Other pharmaceuticals that may lead to candida include cortisone, immunosuppressants, and birth control pills. Patients suffering Crohn s disease or colitis have a propensity of developing both candida and Damp-heat in the Intestines. Thus, in addition to following a TCM diet, herbs in a well-balanced formula should be taken for extended periods. Several cases of IBD involve Blood stasis, which is characterized by fixed stabbing pain, a tongue that is purple in the center, dark blood in the stools, and epigastric pain. Because inflammation is a major symptom of IBD, the standard medical treatment is long-tem administration of steroids, antibiotics, or sulfa drugs.
Surgery is now rare because steroids are almost immediately effective.
However, TCM views the use of steroids as harmful to the Kidney. From a Western medicine standpoint, steroids may cause gastrointestinal disorders, and a myriad of other problems. Long-term antibiotic use may cause gastrointestinal complaints, fungal overgrowth, and allergic reactions. Sulfa drugs may also lead to gastrointestinal disturbances and allergic skin reactions. They are also cool in nature, and thus are anti-inflammatory.