Topic: Does anyone know about oregano oil for yeast?
Catgirl
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I've done the drastic diet change, ABSOLUTELY no starch, fruit, sugar. I've done the probiotic thing, VSL #3. I tried keifer (has some natural sugar in it). All of this made a small dent.
I just found out last night in "Insights Into Lyme Disease Treatments" that NAC could flare up yeast! So, that's what I've been taking, and I imagine that's why my yeast is back.
Does anyone have any experience with oregano oil? How long should I take it (and what dose)?
I took an oregano oil pill last night and I feel better. But I also quit taking NAC last night too, so my feeling better could be a combination of the two things.
I'm not sure how long I should be on the oregano oil.
I read something late last night that people should only use it for 2 weeks, but now I can't find it.
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James1979
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Mindy - I don't know a lot about oregano oil, but I've also heard that it's better to cycle it so that the yeast don't become immune.
Personally, just to make things simpler, I just take it every day. I prefer the enteric coated capsules. I just take 3 a day, and I think that's enough, but others might have other opinions. I've heard that some people rotate oregano with grapefruit seed extract - doing 2 weeks of one and then 2 weeks of the other.
I've also read about the NAC feeding the yeast in the "Insights" book, but the NAC is very good at raising the glutathione, which is also necessary to fight off yeast and Lyme. The "Insights" book is the only reference I've ever seen about NAC and yeast. I just finished reading "Body Ecology Diet", and it didn't mention anything about the dangers of NAC. I'm still taking NAC because I think the benefits far outweigh the dangers.
NAC is also good at removing toxins from the body, including the toxins that the yeast are creating. Also the NAC helps chelate the heavy metals from the body, and this also will harm the yeast because the yeast like the heavy metals.
Don't be worried about the sugars in the kefir. There are so many beneficial microbes in the kefir, that the bad yeasts don't have a chance at eating any of it. Dr. B says to eat kefir (2-4 oz) on a daily basis. Dr. S says the same thing in his book about yeast.
Have you read the end of Dr. B's Lyme guidelines where he talks about killing the yeast in your mouth? I think these are very crucial to learn.
Catgirl
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Thanks James. I have read Dr. B's yeast overgrowth advice. I have tried the listerine, brushing, then I swirl a little keifer in my mouth afterwards. I'm also on diflucan.
I wonder if I should just cut back on the NAC. I'm feeling better on this oregano oil.
How much NAC do you take? Maybe I have been taking too much (2000 mg).
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Catgirl
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I tried the keifer once (made me itch). Maybe I should try it again?
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James1979
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I'm only taking 600mg a day of NAC. I don't know if that's considered "standard". If I hear any new info, I'll try to remember to share it with you.
I think you should try the kefir again. It's just way too beneficial to put aside! It's possible that you have a milk allergy, but I would test it again before you make that assumption.
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philly78
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I don't know much about oil of oregano either but wanted to suggest maybe incorporating some cultured veggies into your diet. I have found doing so to be beneficial.
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My doctor recommeded Physician's Strength oil of oregano. There are some oils out there that are not pure. He recommends 3 a day with meals
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I use a product called ADP by Biotics Research with pretty good results - 2 per day with meals
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AZURE WISH
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Catgirl
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Thanks James. I'll try keifer again. So you said to cycle it. Does that mean one week on, one week off (not sure)?
Lyme987, are you rotating on the oregano weekly or taking it 3 a day with meals all the time?
I take my abx with my meals. Do you do the same thing?
I think I'm going to post another question about NAC and yeast. I've probably been taking too much. Maybe I should try the dose James it taking.
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James1979
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Mindy, I don't think the kefir should be cycled. Most docs say kefir on a daily basis.
Some people say to cycle the oregano, and some people say it's okay to take on a daily basis without cycling. Since there's no definitive answer, I just take the easy route and take it daily.
I think it's a very good idea to take abx with meals, because there's less chance of damage to your stomach like that. I never take abx on an empty stomach. If I don't feel like eating anything, but I have to take my abx, then I just pop a few fish oil and coconut oil pills, and I consider that a meal.
Don't worry about asking questions! The more the better.
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You could cycle it with olive leaf extract. Remember to take the olive leaf and/or the oil of oregano 2 hrs away from your probiotics.
I agree... ALWAYS take abx with FOOD.
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Catgirl
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I'm sorry James (it's my lyme brain). I meant cycling the oregano oil.
Wow, there are coconut oil pills? What a great idea! How many do you take a day?
