How do you manage stress? Has anxiety or worry become the norm for you? We live such busy lives and give little thought to our own wellbeing until our health starts to suffer. While we can’t avoid the pressures of daily life, uncontrolled stress can have huge implications on our physical and mental wellbeing.

Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced and secreted by the adrenal glands. In addition to its role in regulating the stress response, cortisol has some major tasks to carry out. It’s involved in maintaining blood pressure, stimulates metabolism and energy release, mediates the inflammatory response, and has it's own impact on immune function. It’s essential to life.. While we can’t survive without this vital hormone, too much of a good thing can wreak havoc!

Remember the fight or flight response? Cortisol production increases in response to a variety of physical and psychological stressors.. This is normal, we need this stress response, and the body is equipped to deal with it. As long as the initial perceived threat to danger is removed (e.g. we realise we are equipped to handle the situation and that we’re not in immediate danger), cortisol levels can return to normal.

But what about that underlying state of anxiety that’s become a part of your everyday life? The work stress, financial pressure, or endless physical and psychological impact of living with a chronic illness. What happens when we remain in a state of constant stress? Basically, the adrenal glands see this a threat and they respond with a high production of cortisol. Constantly elevated levels of cortisol are charactarised by poor sleep, fatigue, sugar cravings, insulin resistance, anxiety, depression, weight gain and high cholesterol. It reduces our ability to handle stress, and we end up feeling 'wired and tired'!

When this situation is prolonged, the adrenals can become depleted, and this changes the game altogether.. Adrenal exhaustion results in inadequate levels of cortisol being produced to maintain normal physiological function. This is a frightening scenario, but it's not irreversible. Supporting the body both physically and mentally is important. One of the ways we can do that is with herbal and nutritional therapies.

Herbs are fantastic for the treatment of adrenal fatigue and stress management. Licorice and Rehmannia are two exceptional herbs used to treat adrenal fatigue and chronic fatigue states. Adaptogenic herbs are a class of herbal medicines used to increase our resistance to physical, environmental and emotional stressors. Examples of these are Astragalus, Siberian ginseng and Rhodiola, which are known to improve our response to stress, increase physical and mental stamina and reduce the incidence of infection.

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Candida Albicans is known as a non-pathogenic organism. Meaning, not capable of inducing disease. So, how does it cause so much trouble?

Candida albicans is the most prominent in a number of organisms responsible for yeast and fungal infections, such as thrush. Candida is a non-pathogenic organism. Meaning, it won’t cause, or produce disease. It lives harmlessly in the body, and while under the control of beneficial bacteria and the immune system, it’s considered a normal part of our microbe population. When numbers are kept in check, it poses no risk to our health.

But what happens when numbers aren’t kept in check? And how does overgrowth occur?

Candida numbers can increase due to reduced immune function, a history of antibiotic use and steroid-based medications. Age makes us more susceptible (infants and the elderly), as well as a diet high in sugar and high carbohydrate foods and alcohol. Prolonged stress? Big factor. Incidence is also thought to increase before menstruation, during pregnancy, and in those with diabetes mellitus.

Warm, moist environments provide the perfect environment for large numbers of fungal microbes to thrive. Symptoms can vary, but more common areas to be affected include the genital region (vaginal yeast infections), mouth (oral thrush- bad breath, white patches over the tongue, painful fissures), and skin (groin, between fingers, toes, under arms, babies bottoms ‘nappy rash’). Candida can also occur during breastfeeding. This can be extremely painful, affecting the nipples or entire breast, as well as baby’s mouth.

When overgrowth gets out of hand, inflammation, local tissue damage and irritation can arise. This can lead to altered gut integrity and increased intestinal permeability. And that can spell trouble for gut health, resulting in symptoms of leaky gut and poor digestive function.

Candida can be difficult to treat. It’s evasive, and has the ability to form a protective layer known as a biofilm. The biofilm acts like armour, and increases strength and resistance. With repetitive treatment, candida can also become resistant to anti-fungal medications. It can adapt to its environment. It sticks around!

So where does this leave candida sufferers? Luckily, with plenty of natural options..

Internal and topical herbal medicines are of huge benefit here. Specific treatment goals include:

Local tissue healingSymptomatic relief from irritation and discomfortImprove immune functionReduce candida overgrowth with anti-fungal and antimicrobial herbsReduce inflammation and heal gastrointestinal tract liningNervous system support with associated stressSupport liver detoxification while reducing candida numbers- will aid the elimination of waste and toxins

Food plays a huge role in reducing candida overgrowth. Sugar in any form should be reduced or eliminated. High carbohydrate foods such as grains, fruits, and high-starch vegetables should be limited or avoided in the short term. Avoiding foods containing yeast can also be helpful for some. Protein should be included in every meal and snack. There are plenty of good foods to put back into the diet.. Find out more!

Probiotics and prebiotics- we need to put the ‘good guys’ back in. Re-introducing species of beneficial bacteria is vital for balancing immune function, and keeping candida numbers in check. Optimal gut health is our main aim here.

Lifestyle

Rest as much as you can during infection to support immune function.In regards to vaginal yeast infections- be aware of potential factors that can exacerbate symptoms: E.g. bubble bath, perfumed soaps or detergents, excessive douching- these can alter vaginal pH