Candida (Yeast infection)

What should you do to get Candida under control.

Women have known for a long time how to recognize and treat an overgrowth of vaginal yeast, or a "yeast infection." Technically a fungus, yeast is also called "Candida" or "Monilia." It results from an upset of the vaginal Ph or an imbalance of the vagina's acid and base elements.

It is not a true "infection" since there is no outside bacteria that enters the body to cause a problem; rather, the "infection" is an overgrowth of monilia naturally found in the vagina.

To diagnose, a clinician takes a "wet mount" and looks at the vaginal secretions under a microscope. Yeast is easy to identify without this test, however, since it announces itself with itching (not burning, unless the area is scratched raw) and a discharge. Typically, a yeast discharge will be white, thick and lumpy (this is usually described as "cottage-cheese-like").

Yeast is not dangerous unless you are symptomatic with discharge, itching, and all other know symptoms of Candida.

• Infections
• Protocol - Candida