What do Ellen, a 31 year-old novelist complaining of hair loss, bloated stomach, and acne; Phillip, 36 year-old interior designer reporting frequent headaches and chronic fatigue; and Mary, a 50 year-old accountant struggling with respiratory problems, aching joints, constipation, and severe depression, have in common? Each is receiving warning signals from a very outspoken organism, a yeast named Candida albicans.

A parasite is any organism that lives on or inside of another organism and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host’s expense. The human body, being comprised of millions of cells, by its very nature will contain parasites. While some of these parasites can provide positive contributions to the body, there are a great many others who can cause great harm.