Candida albicans is the yeast organism which causes yeast infections, and when an infection strikes, all you can think about is getting it to stop! The itching alone can drive you crazy--and nothing seems worse than having an infection sneak up on you when you can't get to the doctor for a prescription.

Yeast infections result from an overgrowth of yeast in the body. It begins in the intestines, where the candida organism exists normally in small amounts, but it can frequently spread elsewhere in the body, creating what is known as "systemic candidiasis" or "candida syndrome."

When we're healthy, candida yeast is kept in check with a normal balance of intestinal flora--but hormonal changes, high acid levels, stress, and especially long-term antibiotic or steroid use can disrupt that balance and cause an overgrowth, which becomes an infection. Left unchecked, yeast can change to its fungal form and multiply rapidly, sprouting roots that perforate the gut walls and carry the overgrowth to the rest of the body. This produces what is known as "leaky gut" and allows toxins to enter the bloodstream, overloading the immune system.