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Candida - getting rid of it for good
I suspected I might have candida and proved this was the case by cutting wheat from my diet and finding I felt so much better. Unfortunately, I know of nothing that will kill off the bacteria and so as soon as I started to re-introduce the wheat, my symptoms came back. What can you suggest?
The herb which can kill off this organism for good is a rainforest plant called Pau d’arco (Tabebuia avellanedae), which will not only clear this current chronic infection out of your system but also work to boost the immune system to help prevent re-infection.
The part of this evergreen, flowering tree that is used for medicinal purposes is the inner bark, which is a rich source of phyto (plant) chemicals including a key anti-fungal agent called lapachol. This explains why you will sometimes find this same remedy sold as lapacho although the whole herb contains at least another 20 active ingredients, which also play a role in its healing powers.
As well as fighting candidiasis, Pau d’arco can help rid the body of the virus that causes warts, including herpes; it can help relieve a smoker’s cough and will alleviate irritable bowel problems. It can do the latter because it is rich in calcium, which can protect the colon from free radical damage.
What is important if you do plan to use this herb for any of these ailments is to make sure you buy it from a reputable source. In one chemical analysis of a dozen commercially-available brands, for example, only one product was shown to contain trace amounts of lapachol.
One theory is that since, in its purest form, the phytochemical only makes up between 2% and 7% of the whole herb, this active constituent is easily lost in processing and transportation. Another, equally plausible theory, is that what is being sold really is wood chippings because even mahogany shavings taken from Brazilian saw mills have been bagged up and sold as Pau d’arco.
If you plan to brew your own tea, aim to take 4-8g (three to six teaspoons) split over three equal dosages each day. Boil the herb for at least 8-10 minutes before allowing to cool. Strain and drink and remember, it has a very odd almost unpleasant taste - which will take some getting used to.
*Mail order Pau d’arco tablets and the powdered herb to make a tea from the Rainforest herb specialists, Rio Trading on 01273-570987. Do not use this herb if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.