CANDIDIASIS
(1) Herbal therapy
-----------------------------------------------------

			--------------
			HERBAL THERAPY
			--------------
 
> I am looking for an MD or other health practitioner who knows
> how to treat this condition.   


Any hospital dermatologist should be able to handle this. If systemic,
try the infectious disease unit at Hadassah (they have a mycology expert).
The usual treatment is parenteral amphotericin B 30 mg/day IV for 2
weeks; flucytosine 150 mg/day per os (orally); parenteral miconazole
1000 mg IV every 8 hours.

If you're really desperate, taking some fresh ginger may also be effective
(Phytochemistry 1990;29:797-799; Environ Microbiology 1980;39:818

 
Josh Backon MD
--------------

 
For oral candidiasis, cinnamon or garlic are also effective. At Brooklyn
VAMC, we have AIDS patients suck on cinnamon candies after clearing their
thrush with more conventional meds; it prevents recurrence at a lower cost
than clotrimazole troches. Our ID fellow last year, Dr. Muhammed, along with
Drs. Sathe and Quayle, worked on the use of spices for controlling
candidiasis, with in vitro as well as clinical studies. I will ask them on
Monday whether and where this was/will be pulished.
         
Yelva Lynfield, MD, 
Chief of Derm Service, BVAMC
----------------------------



				-------
				4.17.96