Too many yeast in the intestines (yeast overgrowth) is a common problem that occurs in those with chronic Lyme disease. This problem occurs during treatment, or prior to beginning treatment. Antibiotics used to treat Lyme can lead to too many yeast. Immune suppression prior to starting antibiotics can also cause yeast overgrowth.
Yeast overgrowth can result in an ongoing systemic allergic reaction to the yeast that can suppress the immune system. Yeast overgrowth also leads to inflammatory cytokine excess that cause many of the Lyme disease symptoms and pain. Food allergies and sensitivities are the result of yeast overgrowth too. Learn more about cytokines in Control Cytokines: A Guide to Fix Lyme Symptoms & The Immune System.
In this video and written article
For information about diagnosing too many yeast read A Silent Problem. Do You Have Yeast?
The most common and effective prescription medicines used to treat yeast are from the azole family of antimicrobials. These include fluconazole (Diflucan), ketoconazole, and itraconazole (Sporanox).
The other common prescription anti-yeast medication is nystatin, but is much weaker than the azoles.
Start with diflucan 200mg 1 pill daily for 30 days combined with nystatin 500,000 IU 2 pills 2 times a day. You can replace the nystatin with an herbal combination mixture 2 pills 2 times a day. (Common herbs found individually or mixed together include: pau d'arco, caprilic acid, rosemary oil, thyme oil, garlic, and grapefruit seed extract.)
Also take a high quality probiotic. I recommend Prescript-Assist Pro by Researched Nutritionals which is shown to promote intestinal health and healthy immune function. Read more about this probiotic, and why I prefer it over acidophilus-based probiotics, in Superior Probiotic for Immune and Intestine Health.
So a treatment using an azole includes:
For more information read the whole article found below the video.
If you prefer to not use the azoles or should not take them then use an herbal combination mixture or a compounded prescription medicine called amphoterecin B.
Unfortunately yeast are becoming resistant to fluconazole. When this happens there are four other options. With each of these options be sure to include the probiotic mentioned above.
Often in yeast resistance I will also advise my patients to stop other herbal and prescription antibiotics. Because of costs I usually use terbinafine first, then amphoterecin B, and finally itraconazole. I save lufenuron as a last resort.
In yeast resistance, based on my clinical experience, Amphoterecin B taken for 2 months works 95% of the time, itraconazole taken for 30 days works 80% of the time, terbinafine taken for 2 months works 80% of the time, and lufenuron taken for 2 months works 80% of the time.
While treating yeast it is important to limit simple sugars and juices. Simple sugars are those items which have a lot of sugar added like coke, candy, cookies, cake, and ice cream. Limit simple sugars to starve yeast. For those with a great deal of resistance I recommend a Paleo diet. Read more about the Paleo diet I recommend in The Best Brain, Inflammation, Pain, Energy, and Detox Diet Ever.
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