Author: Eric Bakker

Good day there, Eric Bakker, naturopath, author of Candida Crusher with another FAQ.

What should I do if I’ve taken my medication for my yeast infection, and it just doesn’t go away?

Well, what type of medication are you taking? Are you taking a pharmaceutical drug like fluconazole or Monistat? Are you taking something like Fungizone or Sporanox? Are you taking an antibiotic? What type of medication are we talking about here? Are we talking pharmaceutical or natural?

Any type of medication you’re taking and it’s not going away; you need to ask yourself a lot of questions. But by taking a pharmaceutical medication, particularly recurrently, is a real problem because you’re going to get drug resistance, and you’re going to get an increased virulence with a Candida population over time.

Drugs when taken recurrently tend to make bacteria and yeast tougher and stronger. It’s probably like sending soldiers into Afghanistan to fight the Taliban. They get smarter. They learn the better hideouts. They camouflage themselves better. They use tougher armor and better weapons. They get to be a quite clever enemy. And yeast is no different; they get to be quite clever. They start understanding how these anti-drugs work and they have better counter defense mechanisms to protect themselves against these mechanisms.

So taking drugs to kill a yeast infection is a stupid idea. You’re only going to make the yeast tougher and stronger. Using natural medicines makes more sense. The yeast tend to be susceptible to natural products like garlic, Caprylic acid and Selenic acid, clove, oregano, coconut; these things have been used for a long, long time. Long before pharmaceuticals came around, and there’s no evidence that the yeast strains become more resistant toward these things as they do toward the pharmaceuticals.

So if you’re taking a pharmaceutical and it’s not going away, stop taking the pharmaceutical. Look at natural treatment. Have a look at my book, Candida Crusher, in Chapter 7 you can read a lot about different types of treatments. In Chapter 6 I talk about the medical treatment and explain all the drugs. And in Chapter 7, in Section 4, I explain all about the natural treatments that you can use to counter yeast infections. It makes more sense to use natural measures. That way you’re not going to get drug resistance. You’re not going to get side effects, and it’s going to pay off a lot more long term.

But if your treatment’s currently not working, you need to make some changes. Go and see your natural health professional and have a good talk about why it’s not working for you. Remember the definition of insanity, doing the same thing over again and expecting a different result. So don’t be insane. If it’s not working for you, then stop and reassess and make changes.

I hope that answers your question. Thank you.

Hi there, Eric Bakker, naturopath, author of Candida Crusher; here’s a question.

Does yeast infection cause joint pain?

It certainly can. Joint paint is not a very common symptom, but it is still one that I see regularly from time to time. Joint pain often will occur as a result of inflammatory response. So inflammation is generally almost always immune mediated when it comes to a Candida-related cause.

In a previous video, I’ve spoken about how Candida can cause various issues with your immune system. One thing that Candida causes, we know, is a heightened antibody response. What we don’t really understand that well, we’re just starting to learn now, is how Candida can cause out regulation of certain inflammatory mediators in the body. And we know a few of these now. We know, for example, Interleukin is one particular component from our immune system that can cause inflammation.

Joint pain can occur in people with Candida albicans, particularly with severe chronic yeast infections when the yeast metabolites products from yeast break down can actually get into the blood stream and cause systemic inflammation very low grade. We know this to be a problem.

For example, we know that certain bacteria can affect the gums, gingivitis, and can also cause heightened inflammatory response in the body. Some people don’t believe it, but many experts now believe that poor gum health can lead to cardiac problems. And we certainly know that people with leaky gut or digestive issues with bacteria and yeast can also have systemic problems. And joint pain is one of those systemic problems. Generally, it will be low grade. You may think it’s arthritis.

So why don’t you try and do the yeast infection survey on my site, yeastinfection.org if you’ve got low-grade joint pain to determine whether you’ve got a Candida problem or not. You may well have. And by eradicating the yeast overgrowth and bacterial problems in your gut, you may well help to down regulate your immune response and improve your joint pain.

So answering that question, does yeast infection cause joint pain? There’s certainly correlation there. But do the survey and just check it out yourself. Thanks for your question.

Good day, Eric Bakker, naturopath, author of Candida Crusher with a female FAQ.

Eric, can yeast infections be caused by taking birth control pills?

That’s an interesting question. Estrogen has a particular effect on helping to increase the proliferation of Candida in the body. And it will do so by a couple of different mechanisms. One theory with why yeast infections can increase at certain parts of the cycle, for example, is because estrogen can be heightened premenstrually, which will change the lining of the vagina so the mucous will change and the secretions will become thicker which allows more of a breeding ground for Candida and bacteria.

One theory I’ve been reading is some experts believe that it’s the delicate balance between estrogen and progesterone that is a thing with Candida proliferation at certain parts of the cycle. Estrogen and progesterone are balanced quite finely in the body. When this balance becomes disturbed, it can allow for an increase in opportunistic Candida.

Now you can understand why many women experience more vaginal discomfort and yeast infection just before their period. And also many women during perimenopause and menopause but also women who take the pill, Estradiol or synthetic estrogen, can also experience an increased incidence of a yeast infection. I’ve seen many women who begin taking the pill at a young age and then develop yeast infections. I also see many women who begin taking hormone replacement therapy and start noticing yeast infections. And also when they stop these pills, of course, they’re going to get a change in estrogen level.

Any time you begin taking a hormonal drug like this or cease taking it, you may notice some changes occurring there. Yes, the birth control is certainly linked up with an increased incidence of Candida albicans. I hope that answers your question.