Liquorice - a herb for health!

Herbs that soothe and calm your digestive tract, promoting better health.

Going with the basic premise of this site, that anyone that suffers from repeated yeast infections or from systemic candida (or any other type of gastro intestinal problem) needs to take steps to support their body’s best health, this post will discuss some herbs that soothe and help to heal the gastro intestinal tract. The healthier our digestive systems are, the healthier we will be!

Herbs covered in this post:
Liquorice
Herbs covered in future posts:
Marshmallow
Comfrey Root
Slippery Elm

Liquorice
Benefits - liquorice helps protect the innermost mucosal layer of the stomach against irritation that could lead to ulcers. Liquorice works by stimulating your stomach so that it produces more protective compounds. Liquorice also contains flavonoid compounds that can help inhibit H. pylori the bacteria associated with stomach ulcers. Liquorice itself has a sweet flavour and can be stimulating and some people have chewed the root (swallowed the resulting juice but spat out the root) to help them stop smoking. It is also meant to be good for your lungs, your adrenals as well as your gut.
How it is taken – liquorice extract as used by herbalists is made from the liquorice root. It is not the same thing as the liquorice that is sold in sweets shops or candy stores. Liquorice the sweet often contains flour, water and salt and aniseed extract. Even some liquorice syrups that are sold for medicinal purposes contain either alcohol or sugar and so are to be avoided. It can be taken in capsule form, drunk as a herbal tea – either prepared from the root yourself, or in a tea bag (but then check carefully what else has been added to the tea bag, make sure, for example, that the tea bag is free from caffeine!) And you can also chew on the root (but most herbalists recommend swallowing only the juice and not the actual root fiber).
Side affects – there are quite a few possible side affects when using liquorice, so you may want to check with your health care professional if you have any pre existing conditions such as hypertension, heart problems or you are pregnant or breast feeding. Apparently the major possible problem is hyper tension, and it is for this reason that pregnant people or those with heart conditions are cautioned to be wary of it. However, many herbalists say that when taken in a normal (ie tea bag) dose made from the whole root there is little chance of problems unless you are someone who is very sensitive to liquorice. So it can be wise to start out slowly and see if you have any problems. Other potential problems include edema (fluid retention) so if you begin to have a puffy face or hands, discontinue use.

Yeast Infection is not the only itchy culprit

A Recent report delivered to the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease has researchers warn that women who self diagnose them selves with a yeast infection and then treat their vaginal yeast infections with over the counter drugs may be doing more harm then good.

What Susan Hoffstetter said in her report was "Everything that itches isn't a yeast infection." There can be many reasons for vaginal itching or discharge that range from skin irritation because of dryness to sexually transmitted disease. Susan Hoffstetter pointed out that these conditions require different treatment and women should consult with their doctor before diagnosing themselves.

Working at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Hoffstetter analyzed over 150 cases and found that only 26% of cases actually had a vaginal yeast infection. When a women visits her doctor, the doctor will be able to identify correctly what her problem is through pelvic examinations as well as a vaginal swab.

How bad is it to eat bread when I have a yeast infection?

Well, although a lot of yeast infection diet's to advise you to cut out all dietary yeast to help get rid of a yeast infection, particularly a systemic one, it is worth stating a couple of points about this.
1. The yeast in bread/beer etc is not the same as that which causes over growth in your body.
2. By the time the yeast in bread is cooked and goes through your digestive system it is not likely to infest your body - even if it was the same type of yeast as the one that grows in your body.

A yeast infection is not an invasion by a foreign organism, it is an overgrowth of one that is always present in your system. It is opportunistic, so to get rid of the yeast infection it is more important to find the underlying problem that allowed it to balloon out of control.

And then you should eat things that aid in cleaning out your system (garlic, probiotics etc) and avoid things that feed the yeast (sugar and anything readily converted to sugar in your body).

Diet does play an important part in removing a yeast infection, but it is not just a matter of needing to cut out dietary yeast.

Would you know if it was thrush?

Just a quick recap on what the symptoms are of anal thrush and what can predispose you to getting it.

Symptoms, itchy and red with a discharge. Sore when you go to the bathroom. Basically a lot like yeast nappy rash on a baby.

What are the causes of anal yeast infection?

Anything that makes you damp down there, anything that has weakened your skin around your anus.

For example, having external hemarrhoids can make it difficult to keep your anus clean. It is more damp than usual and candida bacteria (or any bacteria really) find it an ideal condition.

If you have used a quartizone cream to help reduce the inflammation in hemarrhoids then it can make your skin thin and predispose you towards damaged skin and thrush - particularly if you take it longer than your doctor recommends.

Anal intercourse also can tear the anus and create the condiditions that the candida albicans yeast likes to thrive in.

So if you are sore and swollen around your anus it is definitely worth getting your doctor to have a look. A simple cream should clear up your yeast infection, but it must be the right cream, just a normal disinfectant won't work.