| Question: | | | | infections too. Candida albicans, a mutant of yeast, has |
| I have an unsightly fungal infection in my toenails, which | | | | become a common condition. Other fungal infections, |
| seems to be spreading. It's embarrassing going | | | | including your own toenail problem, are spreading. Our |
| swimming and in the gym changing room. I've heard of | | | | bodies are becoming defenceless against these |
| conventional drug treatments - antifungal - but do they | | | | enemies, as a result of the overuse of antibiotics. |
| have side effects? And is there anything natural that | | | | Fungal infection of the toenails is deep. In the past, |
| would be effective? | | | | fungus preferred the dead layers of skin, hair and nails. |
| Answer: | | | | Because these areas are slightly out of reach of the |
| It may seem strange but the infection in your toenails is | | | | body's immune and circulatory systems, they couldn't |
| part of a huge disruption in evolution. For millions of | | | | develop immunity and antibodies to the fungus. As |
| years there was a perfect balance in nature, with | | | | your immune system cant help (and is, in any case, |
| bacteria, viruses and fungi thriving on their various | | | | busy trying to combat fungal growth in other areas of |
| hosts – bacteria and viruses on living beings, fungi | | | | the body, notably the gut), you must launch a |
| on dead matter or soil. Then in 1928, Sir Alexander | | | | well-planned, long-term attack on fungi in general. |
| Fleming discovered that a particular fungus suppressed | | | | I recommend that you avoid all substances that |
| the growth of bacteria in his laboratory. The mould, | | | | promote the growth of fungi, including antibiotics, unless |
| Penicillium notatum. Produced such a powerful | | | | really necessary. If you choose to use an antifungal |
| chemical that his bacterial culture could not survive - | | | | product such as nysatin, be aware that they have only |
| and so penicillin was discovered. | | | | a temporary effect. |
| Until then bacteria were man's most dreaded | | | | Diet |
| nightmare because of the killer infections they caused, | | | | * Avoid yeast products such as bread, beer, Marmite, |
| such as dysentery, pneumonia and tuberculosis. | | | | soy sauce, canned foods, brewer's yeast, pizza, pitta |
| Medicine was empowered by this new fungal therapy, | | | | bread, nan, ready-made sauces. These encourage |
| which was given the general name of antibiotic. | | | | fungal growths in the gut and elsewhere. |
| Antibiotics were used for every kind of fever or | | | | * Avoid fungal products, such as mushrooms, medicinal |
| infection that doctors encountered. They were even | | | | mushroom products such as kombucha and shitake, |
| prescribed for diseases that had nothing to do with | | | | cheese, vinegar, smoked fish and meat. |
| bacteria. Finding that they could no longer count on | | | | * Avoid sugar, cakes, desserts and syrups, also |
| thriving on the bodies of people and domesticated | | | | alcohol: they all feed the yeast and fungus. Take care |
| animals, the smart bugs launched counterattack. | | | | of your liver lf the liver function is affected, it reduces |
| Some mutated and became resistant, to penicillin. | | | | the production of bile, which is a natural suppressant of |
| Scientists responded by developing synthetic | | | | gut candida. If this is controlled, it helps to check the |
| antibiotics, changing their chemical structure to outwit | | | | fungal growth elsewhere in the body. To help liver |
| the bacteria. But these in turn managed to become | | | | function, take the following supplements. |
| resistant to the new drugs, forcing pharmaceutical | | | | * Soak % teaspoonful powdered kadu and ½ |
| companies to develop ever more complex formulae. | | | | teaspoonful kariatu powder in a cup of hot water |
| The battle continued until the arrival of the so-called | | | | overnight Strain and drink on an empty stomach in the |
| superbug MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus | | | | morning. |
| aureus) which has baffled scientists by its resistance | | | | * Take Bioliv one twice daily for three months. |
| to more than 90 per cent of antibiotics. | | | | * Apply Kolonji Oil on the nails at night for two months. |
| Despite the superbug, bacteria in general became | | | | * Every morning for two months put a few drops of |
| weaker and viruses and fungi took over. The familiar | | | | fresh lime juice on the nails and rub in well. |
| bacterial infections became less prominent and their | | | | * Paint the nails with Zalim Lotion on a cotton bud, once |
| place was taken by viral conditions - gastroenteritis, | | | | a weekfor four weeks. Do not touch this solution as it |
| influenza, viral pneumonia. There were more fungal | | | | is corrosive. |