Although my symptoms were many and could probably be attributed to a variety of different things such as stress, antibiotics, spiritual warfare, and the environment, the best way to sum it up in a manageable word is candida. Candida is a natural fungus that resides in all of our bodies. Any healthy body should have a balance of fungi and bacteria in the gut. However, candida is also an extremely hardy, stubborn fungus that will take over your body if given the chance. The poor bacteria can't even put up a good fight once this guy has taken over. He's kind of like No-Face in Spirited Away. Nice and helpful at first, but you better be careful how you feed him because HE WILL TURN INTO A MONSTER. Then all sorts of problems can be caused and it's a long, difficult process getting him back down to his appropriate size.
- Oh sure...he LOOKS sweet and innocent...
Here are just a few possible side effects of candida overgrowth:
- Skin rashes
- Digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation, etc.)
- Gluten intolerance
- Migraines
- Fatigue
- Aches and pains
- Depression or anxiety
- Infections
- Other autoimmune conditions
Just some of the things that can cause candida to get out of whack:
- A diet high in sugars and carbs ('MURRICA)
- Prolonged, high levels of stress
- Taking too many antibiotics
- Anything that causes a weakened immune system
Now before you go all WebMD and say, "I'm tired today! I have candida overgrowth!!" or even worse, tell me that there must be some other explanation for my issues, let me tell you that I came to this conclusion after a whole year of going to a bunch of different physicians in multiple countries, receiving different diagnoses (or worse, no diagnosis...don't you love hearing there's nothing wrong with you when clearly something is?), trying all different kinds of western medicine (practically "nuking myself" as a holistic physician later put it) as well as eastern medicine, and finally going to a clinical nutritionist who took my symptoms seriously and didn't just dismiss something as "minor" that had been going on for so long. If you have the money, I would definitely recommend trying a clinical nutritionist who practices nutrition response testing. There are also chiropractors who practice nutrition response testing. Seriously, if you're miserable, don't take "There's nothing wrong with you" as an answer. Also don't take "Try this medicine...that didn't work? Try this medicine this time. That didn't work? Try this medicine..." as an answer. That's what kept happening to me, and let me tell you, I'm pretty sure it made things worse inside of me because it was just attacking the symptoms and not the cause!
Anyway, after a long journey, I want to share with you what worked. First, I will share the lifestyle habits that have helped me, and then the spiritual and mental habits that helped me on my healing journey.
1. Get off gluten, lactose, and sugar
This is not a one-size-fits-all approach. For you, it may be eggs and soy. Or all 5 things! Or something I haven't even named! And yes, I know it can be no fun to go on an elimination diet. So I would recommend first consulting a nutritionist, but if you don't want to pay for that, then definitely at least go off refined sugars and carbs for a week and see how you feel, because that can't ever hurt. You can still leave things like fruit, raw honey, and potatoes and brown rice in your diet. Then if that doesn't work after a week or two, you may need to go more hardcore (cutting out ALL gluten, going off high-sugar fruit like mango and banana, and cutting out nearly all carbs except things like quinoa). Remember, alcohol is a sugar too! It will require some experimentation for you to figure out what your body can and can't handle, because everyone's body is different. Whatever you do, remember that carbs/sugars feed candida. This means that for a short time you may even need to go off carbs that are usually considered to be beneficial, like fruits and ancient grains. You will want to always read nutrition labels because most things have weird ingredients like "dextrose" (read: man-made sugar) or "maltodextrin" (usually derived from corn and can certainly not be considered a whole food, and has a very high glycemic index). Also, don't buy into every fad, and don't assume that because something is healthy for some people that it is necessarily healthy for you. For instance, I love kombucha, but it was bothering me a bit because it is fermented with sugar. Here are some websites that have helped me enjoy my gluten-less, sugar-less, lactose-less life more:
You may also want to try abiding by a specific diet like the GAPS diet, paleo diet, or candida diet. Just remember there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and God made each of our bodies slightly differently. Above all, don't listen primarily to what someone else says you "should" or "should not" be able to eat; listen to what your body says it does and does not like! You may need to keep a food journal for a couple weeks so you can begin to make connections between symptoms and eating certain foods.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar - Drink it! (diluted)
This website has a great list of why apple cider vinegar is good for you and the many uses it can have. Here's the thing: you can't use just any apple cider vinegar! It has to be raw and unfiltered and look murky in order to have any nutritional benefits. If it looks clear, it's had all the good stuff removed from it! Bragg is a good brand. A lot of stores are catching on now and now have their own raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar. I think I saw a store brand of it when I was at Whole Foods. Anyway, here is how I make it tasty so I feel like it's a treat rather than medicine:
Becky's Daily Apple Cider Vinegar Drink
- 1 or 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (as much as you can handle! you may want to start with 2 teaspoons if you're not used to the flavor)
- 1 cup of carbonated water
- as much stevia or monkfruit extract as you want
- maybe some lemon or lime juice if you have one lying around! (optional)
- Or some cinnamon and/or ground ginger (optional but very delicious, especially in the fall)
It truly does give a boost of energy and help balance your bacteria/fungus levels in the gut. I feel great after drinking it. I also spray some on before I put on my deodorant in the morning because it helps balance skin pH as well. If you have issues with deodorants irritating your skin, or just have easily irritated skin in general, it can be super helpful for that! Just make sure and don't spray it on right after you take a shower...OUCH.
