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Candidiasis, If Left Untreated
Blog January 19, 2025

Candidiasis, If Left Untreated

Dr. Yeonseung Choe
Dr. Yeonseung Choe
Chief Director

Winning Over Candidiasis: A Women's Health Concern

Hello, this is CEO Chief Physician Choi Yeon-seung of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic. Today, I would like to discuss candidiasis, one of the common conditions experienced by women. Over 16 years of clinical practice, I have met numerous female patients, most of whom have faced significant inconvenience in their daily lives due to candidiasis. Let's explore solutions together.

Symptoms of Candidiasis—Could You Be Affected?

The vulvar itching is so severe that I can't concentrate. There's also more vaginal discharge than usual, and the color looks abnormal. I'm worried it might be candidiasis.

Candidiasis is a condition that occurs when Candida overgrows in the vulva and vagina of women. Various symptoms appear, including itching, pain, and increased discharge. If left untreated, it can become chronic and significantly reduce quality of life. At Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic, we provide customized treatment for patients presenting with these discomforts.

Candida: The Unwelcome Guest in Our Bodies

Candida is a commensal bacterium that exists in small amounts in the vaginas of healthy women. However, candidiasis develops when Candida overgrows rapidly due to weakened immunity, frequent antibiotic use, contraceptive pill use, diabetes, or stress. Initially, it begins with mild symptoms such as vulvar itching or stinging, but the pain gradually worsens, vaginal discharge becomes clumped, and may be accompanied by foul odor.

Is Your Lifestyle the Culprit Behind Candidiasis?

While the primary cause of candidiasis is Candida, our lifestyle habits also influence the occurrence of vaginitis. If the normal vaginal bacterial flora balance is disrupted by wearing overly tight clothing or frequent washing, Candida can overgrow. Sugar, caffeine, and alcohol can also promote Candida growth. The risk of Candida infection increases when beneficial bacteria are eliminated by indiscriminate antibiotic use.

Candidiasis from a Traditional Korean Medicine Perspective

In traditional Korean medicine, candidiasis is viewed as a condition caused by 濕熱 (damp-heat), that is, the humid and hot energy in the body. When damp-heat persists for a long time, the body's internal and external balance is disrupted, and the vaginal environment changes to favor Candida overgrowth. Damp-heat can be triggered by excessive stress, fatigue, and poor dietary habits. In addition, reduced function of the kidneys and spleen, as well as 瘀血 (stasis of blood), are also related to candidiasis.

Baekrokdam's Treatment Philosophy for Candidiasis

At Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic, we treat candidiasis through customized herbal prescriptions tailored to each patient's constitution and symptoms. The core of treatment lies not merely in symptom relief but in restoring internal balance by using herbal medicines that eliminate damp-heat and support kidney and spleen function. We also focus on relieving itching and inflammation through external treatments and restoring the balance of beneficial vaginal bacteria.

Why Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic Is Confident in Treating Candidiasis

Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic has Korean medicine doctors with abundant clinical experience and expertise who provide the most suitable treatment direction for each patient. We consider communication with patients the most important aspect of the treatment process and do our best to identify and treat the root causes of candidiasis. We enhance treatment effectiveness and safety by using advanced medical equipment and carefully selected herbal medicines.

Stories of Patients Who Found New Life at Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

Before treatment, daily life was difficult because of vulvar itching and discharge. But after taking herbal medicine and receiving Sitz-bath treatment at Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic, the symptoms completely disappeared. My quality of life improved noticeably.

Many patients with candidiasis who visited our Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic have regained healthy daily lives through treatment.

Prevention and Management of Candidiasis: Lifestyle Is Key

Proper lifestyle habits are essential for preventing and managing candidiasis. Avoid tight-fitting clothing and wear cotton underwear. Refrain from using vaginal cleansers or Sitz-bath solutions, and wash with clean water instead. Strengthen your immunity through regular meals and balanced nutrition. Above all, managing stress, getting adequate sleep, and moderate exercise are important for building a healthy foundation for life.

Your Choice for a Healthy Vaginal Environment: Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

What are the risks if candidiasis keeps recurring?

If candidiasis is left untreated, you may fall into a vicious cycle of exacerbating the condition. If inflammation becomes chronic,

This is because it can lead to various complications such as bacterial infections and cervicitis. However, if you receive appropriate treatment before it is too late, it can be fully overcome. Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic will be with you for your healthy tomorrow. Please feel free to reach out to us at any time.

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Dr. Yeonseung Choe

Dr. Yeonseung Choe Chief Director

I have met many patients who came after visiting multiple medical institutions and departments for persistent or recurrent conditions. Symptoms normally handled by different specialties—such as abdominal pain, headaches, palpitations, dizziness, and insomnia—may overlap in one person. Sometimes there is no clear improvement despite taking medication for each symptom, and being unwell gradually becomes part of daily life. In these cases, I look beyond individual diagnoses and examine how the symptoms connect and change together. Asking only about the most uncomfortable symptom today does not reveal the full course. I look at when the body first began to change and what happened after illness, surgery, childbirth, or starting and stopping medication. I also review changes in weight, diet, and sleep, then trace which symptoms improved with previous treatment and which remained. Test results, diagnoses, and the course of previous treatment are important for understanding the current condition. Clinical research in modern Korean medicine, physiological and pathological research in modern medicine, and observations recorded in classical Korean medicine texts offer different perspectives on the same body. Rather than fitting a patient into one perspective, I consider what each can and cannot explain and look for clues that connect symptoms and treatment histories that were previously considered separately.

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