS, these folks may find their symptoms actually getting worse instead of better. To minimize this risk, some experts now recommend psyllium instead. Pure psyllium powder is widely available and acts an insoluble fiber in the human digestive tract. It passes through largely undigested and "bulks" the stool. A number of studies have suggested that insoluble fibers psyllium may be far more effective at normalizing bowel movements than soluble fibers like those found in fruits and oats or rice.

Peppermint Oil

Cramping is a common complaint among IBS sufferers and a number of studies in recent years have suggested that enteric coated capsules of peppermint or peppermint with caraway oil may help a good number of irritable bowel patients. While other peppermint products--like peppermint leaf tea--have been studied, peppermint oil in specially-coated capsules is thought to offer the best chance for the oil to reach the intestines largely unaltered by stomach acids. Once in the intestines, the peppermint oil is believed to work directly on the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, easing spasms and soothing irritation.

Probiotics & Prebiotics

While supplements of so-called "good bacteria", or probiotics aren't actually herbal remedies, a growing body of research suggests that adding supplements of certain strains of bacteria to your diet may help normalize your body's already-existing flora. In addition, supplements of foods that act as "pre-biotics", or "food" for the good bacteria, may further support the digestive tract and minimize IBS flare-ups.

Melatonin

Melatonin is another nutritional supplement that isn't actually an herbal remedy for irritable bowel syndrome but is showing promise nonetheless. Melatonin is best-known as the hormone that helps regulate sleep but a growing body of research suggests that it may also help normalize bowel function and bowel transit time, especially in IBS sufferers who frequently battle constipation.

Sources:

Ford, A., et al. (2008). Effect of fibre, antispasmodics, and peppermint oil in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ.
Leicester, R., et al. (1982). Peppermint oil to reduce colonic spasm during endoscopy. Lancet.
Spiller, R. (2008). Review article: probiotics and prebiotics in irritable bowel syndrome. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics.
Lu, W., et al. (2009). The effects of melatonin on colonic transit time in normal controls and IBS patients. Digestive Diseases and Sciences.

It's painful, embarrassing and potentially life-threatening. It's ulcerative colitis and while it may not be the sexiest medical condition out there, it affects at least a half a million Americans.

Ulcerative colitis, or UC, is inflammatory bowel condition not terribly unlike Crohn's. But unlike Crohn's disease, UC is limited to the colon and rectum. While only your doctor can diagnose UC, it is usually characterized by:

• Frequent watery diarrhea--often bloody and accompanied by a sense of urgency
• Abdominal cramps and sharp pains
• Sudden and/or dramatic weight loss
• Anemia

Do Food Allergies Play A Role In UC?

For decades doctors have suspected that food allergies play at least some role in the development of UC. In fact, some UC patients manage their disease purely through diet and other lifestyle modifications. But exactly what foods are suspect may vary from individual to individual. Some, for example, find that surgary foods cause flare-ups while others--including many scientists--can't find any link at all.

Dairy is another food that many UC patients cut out of their diets with mixed results. Raw fruits may bother some ulcerative colitis sufferers but not others, as well.

Herbal Remedies for Ulcerative Colitis

No herbal remedies have every been proven to cure colitis but a number of supplements have shown promise in the management of symptoms. When combined with other lifestyle modifications, herbal remedies and nutritional supplements can support a healthy digestive tract and perhaps even minimize flare-ups. Here are a few worth talking over with your doctor:

Nicotine:

While it's not strictly an "herbal" remedy, one of the most intriguing treatments for UC is nicotine. Nicotine encourages nerve cells in the colon to give up nitric oxide and this release has a relaxing and calming effect on the colon. While no doctor is going to encourage a UC patient to begin smoking, the nicotine patch is an option that has worked for some sufferers of this condition.

Flaxseed Oil

Although the fiber in flax seeds, like the fiber in many other foods, may aggravate symptoms of UC, the omega-3 fatty acids for which flax seed oil is so famous may reduce inflammation and help speed healing of the ulcers.

Frankincense

A 1997 study from Europe found that patients who were given extracts of frankincense, or Boswellia serrata, for 6 weeks actually did better than a standard pharmaceutical medication to which it was compared.

Sources:

Murakami, I., et al. (2009). Nicotine-induced neurogenic relaxation in the mouse colon: changes with dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis. Journal of Pharmacological Sciences.
Gupta I., et al. (1997). Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in patients with ulcerative colitis. European Journal of Medical Research.
Simopoulos, A. (1999). Essential fatty acids in health and chronic disease. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.