Causes of White fungus and traditional cure via Siddha and Ayurveda!!

What is White Fungus ?

White fungus is a genus of yeast called Candida. In simple terms, it is a fungal infections caused by a type of yeast called 'Candida' and this infection is called as 'Candidiasis'. 

Candida normally lives on the skin and inside the body such as mouth, throat, gut etc without causing any problem. This will cause infection, when it grows out of control or if it enters deep inside the body such as bloodstream / or any internal organs. The most common species that causes infection is 'Candida Albicans'.

        The term 'White Fungus', was derived due to the white patches that candidiasis causes in the patients. A patient with candidiasis has white patches or lesions mainly on the tongue, inner cheeks, and palate. Hence, some of the media is calling it as white fungus. 

What causes Candida infection / White Fungus ?

It can be caused by 

• Due to low immunity
• overuse of antibiotics
• unsterile use of oxygen cylinders
• overuse of steroids
• recent organ transplants
• Diabetes
• pre existing medical conditions.

        It attacks body parts such as lungs, skin, nail, brain, kidney, mouth etc. Candida infection can lead to simple oral thrush, i.e whitish spots on the mucosal lining of mouth and throat. 

        From throat, it may spread to eye, heart and genitalia as well. Children and Women are at high risk of contracting this fungal infection. They appear as white, creamy spots on the mucosa of the oral cavity most commonly.

White fungus / Candida Albicans after Covid-19

        Experts say that those who are put on mechanical ventilation are always at greater risk of developing bacterial or fungal infections. Overuse of steroids, antibiotics and other drugs weakens the body's immune system and make Covid-19 patients in critical care more prone to such infections. Also, those coronavirus patients who are on oxygen support are more prone to this infection as the white fungus is directly affecting the lungs of these patients. 

Many drugs used to fight COVID-19 suppresses the body's immune system that would normally protect the individual from fungal infection.

"These fungi typically cause infections after the body's immune system is suppressed significantly. They are also known as opportunistic infections," says Dr Zachary Rubin, an immunologist.

        Dr Rubin says patients with HIV/Aids have a significantly increased risk of getting sick with such fungi. "These fungal diseases are normally rare in association with Covid-19, but are becoming increasingly more common in India."

        When Candida is in your bloodstream, the condition is called Candidemia. Candida infection can spread from your bloodstream to other parts of your body (such as your eyes, kidney, liver, and brain). If this happens, it is called Invasive Candidemia. At this stage it is hard to treat and recovery is extremely difficult. The death rate from late stage disseminated Candidiasis may reach 71%.

Note: 25 - 30 years before Indians did not have candidiasis or any such fungal infections. Our traditional foods helped to control this 'candida albicans' yeast and thus they weren't affected by this fungal infection.

The traditional foods like idli, fresh coconut chutney, fresh cultured curd, use of turmeric, garlic in Rasam and some curries, use of coconut oil, sesame seeds oil kept this yeast candida under control and it was harmless. 

The overgrowth / uncontrollable growth of candida causes fungal infection in the body. Probiotics promotes the natural production of antibodies in the body and boosts the immune cells.

Why people are suddenly affected by this fungal infection ?

        When you take more antibiotics / over use of steroids, these medicines may kill some of the normal good bacterias present in your mouth, but antibiotics won't kill candida. Candida is unaffected by the antibiotics, in facts antibiotics promotes yeast infections, by allowing the fungus to multiply freely. That is why people on antibiotics have an increased risk of thrush.

Not all the people who took antibiotics are affected by this fungal infection. How ???

        There are also people who took antibiotics aren't affected by this fungal infection. If you notice their diet, they must have taken probiotics to balance the effects of antibiotics. They would have consumed probiotic foods such as cultured Curd, Idli, Dosa, Buttermilk, pickles etc, then they won't be affected by this infection. That is the reason that all the people who are taking antibiotics are not affected by this candida albicans infection, due to their healthy and balanced food.

Candida overgrowth is also depending upon the acidic / alkaline condition in the intestine. When the alkalinity level in the intestine is increased, candida switches to its fungal form and causes infection. 

After swallowing, the food reaches the stomach where upper and lower parts of stomach have different pH values. The upper part has a pH of 4−6.5, while the lower part is highly acidic with a pH of 1.5−4.0. 

        So, in order to stop the overgrowth of yeast, one needs to consume acid producing foods, as an anti-fungal treatment. If white fungus is left untreated, it will cause other serious infections in the body, which may even lead to death.

        This infection is new to Indians only, not new for westerners. There are several people who were died due to this candida albicans. Westerners are realising their mistake of eating and medicinal habits, flying to India to learn about the traditional Indian foods, spices, herbs and methods of preparing it.

        Annually, over 150 million severe cases of fungal infections occur worldwide, resulting in approximately 1.7 million deaths per year. Candidemia is one of the most common bloodstream infections in the United States.

            Every Indian traditional food is having hidden medicinal values, which is consistently being under estimated and made fun out of it. 

         Indian spices, herbs, the fermented foods that we eat and these traditional methods are being practised for several thousand years without any side effects. In Tamil, there is a saying called 'Unnavea Marundhu', Marundhea unnavu', meaning, 'Food is medicine and medicine is food'.

But, pharma companies doesn't like a cure from Indian or natural methods. In short, in order to mint money from the people, big pharma companies does various propagandas and deep marketing among people to project their drugs as best cure and consistently suppresses thousands and thousands of years old traditional Indian medicinal science such as Siddha and Ayurveda...

        Believe it or not, it's a modern slavery through the field of medicinal science. Due to the western influence, delusional indians are going crazy to become Allopathy doctor and not interested to become a classic Siddha or Ayurveda doctor. This is the result of deep marketing, that makes one to blindly follow others without any proper analysis. Most of the doctors in India are following allopathy, What westerner doctors are doing now ?

Secretly stealing the priceless information and medicinal knowledge from Indian traditional systems and trying to get patented in their name. Want an example ??

Canadians are relying on Ayurveda and Yoga to cure Cancer, while Indians are relying on IMA and it's doctors. Below is the link for the same,  Ayurveda - Canadian Cancer Society.

https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/diagnosis-and-treatment/complementary-therapies/ayurveda/?region=on

This is like, throwing sand on your eyes and secretly stealing your assets, and heavily western influenced people don't care if it is stolen, as they are indebted to big pharma companies.

7000 years old Ayurveda and Siddha medicines are not having any major side effects, whereas the allopathy is just 200 years old with more serious side effects...

Now, let us see about medicines for this fungal infection which can be cured through Indian traditional foods. Indian foods are like a food science conveyed through Ayurveda and Siddha medicinal ways....

Indian traditional foods for Candida Albicans:

Probiotics:

        Probiotics are effective in treating candida, as they produce small amount lactic and acetic acid. This helps to balance the pH levels in the intestine and controls the overgrowth of candida by it's acidic nature.

        The antibiotics kills the natural acid producing bacteria in the stomach, thus causes alkaline environment in the intestine, which in turn helps this yeast to multiple. When, stomach acid is weak, it is more susceptible to infection. 

        Probiotics are known to reduce Candida infections in different organ systems of the human body and are generally considered to be beneficial for overall health. Curd is the best probiotic food which helps to maintain the gut health.

Why am I talking more about Gut health and probiotics ?

Gut health plays major role in our immune system. It comprises more than 75% of our immune system. There are about trillions of microorganisms in the gut that promotes normal gastrointestinal function, protects body from the infection and regulates the metabolism. Probiotics gives your immune system a boost, it promotes the production of natural antibodies in the body, it helps to maintain good gut health. If you gut is healthy, then your immune system will self heal your body automatically...

Now, let us see about other methods to treat this white fungus / candida albicans infection....

Siddha medicine - Vanga vennai:

        In Siddha, the medicine 'Vanga vennai' is tested to show good activity against Candida albicans. Below is the research article, where this medicine Vanga vennai is used to evaluate as Anti fungal and Anti bacterial against fungal and bacterial infection. This is the scientific data and proof for siddha medicines against these infections...

https://ijarbs.com/pdfcopy/2019/feb2019/ijarbs5.pdf

Quotes from the article,

" - In an anti fungal study, the test drug Vanga vennai is showing good activity against Candida albicans, when compared with the allopathy drug Amphotericin B .