3. Tea Tree Oil
This blog has an incredible list of uses for tea tree oil. I didn't even know it could be used so many ways. Shout out to my friend Meghan for bringing it to mind. I had tried some other home remedies that didn't work and didn't think tea tree oil would be any different, but it's incredible! Try this: Whatever irritation you have, put some coconut oil on a 100% cotton pad of some sort. Then put a couple of drops of tea tree oil on top and apply it to the affected area. You will experience immediate symptomatic relief, and it will also be combating the inflammation for you. You can even use it on mosquito bites in a similar fashion! If you struggle with migraines, massage some tea tree oil on your temples or wherever the affected area of your head is. A friend gave me some Chinese medicine a while back that had some tea tree oil in it, and it is truly great for headache relief!
4. Yoga Okay, this one might sound cheesy. Oh man, this whole post probably sounds so hippie and crunchy by this point, but I don't care. Seriously, yoga helps with posture, mood, relaxation, digestion, heart health and a host of other things! Why wouldn't you want to give it a try? I've noticed huge improvements since I made yoga a part of my routine. And I am NOT naturally flexible, coordinated, or balanced, so if I can make it a part of my routine, anyone can. I feel like my whole body is just more cohesive and all my systems are working better every time I do yoga. I've noticed it strengthening both my immune system and my nervous system. Spiritually, I personally use the time to focus on my oneness with the Holy Spirit and joy in Jesus living inside of me. I might even use the time to pray. Or there's also absolutely nothing wrong with just letting your mind be blank for a while and focused on that one activity! I think the key with something like yoga is to not be afraid to mess up. It's okay if you fall over or in general look silly. (I was really into zumba before I started doing yoga, so I know all about looking silly and not caring)! You'll never get to the point where you can do a new position if you don't first sort of halfway do it and then fall out, and then get back up and try again. Even though yoga seems serious and quiet, don't take yourself too seriously or think you have to look all sexy and cool while doing it; that will inhibit your enjoyment of it. No one cares if you look sexy or cool in your yoga pants.
5. Gelatin
Thank you to my nutritionist Erika Schultz at Merritt Wellness Center for this one! Gelatin helps with joint pain, leaky gut, and digestion. This great post from Wellness Mama goes into all the benefits and uses in detail. Long story short, I've been adding it into my diet and it's been helping a lot! I make Jell-O with one kind of Great Lakes brand gelatin, and another kind of Great Lakes gelatin that comes in a green can I add into my bottle of water or smoothies (it is tasteless and doesn't congeal). For making Jell-O, you can just use tea bags to get a flavoring of your choice. Another great way of getting gelatin into your system (and probably the best one) is making bone broth! You can ask for beef bones at most store counters, put them in a pot of water with some carrots, celery and onion, and simmer it on low for >24 hours, and you'll end up with an excellent stock for cooking or just drinking straight. Also, save the bones from those rotisserie chickens at H-E-B, and make chicken stock! I haven't tried that yet, but plan to the next time I buy a rotisserie chicken.
6. Speak healing words from Scripture over your body
This is the most important healing factor out of everything I have listed in this section. The Word is powerful, and our words that come out of our mouths are also powerful. I didn't used to understand this. I would tell myself depressing things and pray depressing things, trying to make God feel sorry for me I guess (not realizing how much His heart already ached for me to know healing and fullness, and it was impossible for me to make the Perfect Father more compassionate than He already is). I would tell myself it wasn't true that He loved me, it wasn't true that He wanted to heal me, that He wanted me to suffer, that He didn't care, etc., just waiting for Him to prove me wrong. Oh beloved friend, if you are telling these things to yourself right now, you must stop! You are affecting your reality with your words. You need to replace those words of despondency with words of faith.
Remind yourself of the heart of Jesus. Though we may suffer for a time in this life, the ultimate heart of Jesus is to heal. The heart of Jesus is joy. He, for the JOY set before him, endured the cross.
Here are just a few words I have been given when my heart wants to give up and lose hope. I would encourage you to look up the whole stories if you're not sure what context these quotes are in; they're amazing stories. And I would encourage you to look at these stories with fresh eyes. Don't automatically think of them as metaphorical, think of them as real events that took place and that still take place today:
"Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!' Immediately he was cured of his leprosy." - Matthew 8:3 (Jesus, you are not only able, but you are willing, to make me clean. I thank you for your healing power and for the healing words you have spoken over my body.)
"Then Jesus said to the centurion, 'Go!' It will be done just as you believed it would." - Matthew 8:13 (Jesus, I believe it will be done, and I will act on that belief. I will rejoice and be glad as if my healing as already manifested, and I will walk in faith that you have withheld no good thing from me. I nothing lack if I am yours; You have healed both my body and my spirit, and I thank You for the abundant life You have given me.)
"He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases." - Isaiah 53:4 (a prophecy about Jesus) (Thank you for nailing my infirmities to the cross 2,000 years ago. Thank you that you already paid for my healing, both inside and out. Thank you that you care about all the trials and side effects of this fallen world in my life - spiritual, physical, emotional, mental. Thank you that you don't leave it to us to "pull ourselves up by our bootstraps" and "just get over it" but that You have come down, touched us, and made us clean.)
"According to your faith it will be done to you." - Matthew 9:29 (Jesus, thank You for my healing. Continue to give me more and more faith. Give me the faith to be healed. Give me the faith that you can do abundantly more than all that I ask or think, and that You are better than I could ever imagine You to be in my wildest dreams!)
Hopefully you have found this page helpful! I will add to it as I learn new things about healing. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.
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