Submitted by: Sharlene Bennett
Client: Female, 42 years old
Initial presentation: Female client presenting with chronic candida symptoms. She has an on-going history of urinary tract infections (UTI’s) and sugar intolerance. There was previously long-term antibiotic use for Crohn’s disease flare ups and steroids. However, this is now completely managed. The UTI’s are believed to be stress related, due to high workload and on-going chronic stress at work. The Crohn’s disease flare ups are under control.
She currently experiences itching skin, constant bloating, and food intolerances, especially on consuming refined sugar or carbohydrates causing her adverse effects. She is taking daily probiotics, as finds this helps somewhat in managing the symptoms. She has recurring white patches on the inner cheeks, tongue, roof of the mouth, on and off and especially so if stressed. She feels chronically fatigued through the day, wakes tired and goes to sleep tired. She has also been diagnosed with adrenal exhaustion and is taking herbs and nutritional supplements to help here.
She is slowly beginning to feel a bit better, more energy and sleeping better at night. She still gets exhausted during the day and feels like an afternoon nap. A more balanced sleep routine is recommended, such as making a regular sleep time every night. It is advised to start to switch off a couple hours before bedtime. Including a warm bath or shower reading or light gentle music and less bright lighting. Previously she is usually up to late watching movies or TV to help her unwind then finds it hard to sleep.
Implementing an anti-candida diet is recommended. It is suggested to adhere to the diet for a maximum of 8 weeks. To include low carb focus, to help reduce sugar load. Plus, lots of fatty acids and low grain. But still allow low amounts of gluten free grains such as buckwheat or millet are okay. Include nuts and seeds and some low GI fruits i.e.: melons or berries.
Additional recommendations:
- Avoid added sugars, reduce refined sugar and high fruit sugars.
- Cut out junk food, avoid heavily processed foods.
- Eat non-starchy vegetables, such as greens or pumpkin and zucchini etc.
- Eat low-sugar fruits (as above)
- Enjoy plant and healthy proteins. Nuts and seeds no peanuts and eggs.
- Use healthy fats and oils. Olive oils and some coconut oils
- Minimise your caffeine intake.
- Eat non-glutenous grains.
- Enjoy fermented foods, just include a little bit, and build once used too.
Herbal formula: Immune Tonic Mix
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) std 1:2 80mL
Kawakawa (Piper excelsum) 1:2 80mL
Pau D’ arco (Tabebula avellanedae) 1:2 100mL
Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) 1:2 100mL
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) 1:1 90mL
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) 1:2 10mL
Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) 1:1 40mL
Total 500mL
Dosage: 5mL three times daily, with water or juice. Shake well before dispensing.
Stress and Adrenal Support: (200mL)
Magnolia (Magnolia officinalis) 1:2 60mL
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) 1:2 40mL
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) std 1:2 30mL
Withania (Withania Somnifera) 3:2 30mL
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) 1:2 40mL
Total 200mL
Dosage: 5mLs with water or juice one- two times daily, just as needed, during the day. Shake well before dispensing.
Follow up
2weeks later: The client is starting to notice less itching and is beginning to sleep better at night with trying the new suggested sleep routine. She is using the Immune Tonic Mix to stay well and keep her immune health well, as was previously struggling with feeling run-down and the recurrent ulcer patches on the tongue and cheeks. Including urinary tract infections (UTI’s). She also has had less UTI’s, she had normally experienced 1 UTI a week, and they seem to be less frequent at 1 UTI every fortnight and much milder not requiring antibiotics.
She is still using the probiotics daily and the Stress and Adrenal Support daily and then repeating at night again to help relax and sleep better. The anti-candida diet is helping and less bouts of bloating, and indigestion. The recurring white patches on her tongue and cheeks are beginning to fade. Her general well-being is improving, and her symptoms seem to be lessening in the last two weeks. She has introduced plain probiotic yoghurt into her day in small amounts and feels better for it.
1 month later: Her symptoms have vastly improved, and she has much less bloating. The bloating is only occurring every so often and not with every meal or daily now. There are no white patches present on her tongue or cheeks. The anti-candida diet, she feels it is helping her digestion and she will start to include more complex carbohydrate foods, such as kumara and pumpkin plus gluten free grains like millet and buckwheat. She will begin to re-introduce more variety into her diet, including more plain probiotic full Greek yoghurt if all is still well for the next two weeks, so at the 6-week mark.
Her sleep is much better, with her new sleep hygiene routine working well, and getting 7-9 hours long for her. She is noting more energy on waking, still feels tired from 3pm onwards. But she has a snack with protein, such as nuts and seeds with tahini paste or berries with yoghurt, and at times wild caught smoked salmon with nut-based crackers for an afternoon boost. With her sleep improvement and the continuing consistent bedtime routine. We have discussed changing the formula from Stress and Adrenal Support to another variation as below. To help adrenal reset, to further support adrenal and nervous system recovery.
An additional follow up appointment for another 4 weeks is discussed, to check in and see how the new formula is going and to confirm sleep is still improved and not a problem. She will continue the Immune Tonic mix for another month then we will reassess and see if another two week is needed or a lower dose over another period of a month.
New – Adrenal day support herbal formula
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) std 1:2 60mL
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) 1:1 40mL
Withania (Withania Somnifera) 3:2 40mL
Rehmania (Rehmania glutinosa) 1:2 30mL
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous) 1:2 30mL
Total 200mL
Dosage: 5mLs with water or juice one- two times daily, just as needed, during the day. Shake well before dispensing.