Lymetoo, do you know if the olive leaf extract works as well as the oregano oil? If it does, that's a great idea.
James, I just read something on the internet (below) that says NAC actually fights yeast. Maybe it's not the NAC. Or maybe it's my brand. Which brand do you take?
I just don't know what else could be causing me yeast. I've been so good. Maybe it's the nattokinase I take?
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Catgirl
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Thanks everyone! I truly appreciate all of your help.
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Yeasts are nasty. I struggled for years. What worked for me was incorporating cultured foods, including Kefir (I like Water Kefir as opposed to dairy, tho I do buy Kefir Yogurt), Kombucha, cultured vegetable (Kim Chi) into my diet EVERY DAY. In about two months, and avoiding sugar loads, my Candida is under control. I think this is easiest to implement by making a green smoothie every day, or almost every day. In my green smoothie, I use Water Kefir, spinach, fruit (strawberries or whatever is in season - pineapple is nice) a banana, some spirolina 1/2 tsp, some Tumeric 1/2-1 tsp, flax meal 1Tbsp and a dollop of the Kefir Yogurt. Whizzed up in a blender, making one and cleaning up after is a total of about 5 minutes. Then, I drink Kombucha all day long.
Making Kombucha is easy, I get my Kim Chi, which I eat whenever I am getting 'buggy' and every evening before bed, from a small Oriental Store where the owner makes it. Then, after I get about halfway thru the jar of Kim Chi, I add back fresh veg to keep the culture going and reduce the cost which is $12 a 1/2 gallon. Oregano Oil is great, but in me only worked for a short time. i suspect they become resistant.
Posts: 116 | From Bisbee, AZ USA | Registered: Sep 2005
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Kefir (both water and dairy) displaces the bad yeasts with good yeasts. After your gut is inoculated with the good yeasts, the Candida has no place to hang.
Posts: 116 | From Bisbee, AZ USA | Registered: Sep 2005
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Catgirl
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Wow, BugBit, good info! Both you and Philly78 suggested the cultured veggies.
I want to make the cultured veggies, but the link that Philly gave says to put keep them at a temp (for a week) of 59 to 71. We are into summer and it is hotter than that in my house, so I'm concerned about mold. I wonder if it would work in the fridge?
Do you have the kobucha recipe? I also don't know where to get water kefir.
I'm surprised you can have any fruit. I can't have any at all or I start to itch.
Do you also take NAC?
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Lauralyme
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Would also like to know where to buy water kefir
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ukcarry
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Hi Mindy, I started taking Dr Clark Store's liquid oil of oregano [wild] 3 weeks ago and am having a short break before resuming. This brand is extremely fierce and has 70% carvacrol, which I believe is the principal antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal agent constituent. I mix 3 drops with a little non-dairy milk, follow with a water chaser and do that 3 times daily.
I am taking it for a combination of yeast and bacterial issues and it does seem to have reduced the numbers of clostridium perfringens, judging by the reduced stomach churning and lessening of massive bloating.
My LLMD has suggested that I now take it for another 2 months, but I am taking a few days' break because it is strong and the instructions suggested that you take a week off after taking for 2 weeks.
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quote:Originally posted by FYRECRACKER: anyone know if you can become resistant to Diflucan?
- Probably.
Mindy..
I guess oil of oregano works about as well as the olive leaf extract. I never had great results with either one, though.
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ukcarry
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up
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Catgirl
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Wow, I wonder if I'm developing a resistance to diflucan. Does anyone remember how long it took to get rid of yeast?
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I'm still battling it! Been off abx for nearly 7yrs. Take good care of yourself. (not that I didn't)
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Catgirl
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I tried some plain yogurt today and even the small amount of sugar in it (4grams) made me itch.
I also tried some unsweetened (lowfat dairy) keifer the other day (4 grams of sugar) and I itched from that too. I must have an insane case of yeast.
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yes absolutely you and your bugs can become resistant to Diflucan, in fact any antibiotic/antifungal taken without at minimum, muscle testing, will in time become ineffective.
Water Kefir: You can buy kefir yogurt at the health food store. I buy a quart and then keep it going by adding half and half once I have eaten about 3/4 of it, but I only keep it going once and that doesn't always work, but is good enough for my smoothies. Kefir yogurt is much like Greek Yogurt, only it's dairy Kefir.
There are a lot of places you can buy Water kefir grains, and Kombucha SCOBY. One place is cultures for health (dot) com. But they sell dehydrated and it's better if you can get live cultures. there are many many people willing to ship for the cost of shipping as they multiply well, and no one likes to throw out good cultures. There are groups on facebook and Yahoo that have people willing to share what they have and what they know.
