We hear a lot these days about mind-body research, and that the gut is the so-called second brain.' Other encouraging research suggests the possibility of alleviating or correcting the symptoms connected with ADD. ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, depression, and dyslexia by correcting the terrain in the gut.2 Even though we hear about this research, we often don"t connect the dots between all the scientific news that floods past us in cvcr-incrcasing torrents. The dots I want to connect in this article arc those tliat lead to a whole-body perspective. We must learn that even thing happening inside the body, especially in the gut. also affects our minds and emotions. I would like to propose that Candida albicans is not an isolated microorganism acting in a closed universe inside the gut. It affects even thing, including the brain, moods, and food cravings. Candida loves simple sugars, and I believe that it causes cravings to entice its host to feed it. Candida - The Trojan Horse This may sound like a radical idea, but as anyone who has experienced C 'andida overgrowth can tell you. when a C "attdida-control diet is started, the only things the patient can think about arc the foods tliat best feed the ('andida and not the patient. These foods include chocolate (did you know Candida strains arc used to make chocolate?), beer, w inc. sugar, starchy foods, cakes, bread, pasta, white potatoes, and "aged" (moldy) cheeses. Its a smart organism, and it wants to survive. However, when homeopath) is used—to address the Candida and help restore gut microilora—along with a Candida-con\xo\ diet, then eureka! It is a different story, and the Candida loses its grip as the body feels better and stronger, and regains its balance and energy. A theory Id like to propose would connect the dots between Candida overgrowth and not only all of the previously named conditions, but also many aspects of psychiatry, including addiction and those "personality profiles" that often lead to criminal behavior. Wouldn't it be a rewarding field of research to look at juvenile delinquents not as future criminals waiting to be locked up. but as those crying out for help and needing nutritional help in addition to counseling? This is not a far-fetched or new idea. One woman has made headlines by working with the diets of delinquents and helping them replace junk foods and sugar with whole, healthy foods. Barbara Reed Stitt wrote a fascinating book' in which she describes her 80% success rate in helping highly "at-risk" young people become positive, healthy, and successful members of society. Speaking of body. mind. Candida, and addiction, did you know that cigarettes arc laced with sugar? Is that part of the reason they are so strongly craved and addictive? Flat Earth Medicine The dominant medical belief system in this country for the past 100 years or so has looked at the body as a sum of isolated parts. It's been what I refer to as the "car mechanic" model— one part of the body "breaks" and we take it to a repair shop (doctor) to have that part fixed. That mentality is what I call "flat earth medicine." Flat earth medicine believes you can "fix" one part of the body and ignore the rest. Unfortunately, most of these so-called fixes in the past have involved using a drug to mask the symptoms, while doing nothing to truly fix the core problem. The other option often used in fiat earth medicine is cutting out or replacing the malfunctioning part. While such surgical options in an emergency may save a life in the short term, we still must attend to the core issues that caused the malfunction in the first place. Certainly, modern medicine offers advances in surgical procedures that arc wonderful and beneficial—when health issues arc extremely out of balance. However, prevention is better tlian all the cures in the world. The best prevention comes from education and understanding how the whole body works. People have been kept in the dark about this basic know ledge for cons, with only the privileged few understanding the complexities of human anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry. Thankfully, our know ledge of complex details is always expanding. However, sometimes even simple understanding is enough. Barbara Reed Stitt discovered through her own health issues tliat a simple, natural, low -sugar, whole-foods diet was best, and it worked for her as well as hundreds of at-risk young people. How much more success might be achieved if. along with diet, we also addressed the Trojan horse within. Candida'? Natural Health Pioneer Many of us came to this wonderful field of chiropractic care because we knew the natural way was best. In fact, that's what one of my heroes from 200 years ago believed too. (Thanks to this hero. Samuel Hahncmann. MD. homeopaths have known for centuries that the mind-body connection exists.) While Thomas Jefferson. John Hancock. Ben Franklin, and friends were signing the Declaration of Independence in this country. Samuel Hahncmann was training as a physician at the same university in Germany where Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and many other great thinkers had studied. Hahnemann was also a genius and pioneer. He was the forerunner of many health principles that we. as natural health practitioners, teach today, such as hygiene, fresh air. exercise, and a sensible diet. However. Dr. Hahncmann concluded that nature held the tnic keys to health after being fully steeped in. and observing firsthand, the medical doctrines of his day. He then ultimately rejected them to forge his own way. To glimpse what those medical practices were, brace yourself. Bloodletting, leeches, violent purges, and high doses of dangerous, toxic chemicals such as arsenic and mercury were used to treat people who were already weak from illness. As many as 60 leeches would be left on a sick person until their blood-bloated bodies fell off. Doctors bought more leeches than any other "medicine." Bloodletting was even worse. The doctor would open an artery and drain blood out of the patient (it actually was considered essential during a woman's pregnancy). One wcll-rcspcctcd doctor of that time recommended draw ing four or five pounds of blood, sometimes two days in a row. until the patient fainted. Another, it was joked, spilled more of his patients" blood than was spilled in the entire Napoleonic wars.4 Hahncmann was not amused. He campaigned against these practices because he was convinced they were killing far more than they helped, but he was a young doctor and no one listened. After all. people reasoned, the older, experienced doctors surely knew best. Disillusioned. Hahncmann. now married, chose a life of poverty translating medical texts rather than participate in a medical practice he saw as completely barbaric and without conscience. It was during that time that he came to understand the principles that led to his discovery of homeopathy, his medical legacy and a tnic blessing to humankind. Homeopathy is a science based on the Hippocratic principle of "likes arc cured by likes." which Hahncmann called the "law of similars." A variation of this pharmacological law is seen today with viruses used in vaccines and with allergens used in desensitizing allergy shots. While translating a "matcria medica" (a text documenting medical substances). Hahncmann experimented on himself with Peruvian bark. Cinchona officinalis. He discovered after taking some that the symptoms it produced mimicked those of malaria. He carefully recorded all of his reactions, mental, physical, and emotional, which was the first recorded "proving" of a medicine's side effects on a healthy person. Today, many homeopathic materia medicas exist around the world, and homeopathy has been practiced continuously for centuries because of the following excellent reasons: it works, it's safe, and it's cost effective. In conclusion, while assessing all of the natural therapies in your tool kit for helping your Candida patients, remember to look at the possibility of homeopathy to help the whole person—body. mind, and emotions. Our website offers a free, downloadable manual to learn more, as well as tests for ('andida and a Mind-Body Appraisal you can use personally, with your staff, and with your patients. References: http:/Avww. psychologytoday.com/articles/20111O/your-backup- brain Nalaslia Campbcll-McBridc. MD. ('nil and Psychology Syndrome, Mcdinfonn Publishing. 2010 Barbara Rccd Slilt. Food & Behavior. Natural Press. 2004 Trevor M. Cook. Samuel Ilalmemann. Hillman Printers. Ltd.. 1993 Dr. Frank King, nationally recognized researcher, author, and lecturer, is the founder and president of King Bio. an FDA-registered homeopathic manufacturing company. Dr. King is dedicated to completing chiropractic destiny with homeopathy. Attend The Healing Revolution Summit, July 18-20, 2014, inAsheville, X.C., and learn how to easily incorporate Contemporary Homeopathy into your practice. Learn more: www.SafeCareRx.com, call 866-298-2740, ore-mail: procsrfasafecarerx. com.
