Only a few yeast species produce Candida symptoms. Candida albicans is the most predominant and can proliferate in warm, moist, sequestered areas of the body when immunity is weakened or when the beneficial flora and fauna is disrupted. About 10 synthetic antifungal drugs are often used in combinations to treat Candida infections. Natural remedies can also help, but individuals should use caution when trying them.
Fungistatic Treatments
Fungistatic antifungal drugs control and reduce Candida infections by inhibiting the growth of the yeast and fungal forms. This occurs by disrupting their reproductive cycles and their ability to construct cell walls. The most commonly used fungistatic drug for Candida infection is fluconazole, which is also marketed as the name-brand drug Diflucan. Fluconazole is popular because of its relative lack of toxicity to the liver and endocrine glands. Fluconazole is effective against many Candida species and is often the drug used for vaginal candidiasis and fungal infections that have become systemic, as cited by DoctorFungus.org (Reference 1). Fluconazole is the only antifungal that can pass the blood-brain barrier and eliminate central nervous system infections.
Other fungistatic drugs include itraconazole, which is marketed as Sporanox, voriconazole, which is often sold as Vfend, and ketoconazole, which is the active ingredient in Nizoral. Itraconazole is widely used for fungal infections of the fingernails and toenails, whereas voriconazole is a newer antifungal variant and used against strains of yeast that are resistant to fluconazole. Ketoconazole was once a popular treatment for Candida albicans, but because of its toxic effects on the liver, its use is now limited, as cited in "Fungal Infection: Diagnosis and Management" (Reference 2).
Fungicidal Treatments
Fungicidal antifungal drugs kill Candida yeast and fungus upon contact by puncturing their cell walls. Common fungicidal drugs include clotrimazole, which is in Mycelex, and miconazole, which is the medicinal component in Monistat. Clotrimazole is often sold over the counter as creams for Candida skin infections, and as lozenges, which are effective for oral thrush. Miconazole is only fungicidal at high doses and is currently prepared as an oral gel for oral thrush.
Two other fungicidal drugs that are considered "polyenes," are Amphotericin-B and nystatin, although both are not absorbed in the gut and, therefore, must be given intravenously or as lozenges and oral suspensions, as noted by Merck (Reference 3). Both are also very toxic to the liver, so liver tests must be taken before, during and after use. Amphotericin-B is an effective broad-range Candida killer and is often used in combination with other drugs, such as fluconazole and flucytosine. Nystatin is the active component in the dugs, Mycostatin and Nilstat, which are formulated to treat oral thrush.
The newest fungicidal is caspofungin, which is marketed as Cancidas. Caspofungin is a glucan synthesis inhibitor and very effective against Candida species and other fungi, while displaying minimal toxicity and side effects, as noted on WrongDiagnosis.com (Reference 4).
Natural Treatments
There are many natural, non-toxic treatments that can kill Candida yeast effectively. Perhaps the most popular and economic is raw garlic, which contains the antimicrobial allicin, according to "Chronic Candidiasis: Your Natural Guide to Healing with Diet, Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs, Exercise, and Other Natural Methods" (Reference 5). Coconut oil is another popular antimicrobial, and is effective because of its specific fatty acids. Oregano oil contains two powerful fungicides, carvacrol and thymol. Grapefruit seed extract has also long been touted as a Candida killer. Olive-leaf extract works as a fungistatic, due to the oleuropein it contains. Goldenseal and clove oil are additional herbal remedies that are used as antifungals. Lastly, hydrogen peroxide and colloidal silver have many health benefits that include fungicidal properties.
References
- DoctorFungus.org: Fluconazole
- "Fungal Infection: Diagnosis and Management"; M.D. Richardson et al; 2003
- Merck Manual: Antifungal Drugs
- WrongDiagnosis.com: Caspofungin
- "Chronic Candidiasis: Your Natural Guide to Healing with Diet, Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs, Exercise, and Other Natural Methods"; Michael T. Murray; 1997
