Colon Health, Candida and C. Diff.

Candida and C.Diff. and the Importance of Colon Health

I was living in England in 1990, and caught an interesting documentary on BBC TV entitled, 'Superbugs.' The documentary was presented by a team of doctors, and top medical experts in England. The jist of the message was aimed at the concern of over-prescription of broad spectrum antibiotics and the danger of creating Superbugs. The definition of a superbug would be a bacteria, perhaps even a common cold bacteria made resistant through the use of antibiotics. The fear of this panel of doctors was that killer bacteria could develop, a result of mankind's making through the use of antibiotics. The concern the documentary presented then, was that at the turn of the century, certain bacteria were likely to develop that modern science and medicine was powerless to stop. Furthermore, they predicted that even the strongest antibiotics known to man could do little to stop a virulent bacteria made stronger over time through becoming resistant to multiple antibiotics. An epidemic or even multiple outbreaks were considered by this panel of doctors to become a distinct possibility. While there have been some issues of bacteria that have become antibiotic resistant, (an example of this would be the 'flesh eating' bacteria which is basically a strong staff bacteria), the gloomy scenario has not so far played out, at least not on a Global scale. However, there is concern over something called c.diff.

C.Diff. is abbreviated for Clostridium Difficile, a particularly virulent bacterium. It was first brought to my attention through talking with a customer almost two years ago. He explained his struggle with the issue, and the life threatening experience of in and out of the hospital for months. Doctors tried multiple antibiotics to wrestle control of his suffering, released him from hospital, only to see a relapse and needing more treatment. I was horrified by his story, especially when he shared with me he almost died from the infection, and it can still come back anytime. I have done my research on this topic, and by now have talked to 5 different customers who have all contracted c.diff. with similar harrowing stories of suffering. At least 4 of the 5 customers I spoke with contracted c.diff. in a Canadian hospital.

Currently, it is considered only a Canadian health crisis, yet the only available statistics I have found, is that in 2005, some 4,000 people died from the infection here in the U.S. This is no small issue, and the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta say they are very concerned with the possibility of an epidemic and are watching it closely. Throwing the most potent antibiotics at the bacteria merely creates the distinct possibility and probability for ever more resistant antibiotic strains that may become unstoppable. As it stands now, medical professionals acknowledge that once infected, a person may relapse because the bacteria may never be fully eradicated.

Hospitals in Canada are struggling with the issue. A person is most likely to contract the bacteria through visiting or a stay in hospital. After a course of antibiotic treatment, all good and bad bacteria are killed off in the gut, and that seems to be key in allowing c.diff to take hold and infect the colon. The symptoms mimic those of Candida in some respects, just multiplied in severity. Cramping, digestive upset, extreme diarrhea causing perhaps 50 visits to the bathroom are just some of the symptoms. Besides the extreme pain and discomfort, the infection can be deadly. I have heard the details of suffering from some customers, and it would make your head spin. When a patient in Canada is diagnosed with an infection, they are quarantined and begin a course of powerful antibiotics such as Flgyl, or Vancomycin. The battle is touch and go, but part of the problem is that c.diff is extremely contagious. Also, bacterial soaps do not kill the bacteria. Only bleach has been shown to be effective. But it is quite impractical to bleach every surface in a hospital to include bed rails, phone, remote control, and every door nob and toilet seat after use.

And here is the reason that I am so focused on the Candida issue and touch on it in more than one article. If someone has Candida, relating to an imbalance of good vs. bad bacteria in the gut, they are more likely by far to be a candidate for a c.diff infection. The reverse applies also. If someone has c.diff, they become a strong candidate for contracting Candida as well. The good news is if someone has optimal colon function and a healthy balance of good vs. bad bacteria, meaning a predominance of good bacteria, they are almost certain to be resistant to a c.diff infection through exposure to the bacteria. By estimates, some 80% of Americans suffer with Candida. In my opinion, that makes us ripe for a big problem and possibility exists for the spread of this infectious organism.

For the customers I have worked with that have contracted c.diff, hemorrhoids were caused through all the digestive and colon suffering brought on through the infection. Our Hem-Relief product for hemorrhoid pain and suffering has helped all of them overcome that problem. The broader issue of c.diff is best addressed through working to achieve optimum colon health. Our Complete Colon Care product is an awesome step in the right direction to help deal with any issues of the colon. It helps to restore, rejuvenate and revitalize colon health. It may not be a cure for c.diff, but with the right focus on diet, probiotic supplementation, and fiber, anyone can begin to move their colon health in a positive direction. Working towards better colon health may be the #1 thing a person can do to insulate themselves from the possibility of contracting c.diff, or Candida.

For more information on colon health, please visit us at www.westernherbal.com