|
Ferula: “Devil’s Dung” for candida syndrome by Tierra, Michael Medical Herbalism 7(1-2):22-34 My experience has informed me that the single most powerful herb against candida syndrome is good old fashioned asafoetida (Ferula foetida) also known as “devil’s dung,” due to its pronounced odor. I recently had a patient who had severe candida overgrowth symptoms all over her body including digestive weakness, bloating, emotional mood swings, to me the most decisive indications for this problem though there are literally hundreds of others. I made a powder of asafoetida and galangal (I think you could use ginger) and had her take 2 “OO” capsules before and 2 after meals. I also had her take red marine algae, intestinal flora supplement, and a tea of pau d’ arco. The first two days she especially noticed some minor adverse reactions to the asafoetida mixture, but she felt better and her digestion was better, her mood changes were alleviated and her sweet cravings went down. I usually don’t give asafoetida in such strength, but in her case, the candida was so bad I decided to give her the straight hot stuff with galangal for extra strength. According to Christopher Hobbs, asafoetida was one of the most commonly prescribed herbs by the 19th century herbalists for a condition known as the vapours, associated with hysteria, which today we might call moodiness. Of course asafoetida is also a primary herb for food stagnation and related disorders. When we find the two together in candida or other digestive disorders, asafoetida may be the best herb to use. This is a pitch for you all to use it and give us some feedback It is really important in my practice for candida and digestive problems. Red marine algae, according to my wife, Lesley, is also very effective. Of course, Pau D’arco is a standard herbal antifungal treatment for candida. Editor’s note: Asafoetida
was a very common remedy in
the last century, and was primarily viewed as a
remedy for nervous and
emotional problems, with some affinity for the
digestive tract.
Ellingwood lists asafoetida under “Minor Nerve
Sedatives,” in the
section with valerian and hops, for “the
flatulence of hysteria,”
“nervousness in weakened and exhausted
conditions,” and says “Its
soothing influence on the brain is of no mean
order.” Wm. Cook says “It
is chiefly valued for its influence upon the
nervous tissues, being a
peculiar but valuable antispasmodic. It is of
great efficacy in all
forms of nervousness, restlessness, nervous
irritability, hysteria, and
hypochondriasis, when associated with fatigue
and loss of acting power;
but it is not suitable in any of these or other
cases when there is
inflammation, febrile excitement, or erythrism
[face red from heat]. It
is among the most serviceable agents for the
large class of purely
nervous functional disturbances.”
Master physician Eli Jones, of the late 1800s, describes using Asafoetida thus: “I had
a very nervous patient crying
with pain (so she said) but her pulse showed no
tension and there was
no contraction of the pupils, and therefore, no
pain. A three grain
pill of Asafoetida, once every two hours, put
her to sleep so nicely
she thought she had been given morphine.”
|
 AUDIO CD-ROM COURSES
Medical Herbalism. Introductory, Advanced, Clinical. CE Available. FIRST
COURSE IN MEDICAL HERBALISM With
Resources Kit. Learn 14 herbs, Make your own herbal
medicines.
CLASSROOM EDUCATION Medical Herbalism. Advanced and Clinical Programs. Occupational Certification. |
|
|
|
|