Brainstorming... Jhan please review...

Hi Kim!

I have been thinking about you a lot, trying to figure out how approaching this with a 2 year old might work. What a challenge! In hindsight, I realized that my daughter had a bad candida infection since infancy. It just wan't recognized, then. It is SO important to treat her! Is she irritable all the time? I know my daughter was... that's so hard when they are that miserable, they won't even play... ok, so figuring out how to spare her years of misery...

First, what is getting in the way with the diet? Is it a daycare problem? Maybe we could help brainstorm whatever it is...

Second, have you found a doctor that you are working with? If so, how is that going?

About antifungals... I think that Serenity's idea to put Grapefruit seed extract in her juice is a good one. It will not be enough to kill off all the candida- it tastes too bitter to be able to use enough. But it will slow it down. Candida can reproduce at an incredible rate, so that is still helpful. Look for the Grapefruit-Seed-Extract in liquid form. You may need to start with just a single drop...you could put it in juice that is NOT sweetened with sugar. If she accepts it, try two drops. I know my children can detect three drops- that is in a very small amount of juice- like 4 oz because I don't let them have a lot. Play with how much you can get away with.

Also, I put many drops of Grapefruit-Seed-Extract into regular mouthwash- this is how I cleared candida from the mouth. If she's learned how to "swish" you could do that.

You'll need a more powerful antifungal. I have two ideas: one is to obtain a prescription for nystatin. It does come in a powdered form. The trouble is, it tastes absolutely nasty! How to hide it, I don't know! I tried putting it into honey for my children, that did not work, it just took longer to get it down, which they did not appreciate. My children are older- teenagers, so finally just told them they'd have to "suck it up," and they took it anyway. Not so helpful for a 2-year-old.

I wonder if she might be able to get down some oregano oil. This comes in some very tiny gelcaps- perhaps that could be put into a little applesauce? I did see a study that indicated oregano oil is as potent as nystatin, so maybe that would work! Or, if you are worried that she'd bite into it... would she comply with a game? Like, could you make up something, give the oregano oil a character name, and it is supposed to go "swimming" inside her? It could be a ritual to put it on the tongue, and send the water after to send it swimming. Do you think she would do that? You could try making it very exciting...

Another idea is to try Xylitol for a sweetener. This is because it tastes quite good, so she'll likely accept it. It helps to fight the candida, and has a laxative effect, so may help with the constipation, too. I've used it for pie crust (yogurt pie) and other home-made things, to make them candida-friendly.

It is so important that you are helping her with this. I wish my daughter had been diagnosed young, really she has had so much trouble because of it...