A friend/coworker thinks she's riddled with "systemic candida" (yeast in her vital organs)

[NickB79]

The reason? Her alternative health practitioner noted she was always fatigued, underweight, and her tongue looked "too white".

Also, they drew some blood to test for "yeast spores". She also thinks she might have gluten intolerance.

So, now she's essentially gone on a 2-month, no-carbs-whatsoever diet in order to starve the yeast out of her body. I have serious concerns that she's doing harm to herself because she's already underweight, and she looks thinner after only two weeks.

A part of me wants to tell her she's crazy, another part of me wants to hold my tongue and be supportive. Grrr.....

[Warpy]

1. Try to get her to go to a real MD and at least get the blood test for celiac

The gold standard is still colonoscopy, but the blood test will at least tell her whether or not to go for one.

She should NOT go on a no carb diet if she is significantly underweight.

I have no idea why people go to naturopaths. If they have health insurance, there is no reason for it and she could be slowly killing herself if she's got celiac or Crohn's or any of the other small and large bowel disorders.

Tell her to go to an MD first for at least the blood work. Dare her to if you have to. This is one time you get to be a bit of a bully because you want her to live.

Naturopaths are for people who aren't sick but want to feel even better. They're not for people who are underweight and actually ill.

[SheilaT]

2. While I am not a doctor, I somehow seriously dobut that

yeast spores would show up in her blood.

Yeah, she needs to see a real doctor. Always fatigued and underweight can be from any one of a thousand or more things. Just guessing at gluten intolerance is, well, dumb.

[AlbertCat]

3. You'll take away her "I'm special" fantasy.

It's like everyone has a "special" wisdom tooth story. "Oh, mine were impacted with demons holding them in!"

"I'm a giant yeast infection! Slather me with Vagisil!"

[LeftishBrit]

4. Tell her to go to a proper doctor...

even if she did have a yeast infection, self-starvation is NOT the way to treat it. Grrr!

And I don't think you get yeast spores in your blood.