- The result of this study shows that Vanga vennai possess significant anti fungal effect against Candida albicans"

Amphotericin B -  is an allopathic medicine, which is given to the patients who are affected by white fungus. But, the above research is proving that the siddha medicine 'Vanga vennai' is more effective than this allopathy medicine. Siddha and Ayurveda medicines are made of natural herbs, spices, plants and so does not have serious side effects. 

Oil pulling using Coconut oil for oral health:

        To treat a yeast infection in the mouth, use 1 to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and swish in your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes. Once the time is up, spit the coconut oil out. You shouldn't eat or drink anything for the following 30 minutes.

Coconut oil for fungal infection inside the body:

        Coconut oil contains caprylic acid and lauric acid, which is effective in treating fungal infections. It is actually an anti fungal agent. The anti-fungal properties of caprylic acid kills yeast cells and reduces the fungal infection. 

A 2011 study found that caprylic acid was effective in treating some candida infections. Some scientists believe that caprylic acid is so effective because it can break down the membranes of candida cells.

The ancient Indian traditional medicinal systems such as Ayurveda and Siddha prescribed the use of Coconut oil and Ghee in the food to control the growth of this yeast and thus there weren't people affected by Candida albicans during ancient times.

        Another major culprit, which causes this infection is refined white sugar. Very high sugar intake may worsen candida infections in people with weakened immune systems. By reducing the amount of sugar intake, you can reduce the amount available to the yeast in your intestine.

        

            The cell wall of candida is mostly made up of sugar and protein. Caprylic acid, lauric acid, lactic acid are powerful anti-fungal treatment which makes the yeast weak and thus controls its growth.

Traditional Indian foods took care of gut health in the body. If your gut is healed, then rest of your body will be healed automatically by the body's immune system. Gut health plays major role in the immune system to work effectively. 

For your health condition, if you need to take antibiotics, finish the prescribed course completely and consume more probiotic foods for minimum 1 month, to balance and to restore the natural good bacterias in the body.

Ghee:

Ghee contain Butyric acid, which helps good bacterias to gain power. Naturally made cow ghee is used for several thousand years in both Siddha and Ayurveda. 

    

        Consuming pure ghee daily in limited quantity is a boon to your health and it has numerous health benefits. Ghee is just not a fat or cholesterol.

Ginger and Garlic: 

        Gingerol present in ginger has potent anti- fungal properties. Adding ginger to our diet in the form of ginger tea effectively helps to prevent and treat fungal infections like Candida. 

Ginger is used daily in Indian foods such in Ginger tea, vegetable curries, flavoured rice etc...

Garlic is a powerful anti-fugal agent. We use garlic in Rasam, curries etc. The freshly crushed garlic in rasam is a multi purpose food. It acts against fungal infections, helps the good bacteria to gain power, clears the throat, cures cold, aids in digestion. 

We south indians, include rasam in our daily diet and thus we rarely have stomach troubles.

Another final and important Indian spice to cure Candida albicans is Turmeric.

Turmeric:

Turmeric is a natural anti fungal. It is used for many purposes, it is used both internally and externally. Turmeric is a golden spice in Indian traditional medicines and foods. None of the Indian meal is complete without turmeric. It is a basic ingredient in all Indian kitchens..

        

As an anti-fungal agent, turmeric boasts some surprising properties. A number of studies have pointed to turmeric’s efficacy in fighting both Candida albicans and the biofilms that it forms. This makes it a very useful addition to an anti-Candida program. Pharmaceutical anti-fungal drugs are often associated with a number of side effects, which is why natural anti-fungal treatments can often be preferable.

Probiotics have been shown to promote the production of natural antibodies in the body. Gut health plays major role in our immune system, it contains trillions of microorganisms that protects body from infection and regulates metabolism. Gut health comprises more than 75% of the immune system.

            Eat foods to help good bacterias in the body, consume probiotics like curd, fermented foods like idli and have more fibre foods to nurture the good bacterias. When the good bacterias takes control in the gut, it helps to counter the effects of candida yeast which is causing inflammation and irritation in the gut. 

Eat these traditional foods, do Pranayama, Surya Namaskaras daily, take fresh air, practise our standard Indian ways and stay healthy !!

- Aarthi Thiyagarajan