Yes, i can tolerate sugars now, in moderation, but i do have to watch it as I am so very susceptibale to the yeasts, but that has become so much less of an issue after about 6 mos of cultured foods. I am at almost a year now and doing really well. i know that when I want sugar, I am buggy and load up on Kim Chi.
I think for me, Kim Chi is a miracle food. It is potent and you only need to take a tablespoon or so, with meals or before bed.
Mandy, because you itch, i wonder if you aren't necessarily or exclusively responding to sugar, but perhaps lactose too, or maybe even pesticides or chemicals added?
ya, since you are responding to dairy probiotics, you need to get some water probiotics in you and Kombucha, water kefir and Kim Chi will really help.
Best, *S*
Posts: 116 | From Bisbee, AZ USA | Registered: Sep 2005
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Oh no, whomever told you about those low temps for culturing is wrong-o! Most cultures like around 75� to85�.
However, if you have a strong living culture, it will work in the fridge but may take longer as they go to sleep in the cold.
I live in AZ and I make my Kombucha and i add veggies to my Kim Chi all the time. It is rarely much cooler than 68 in my house. But I also watch them and while mold has not been an issue, I do not let stuff sit around for more than a day or two, except Kombucha which sits out for a week. My first batch of Kombucha took 10 days, but ever after is never more than a week.
There are a lot of videos on YouTube for making Kombucha and how to differentiate between cultures, yeasts and mold. Mold is fuzzy, yeasts can be stringy and brown. I haven't had any mold yet (knock wood) but if I did, i have backup SCOBY's and grains because they multiply.
...and because they multiply, there are many people willing to send them to you for the cost of shipping.
Posts: 116 | From Bisbee, AZ USA | Registered: Sep 2005
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when I bought my 1st bottle of Kombucha, I KNEW, just KNEW it was what my body needed. It is a mood elevator - full of B vitamins including the elusive B-12. I knew I had to start brewing and synchronicity happened and I got a SCOBY. Since then, I drink 1/2 gallon a day if available. I brew about 2.5 gallons a week in a plastic water container that holds 2.5 gallons and has a spigot.
I really like my Kombucha to be fizzy, so after a week of brewing i bottle it in flip-top bottles and add a strawberry or three or pieces of whatever fresh organic fruit i have around (pineapple is really yummy) and in a day or 2 more, it gets as fizzy as a soda and tastes absolutely yummy, fizzy, cold, uplifting, refreshing, thirst quenching - I really love it.
It's better to start off in a glass 1 gallon jar, then if you, like I did, CRAVE the stuff you can find other larger brewing vessels. I had the water jug with a spigot and I am poor, so that is what i use. It is fine.
Same with Water Kefir and Kim Chi. Start small then get bigger, better brewing vessels.
I am just in the habit now, of brewing on Sunday nights. To brew Kombucha you just make strong tea of your choice (I like Acai/Pomegranite or Orange or lemon fruity flavors) add 1 C sugar per gallon and plop in the SCOBY, cover and let it sit a week. My house is average 68� - 72� year round. Works fine.
Water Kefir takes about 48 hours. Dissolve 1/2 C sugar in hot water. Add some raisins, coconut water or juice to 1/2 gallon (I use Sorghum and raisins and a small piece of lemon) and cover and let sit 48 hours. then bottle and refrigerate. Pineapple juice does really well here, too, but my Kefir Grains did not multiply.
But there are so many recipes and YouTube videos, Facebook and Yahoo groups, you will find that once you get past the fear factor, experimentation just happens and you will find what you like and need.
Posts: 116 | From Bisbee, AZ USA | Registered: Sep 2005
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Catgirl
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Wow, thanks!!!
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FIVE ways to eat more cultured foods.
Posts: 116 | From Bisbee, AZ USA | Registered: Sep 2005
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Catgirl
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Thanks BugBit!
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Sauerkraut is really easy and simply delicious to make, too. Shred cabbage, smash it up some, add salt, cover and let it sit until it's as tart as you like (about 10 days). Yum. Better than any store-bought brand that is pasteurized until death of the beneficial microbes...
Remember that eating living foods is what keeps you alive.
Posts: 116 | From Bisbee, AZ USA | Registered: Sep 2005
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I saw an awesome nutritionist (who had a few blind spots, but was very good in many areas) last year, which is where my family started our journey.
