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Chronic candida infections are tough nuts to crack because they protect themselves. Here's the weapon you need to add to your antifungal arsenal. Be careful, it's powerful stuff.
Ding-dong.
The Amazon deliverer hands me another small cardboard box, the third this week. I have a carpet knife especially for the purpose of opening packages. Ninety per cent of them are supplements. With each new parcel I think to myself, is this the one that will make a difference, or is it another twenty, thirty, forty quid down the drain?
We'll see.
I HAVE SPENT OVER A DECADE trying every candida potion and pill you can imagine: most have been a waste of money.
But, after my systematic approach of buying almost every supplement in the ever-expanding range on Amazon, iherb and mushrooming dietary supplement companies online, I finally found one that almost compares to the liver-toxic anti-fungal drugs the doctor prescribes.
Kill the chronic candida biofilm
The first time I took the biofilm buster I'm about to recommend to you was a bit of a disaster.
I followed the directions of taking just one capsule per day on an empty stomach for the first few days. Indigestion followed. Quite bad indigestion ameliorated only by eating a meal. I figured this was the action of the biofilm buster working in the small intestine. Fortunately, each day got a little easier until I couldn't feel anything.
Then things went pear-shaped.
This may sound like an odd recommendation, but bear with me because you can avoid the trouble I went through by taking the appropriate precautions and being patient. Trust me, if you've got a chronic candida infection, you'll want to kill the chronic candida biofilm—it'll be worth it.
I had an allergic reaction.
Remarkably, it was a sensation entirely distinct from anything I had experienced since early childhood when I discovered my hypersensitivity to horses. My breathing became laboured. I started itching. And then my face began to turn red and swell.
I looked like a particularly fiendish wasp had deliberately targeted not one eye but both with his sting.
My face looked as if an Italian waiter might appear from nowhere to offer extra parmesan cheese and fresh black pepper for the vivid tomato base. I was becoming a little concerned and turned to the anti-histamines and ventolin inhaler in my wash bag to keep me out of Accident and Emergency.
A few unpleasant hours later and the onslaught was over.
Take your time
Microbes of all kinds team up to create a kind of shell that protects them from our immune systems and medications including antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals. These shells are called biofilms.
Biofilms are what make infections chronic.
Attacking the extracellular matrix of the biofilm created by a pathogenic fungal community is a crucial part of any anti-fungal strategy. But it can create reactions like the one I described. My allergic reaction was not a response to the biofilm buster but to the hive of scum and villainy hiding beneath the slimy layer.
My immune system couldn't cope with this sudden revelation.
In me, mould and fungus (including candida) always invoke a strong immune response that feels a lot like hay fever. A mouthful of mouldy cheese, deliberately avoiding the visible striations, left me doubled over in pain. For one night only I had a glimpse of what it must be like to suffer from Crohn's disease—something I've helped a lot of people with. I have never experienced fatigue like it. Reaching for my mobile to cancel a whole morning's worth of sessions was like trying to free myself from beneath a mudslide.
I have to be careful.
Attacking the biofilm with such a strong buster was too much too soon. I had to take a step back. Because of my reaction, I was sure I was in the right ballpark, so I found a gentle biofilm buster called nattokinase—affiliate links at the bottom of the page.
Nattokinase is a fermented soy derivative that has biofilm-busting qualities.
I used it for about 6 months before I tried the original one again. I paired it with my favourite anti-fungal diet including binders and antimicrobials.
Now, I was making progress.
The following links are Amazon affiliates. You don't pay a penny extra but I may receive a small commission. It's a nice way to thank me for the recommendations herein. Thanks.
Gentle bio-film buster
US 🇺🇸
I took this on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, to begin with. I then added one last thing at night. When I tried two at night, I woke up feeling sick and dizzy so had to keep it at one for about six weeks before moving up to two again.
I used binders and/or a high-fibre diet to keep things moving. First thing in the morning is the ideal time to go to the loo.
UK 🇬🇧
My favourite candida biofilm buster
You can buy it here in the US 🇺🇸
Candex is my bio-film buster of choice, just take your time and if you feel like it's too much you can slow down, include a binder like psyllium husk for the opening few weeks and also an anti-microbial of your choice. I've recommended a few below.
You can buy it here in the UK 🇬🇧
A simple binder
Adding a simple binder like psyllium husk is enough to carry those nasties out of the gut and make you feel much better. As long as things are moving at least once per day. However, twice is better during the first few weeks of biofilm busting or until things are easy.
In my experience, you don't need expensive binders that include four or five different ingredients. Just keep your bowels moving daily. I you want you can simply add more fibre from vegetables or something like wild rice daily.
US 🇺🇸
100% wild rice (not black rice) is a great and tasty addition that can act as a gentle binder.
UK 🇬🇧
100% wild rice
US 🇺🇸
Organic psyllium husk
It's well worth making sure your psyllium is organic due to contamination worries.
Make sure you follow the directions about drinking enough water with it. It's a good idea to take this preemptively when doing an anti-fungal approach.
UK 🇬🇧
Organic psyllium husk
Antifungal supplements
There are almost limitless antifungal supplements to choose from. Technically, you should rotate 3 or 4 of them, changing each week to prevent the yeasts from adapting to them. Here's a list of some of my favourites. I'll do an article on the pros and cons of these soon.
In no particular order: