KateTPZ's Full Review: William G. Crook - The Yeast Connection: A Medical...
Note: If you've read my review on the book The Yeast Syndrome, the Background section that begins this review is a repeat of text in that review. If you haven't read it, and you're interested, it can be found at http://www.epinions.com/content_17293151876.
Background
Here's how it happened: I've been having non-specific medical problems for a couple years nows, including weight gain without an obvious reason, frequent ear infections, chronic fatigue, insomnia, acne and/or rosacea, frequent gastro-intestinal problems, severe PMS symptoms, frequent bouts with depression and bronchitis, and generally feeling bad. My family physician is clueless, all screening tests have been within normal ranges, and aside from a tentative diagnosis of fibromyalgia combined with clinical depression, which I've battled for years, there's been nothing I could point to as an explanation. And nothing even resembling hope for a cure.
Then a friend mentioned knowing someone who had suffered from similar problems a few years ago and was eventually diagnosed as having candidiasis, a hypersensitivity to Candida albicans, a yeast that grows naturally in our digestive systems. In some people, it seems, there is an overgrowth of this yeast which causes a host of symptoms. This friend of a friend was prescribed anti-fungal medications, put on a strict diet, and within a year all of her symptoms were gone, she lost her excess weight, and she felt like a new person.
The next time I turned on my computer, I did what comes naturally to me - I used the power of the Internet to learn all I could about Candidiasis. My research led me to two books on the subject and I immediately drove to Barnes & Noble to buy them. The Yeast Connection by William G. Crook, M.D., was one of the two books.
About The Book
The Yeast Connection - A Medical Breakthrough was published in 1983, with an update written in 1986. It is a simple, easy to follow text, with illustrations, bullet lists, and diagrams to explain many of the concepts presented.
The cover text includes the following:
"If you feel sick all over, this book could change your life."
The book begins with ten questions to determine if your health problems are yeast connected:
1 - Have you taken repeated "rounds" of antibiotic drugs?
2 - Have you been troubled by premenstrual tension, abdominal pain, menstrual problems, vaginitis, prostatitis, or loss of sexual interest?
3 - Does exposure to tobacco, perfume and other chemical odors provoke moderate to severe symptoms?
4 - Do you crave sugar, breads or alcoholic beverages?
5 - Are you bothered by recurrent digestive symptoms?
6 - Are you bothered by fatigue, depression, poor memory, or "nerves"?
7 - Are you bothered by hives, psoriasis, or other chronic skin rashes?
8 - Have you ever taken birth control pills?
9 - Are you bothered by headaches, muscle and joint pains or incoordination?
10 - Do you feel bad all over, yet the cause hasn't been found?
If you have 3 or 4 "yes" answers, yeasts possibly play a role in causing your symptoms. If you have 5 or 6 "yes" answers, yeasts probably play a role in causing your symptoms. If you have 7 or more "yes" answers, your symptoms are almost certainly yeast-connected.
It seems like a pretty simple diagnosis!
The first part of the book, Section A, explains yeast-connected illnesses, how they develop and how they are treated. Section B provides diet illustration and menus. Section C talks about ill health, or "unwellness" in general terms. Section D discusses various manifestations of yeast-connected illnesses. Section E contains suggestions for overcoming yeast-connected health problems. Section F, the final section of the book, is an update to the original text, written in 1986.
The Diagnosis
An extensive medical history is the basis of diagnosing yeast-connected health problems according to the author. Using a series of questionnaires, similar to the list quoted above, a diagnosis is considered confirmed when enough conditions are present without any other diagnosis. Lab tests, unfortunately, are of limited usefulness.
The Treatment
Treatment is centered on the use of antifungal drugs, most commonly Nystatin, nonprescription anti-yeast products such as caprylic acid, acidophilus, and garlic extract, and a diet that restricts sugar and other refined carbohydrates and yeast-containing products.
An Interesting Test
Dr. Crook suggests a "therapeutic trial" to determine if yeast sensitivity is a patient's problem. The trial involves a special diet combined with an antifungal medication for seven to ten days. If symptoms have improved, take some bakers yeast or brewers yeast and see if there is any reaction.
The Overall Focus
The book is about the connection between yeast and medical conditions, but it has an overall focus on wellness, on the role of a healthy diet and lifestyle in promoting good health.
My Conclusions
I'm not convinced that there's a connection between yeast and my medical problems, but I am inclined to discuss this possible connection with my physician. I fear that the theories presented in The Yeast Connection are too simplistic, the dietary guidelines unhealthy, and the scope of the "connection" too broad to have medical validity, but I'm intrigued enough to investigate it further.
My Recommendation On The Book
If you have medical problems that have defied explanation, this book might be worth reading. It's easy to follow, written in plain language that does not require advanced medical, chemical or biological education, and may provide answers for you. I would not follow any of the book's recommendations without consulting with a physician, however, and I commend the author for not only giving that same bit of advice but also for providing references for physicians in the book.
An in-depth guide to those health problems in people of all ages and sexes that can be traced to sensitivity to the yeast germ candida albicans.More at HotBookSale
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