The candid yeast organism is a normal part of the intestinal flora-the microorganisms that live in the digestive tract. The balance of the intestinal flora can be disturbed by the use of antibiotics, birth control pills, immunosuppressant drugs, hormones, poor diet, excess stress, alcohol consumption, and other factors. In cases of extreme im­balance, candida flourishes. Initially its overgrowth is limited to the in­testines, but it can invade other parts of the body, the most common of which is the vaginal tract. When left untreated, yeast overgrowth produces alcohol and other toxic by-products that put stress on the body. Over 75 percent of women suffer a vaginal yeast infection at least once. The humid, moist, and warm environment of the vagina is very hospitable to yeast. The most common symptom of a yeast in­fection is a creamy, curdlike discharge accompanied by vaginal itching and burning, painful urination, and pain during intercourse. The condition often gets worse after receiving antibiotic treatments. Conventional medicine typically treats yeast infections with topical or oral antifungal medications.

Chinese medicine classifies candida as an accumulation of dampness and heat toxin in the body. Often a result of a weakened spleen­pancreas-stomach network, digestion is impaired, leading to a buildup of dampness, which tends to permeate the lower parts of the body. The sticky, congealing nature of dampness combined with emotional stress blocks the free flow of energy, generating heat and toxins. The damp­ness and heat toxin discharge through the vaginal opening, giving rise to the symptoms of candida infection. The relationship between the digestive system and yeast is the key to long-term relief from recurrent yeast infections; this is the case for most of the patients I see for yeast infections. Yeast infections can also result from a weakened immune system, as in chronic fatigue syndrome. We use acupuncture and herbal therapies to support healthy immune function and to inhibit fungal activity and expel dampness and heat toxins.