Red light therapy (RLT) is a non-invasive, safe and proven treatment for muscle recovery and reducing pain. It also helps reduce inflammation, improve sleep and enhance mental acuity.
Red and infrared light has been studied for treating fungal infections, including vaginal fungus, jock itch, genital yeast, nail fungus, ringworms and swimmer’s eczema. However, more research is needed to confirm these effects in humans.
What is candida?
Candida is a type of yeast that normally lives in small amounts on and in your body. At normal levels, it aids your digestive tract and supports nutrient absorption. But when candida starts to overgrow, it can cause serious health problems.
When it grows too much, it can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in your gut. This leads to leaky gut syndrome and other candida symptoms. The good news is that it is not impossible to kill candida naturally.
To do this, you must first understand what causes it to grow in the first place. You must also learn what to do once it is grown out of control in order to prevent recurring infections and other candida symptoms.
Infections caused by Candida can occur anywhere in the body, including the mouth, throat and intestines, as well as in the skin. They can be mild, such as a yeast infection of the gums or the tongue; they can be more severe, such as an oral yeast infection, or they can be invasive, which means that they invade the bloodstream and membranes in your brain and heart.
Some of the most common infections caused by candida are thrush and vaginal yeast infections. Thrush, which is an overgrowth of candida on the tongue and other mucous membranes in your mouth, is a non-scrapable rash that can be accompanied by redness and soreness. It can also be accompanied by pain when swallowing, a white coating on the tongue and cracking at the corners of your mouth.
Individuals with diabetes have a higher risk of developing oral thrush because sugar feeds the yeast. Additionally, individuals who take corticosteroid inhalers for asthma are at a higher risk of developing oral thrush.
A healthy diet rich in cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, arugula and radishes) can help to fight Candida. These vegetables are loaded with isothiocyanates, which are natural compounds that help to suppress the growth of candida.
A good diet will also include foods that are high in essential fatty acids, which help to support the immune system and promote a healthy inflammatory response. Olive oil, flax seed oil and avocado oil are all excellent sources of these nutrients. In addition to helping to fight candida, these oils are loaded with antioxidants that can reduce inflammation in your body and help to heal leaky gut.
How does it grow?
Normally, your body’s cells are home to bacteria and fungi. However, if they grow out of control and start to take over your body, you’re in trouble. You can have a condition called candidiasis when these micro-organisms start to overwhelm your immune system, leading to an overgrowth of candida.
To keep you safe and healthy, your body produces a good many immune cells (known as T-cells). These white blood cells are crucial for fighting off invaders and defending your system from infection. Some types of these white blood cells are more effective than others at fighting off a variety of bacteria and fungi.
Some researchers have even found that exposing fungal cells to light can stimulate these white blood cells and reduce the number of fungi in your system. Using a red or near-infrared light bulb has been shown to do this by increasing the production of these specialized cells.
What’s more, this type of therapy has been proven to be safe and effective for many people. In fact, some research suggests that it can even be used to improve skin health and treat a variety of ailments, including psoriasis.
A single infrared light bulb can penetrate your body’s tissues and kill many pathogens that have become resistant to traditional treatments. In addition, the technology can also improve your overall health by reducing inflammation and strengthening your cells. For example, a study in the journal Biochemistry demonstrated that exposure to an infrared light bulb significantly increased the production of human cells, particularly cytokines, which are proteins that stimulate the immune system and fight off infections.
What causes it to grow?
Candida, or candida albicans, is a fungus that normally resides on your skin and in your mouth, throat, gastrointestinal tract and vagina. In healthy amounts, it helps to keep a balance of bacteria and yeast in your body. However, when it overgrows, it can cause an infection in or on different parts of your body.
It’s important to understand what causes a Candida overgrowth so you can effectively treat it before it spreads. There are many factors that can lead to an overgrowth, including a diet high in sugar, refined carbohydrates and alcohol, and excessive antibiotic use.
Antibiotics can kill off the good bacteria that naturally inhabit your body, allowing Candida to overgrow. They also reduce your immune system’s ability to fight off infections. In addition, they can weaken your stomach lining and digestive track, making it more difficult for you to absorb nutrients from food.
Stress can trigger candida growth because it can cause a rise in your body’s blood sugar level. The fungus then feeds off this extra sugar, while your immune system isn’t as strong to fight it off.
In addition, the yeast may overgrow if you take too many antibiotics or if you have a weakened immune system. Corticosteroids (used for asthma) and immunosuppressive drugs after organ transplantation lower your body’s defenses against the fungus.
The best way to stop candida growth is to make sure you’re eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables and fiber-rich whole grains. You can also eat a daily cup of unsweetened yogurt for the probiotics that will help crowd out the candida yeast, says Kelly Johnston, R.D.N., M.S.
Once you’ve made the necessary changes to your diet and lifestyle, it can take a few weeks or even months for candida to completely disappear. In the meantime, it’s important to keep a close eye on your symptoms so you can know when to seek medical help.
Symptoms of a candida overgrowth can range from mild to severe, and can include redness, itching, burning or scaly skin, bloating and diarrhea. Other symptoms can be more sporadic and can include fatigue, weight gain and headaches. In some cases, it can develop into a serious, life-threatening condition called candidiasis.
Can it be killed?
A small percentage of your body’s cells are foreign – they can be bacteria, fungi or viruses. The body has a built-in immune system that helps protect us from these unwanted invaders but sometimes a balance can be lost. When this happens, the foreign cells start to grow and cause a health condition called candidiasis.
Red light therapy is a treatment for candidiasis and other fungal infections. Essentially, it uses the body’s own natural healing abilities to help kill the fungus and improve health overall.
It’s a safe and effective alternative to antifungal prescription medicine but should be used with caution. It is not a cure for candidiasis and you should seek out professional help before trying it.
One of the biggest concerns is that red light will reduce your immune system’s ability to fight off the fungus. This can lead to it being resistant to antifungal prescription medication or even worse causing an immune system attack that could be fatal.
The good news is that a sauna can actually increase your white blood cell count and strengthen your body’s immune response. This is because a sauna increases your skin’s production of energy and CO2 which can help your body deal with inflammation.
Another benefit of red light is that it can sterilize the skin from harmful microorganisms. This helps to prevent infection and recurrent skin issues from developing.
Unlike other light therapies, red light does not damage the tissue, so it can be safely applied to sensitive areas of the skin. The skin will then be able to heal without inflammation, leading to healthier and more resilient skin.
In addition, a red light-based therapy can also reduce pain and swelling after an injury or surgery. This can lead to faster recovery and less reliance on pain-relieving medications.
It can also be used to help with hair regrowth. But you should be aware that it can take up to 2 to 3 months before noticeable results occur.
Some people do have success with red light therapy for a number of different health conditions, including yeast infections. However, this method is expensive and the protocols are not well understood. Rather than using it as a first line of defense, consider treating the underlying root cause of your symptoms with other more accessible and affordable solutions like probiotics.