I’ve been meaning to write something more about ezcema and I was reminded today by a comment from someone else about just that so here’s the latest about my efforts to deal with it. 

At one point in my anti-Candida campaign I re-developed an unwelcome case of ezcema.  It happened while I was taking Aqua-Flora Candida formula but I can’t be sure that that is what caused the outbreak.  It’s quite possible the probiotics (Trader Joe’s brand) I was taking weren’t effective enough and that the ezcema started because of a flora imbalance.  The OMD I’ve been working with maintains that the really effective probiotics are only available through a doctor.  I don’t know about that but what I do know is that I’ve got eczema again and it won’t seem to go away no matter what I try.

There are two things that have really helped though.  One is acupuncture.  I’m seeing a Doctor of Oriental Medicine for mine.  The other is the book Skin Deep by Ted A. Grossbart, Ph.D.  If you jump to this link which is at amazon.com and read the comments you’ll see that many people like myself have gotten some relief or direction from the book.

Coffee substitutes made from roasted barley and chicory can satisfy the urge for a rich and more earthy tasting drink. While it doesn’t actually taste anything like coffee - it is a satisfying pick me up even though it has no caffeine or stimulants. Add a little almond milk and xylitol to make it sweet and creamy. Pero is a brand of Switzerland and has an extra dark roast variety that I especially like. I bought mine at Whole Foods and the price was better than what I’m seeing available at amazon.com

This recipe is from The Greek Vegetarian by Diane Kochilas

1 cup wild rice, rinsed and soaked for 30 minutes
1 cup baby lentils, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium-sized carrots, washed, peeled, and diced (or grated)
2 celery ribs, washed, trimmed, and minced (optional)
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced (or pressed)
1 teaspoon ground cumin seeds
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 to 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
4 to 6 servings
1. Drain the rice and place in a medium-sized pot with 4 cups of salted water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, covered, for about 40 minutes, or until the rice is tender. Remove and drain.

2. While rice is cooking, place the lentils in a medium-sized pot and cover them with 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, until tender but al dente, about 20 minutes. As the lentils simmer, skim the foam from the surface. Remove, drain in a colander, and rinse under cold water.

3. While the lentils and rice are simmering, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a skillet and sauté the carrots (if diced) and the celery (if using) for 6 to 7 minutes, until tender but al dente. Add the garlic and cumin seeds and stir for another minute. Remove from heat.

4. Place the wild rice, lentils, and vegetables in a medium-sized serving bowl, and toss to combine. Season with remaining olive oil, salt, pepper and rice vinegar. Let stand for 1 hour before serving.

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Probably one of the hardest aspects of dealing with a mystery illness like Candida is the many promises people and or companys hold out for "cures."  When you are miserable and desperate it’s hard to ignore the statements that promise to alleviate all the symptoms.  When these "cures" fail - you can be left much worse off as repeated disappointments lead to depression and lack of trust.

It’s imperative to follow your own intuition and to pretty much ignore any "promise" or "guarantee".  My experience is that symptoms and reactions vary widely.  This is one of the main reasons that Candidiasis is so hard to diagnose and cure.

This is not to say suggestions and support aren’t invaluable.  But I think it’s important not to push too hard or to believe that what works for one person will definitively work for someone else. 

An example came up in the comments area of this blog - someone wrote in that Tea Tree Oil was a "nice natural remedy" for candidiasis rash.  In my case, tea tree oil provoked an aggravation of the existing rash and corresponded with the rash spreading to other areas of my body.  From what I’ve read I feel fairly certain that Tea Tree Oil works for some people on some kinds of eczema but it should be used cautiously and skeptically as should any of the potential solutions mentioned here or elsewhere.