Here is her formula for getting rid of yeast:
1. Don't feed the yeast (diet) 2. Break the biofilm around the yeast so you can get to it to kill it (enzymes, other biofilm breakers) 3. Kill the yeast! Rx or herbal anti-fungals - rotate so they don't become resistant 4. Put back the good bugs (probiotics)
For enzymes, she recommended Interfase Plus by Klaire labs. It has EDTA in it, so it can break biofilms that have heavy metals wrapped in it.
Herbal anti-fungals include oil of oregano, olive leaf, caprylic acid (from coconut).
Honestly, I did a lot of research on grapefruit seed extract. I'm sorry I can't provide a link (it's been a year), bu I found a study that said that grapefruit seed itself had no power over fungus. A chemical preservative that is added to the extract does. So the anti-fungal action of grapefruit seed extract is actually from a chemical preservative - not what I wanted to add to my already too-toxic system.
Your mileage may vary, of course.
I used oregano oil - maybe three capsules/day - and had good results from it.
-------------------- Garden
"Fibromylagia" for 8+ years Pos IgeneX WB per both Igenex and CDC Pos Neuroscience MyLymeImmuneID Started tx for Lyme in March 2011 Posts: 245 | From East Coast | Registered: May 2011
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DIET, DIET, DIET is the key. Then, be sure to follow the 5 step plan outlined below. It was developed by my naturopath. It works.
"Successful control and elminiation of a Candida Albicans overgrowth requires a multifaceted program as described below. Failure to follow ALL the steps simultaneously will result in slow progress and will lengthen healing time significantly. The program should be tailored to the individual and must balance the need to eliminate the Candida and deprive it of its food source while insuring proper nutrition for the individual."
Five Steps to Candida Elimination:
1. You must starve it into submission by eliminating its food source.
2. You must kill it with anti-fungal herbs and supplements. [e.g....garlic, onion, caprylic acid, Pau D'Arco capsules or tea, clove, grapefruit seed extract, olive leaf extract, oil of oregano, tea tree oil, Echinacea, Goldenseal, black walnut, MSM, barberry root, uva ursi, neem leaf, biotin]
3. You must reestablish the proper balance and quantity of probiotic bacteria in the digestive tract. [...multi-strain lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus capsules with FOS should be taken between meals to maximize repopulation of the digestive tract by beneficial bacteria.]
4. You must reestablish proper levels of all B vitamins (yeast free) and utilize other immune enhancing supplements to boost immune system function. [e.g ... B complex vitamins (yeast free), biotin, beta 1-3 glucan, colostrum, maitake mushroom, vitamins A, C, E, zinc and selenium]
5. You must cleanse and heal the digestive tract to promote proper elimination of toxins and Candida and assimilation of nutrients. [e.g...chlorophyll, MSM, omega 3 fatty acids found in flax seed and salmon oils, GLA found in borage, evening primrose and black currant oils. Pantothenic acid, digestive enzymes between meals]
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Catgirl
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Wow, thanks Garden and LymeToo!
Garden, how long were you on the Oregano oil? Did you ever become immune to it
LymeToo, do you happen to know how much flax seed oil I would need (have some in the fridge)? Also, how much digestive enzymes?
Is that the MSM for joints (how much)?
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Catgirl
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I'm getting the sense that no one gets completely cured of yeast while dealing with lyme and abx. I guess it's just a constant battle.
I talked to my doctor the other day about oregano oil and olive leaf extract. He said that I may need to take oregano oil for up to 4 weeks. I asked him about olive leaf extract and he said it was weak (not as strong as oregano oil). He also took me off the diflucan and put me on nystatin.
I am seeing some tiny improvement with the oregano oil. The only problem is, every time I take a multivitamin or vit C they make me itch a little. I guess I just have to go slowly and not expect a cure from yeast (I dunno).
You are all so kind to help. Thank you so much!
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I was just put on Nystatin too since my yeast has flared despite my anti-candida diet and natural antifungals. I use 3 drops of oregano oil 2x a day with a psyllium and bentonite drink to flush things out. Do you separate your oregano oil from your nystatin? And do you take the nystatin with the abx and food? This is what I'm thinking about doing but was wondering if there was a better way to schedule everything. I leave my probiotics for when I go to bed.
Thanks.
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Where does someone not close to a major city locate NAC? Is there a good online source? Is it affordable?
Posts: 116 | From Bisbee, AZ USA | Registered: Sep 2005
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What nailed years and years of yeasts, for me, was about a liter per day of Kombucha, and a small amount of Kim Chi for about 4 months.
Posts: 116 | From Bisbee, AZ USA | Registered: Sep 2005
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