Here’s an article that was in the Examiner that featured Dr. Biamonte:
Many people who turn to doctors for relief from symptoms associated with Candida overgrowth very often are treated for conditions that are completely unrelated, and without success. Most patients suffer for many years before their condition is successfully treated by a wellness practitioner experienced in the treatment of Candida overgrowth. One such practitioner with a long history of treating Candida patients is Michael Biamonte who holds a Doctorate of Nutripathy, and is a New York State Certified Clinical Nutritionist. I recently had the pleasure to meet with Mr. Biamonte to discuss his Biamonte Method of treating Candida overgrowth which later developed into the following question and answer interview.
Is it true that many of your clients seeking treatment for Candida overgrowth have also sought medical help but without success?
Yes, this is very true. The average person who comes to us spent on average $10,000 and has seen numerous practitioners over a 10-year period with little or no results, and in some cases is worse than when they started out. Many have been misdiagnosed and treated with drugs that often aggravate Candida overgrowth. In cases when Candida causes symptoms of an infection, such as a sinus infection, Doctors will very often prescribe an antibiotic which, of course, makes the underlying Candida condition worse. This is one of many examples I could cite.
Why do so many patients fail in their attempts to seek help from medical practitioners for treatment of Candida overgrowth?
Unfortunately treating this condition is tricky and there are certain protocols that need to be addressed. If these protocols aren’t know or followed the patient’s condition may not improve and may even get worse! Many treatments proposed don’t include any testing and some incorporate the use of antifungals that are given in a way that can cause the Candida to become resistant or mutate. Some treatments also include the use of nutritional supplementation that can actually help spread Candida!
Recent research has found that there is a genetic component that is responsible for some individuals being more prone to develop Candida overgrowth; what has your own experience treating Candida revealed?
Patients who inherit the SNP MMP-1 gene from both parents are at the greatest risk for developing Candida overgrowth. There are several other genetic errors that also play into the development of Candida but the MMP-1 is of key concern. MMP-1 causes the collagen in the intestinal tract to weaken and be less responsive to the intestinal immune system and makes it harder for friendly bacteria that inhibit Candida to colonize. Mutations of the GPX1 and EPHX genes can result in detoxification errors that can inhibit the elimination of toxins which in turn cause Candida overgrowth because the toxins kill your friendly flora as antibiotics do.
Do you think there is a connection between Candida overgrowth and various types of cancer?
Yes this has been observed by several practitioners in the US and in Europe. Candida can cause damage to DNA and cause abnormal cell mutation in those who are genetically prone to cancers.
Can Candida overgrowth be successfully treated using self-help methods and if not why?
No it can’t. The self-help route excludes the ability to test oneself to determine if Candida overgrowth is present, how bad and if it’s mostly intestinal or has spread throughout the body. Without testing there is also know way of knowing if the treatment is working and when its complete. Patients are apt to rely on changes in their symptoms as a progress indicator which can be very misleading. Most self-help methods don’t incorporate the proper Candida treatment protocols to help ensure a successful outcome. Those interested in learning more about these protocols can find it on my website.
What has been your success rate in treating Candida overgrowth patients and how many patients have you treated?
I have treated about 5,000 people and can say that 80 percent had very good outcomes. Success mostly depends on how closely the patient follows the program. There are more complicated cases also where one may have multiple medical problems along with Candida; they tend to be more difficult and take longer to treat but still they can be helped!
Are there some underlying reasons why your treatment plan didn’t work for some patients?
Very few failed cases have been a mystery, we know what other problems could exist that would stop the treatment for working and are quick to test for them in order to correct them. Hormone imbalances, blood sugar problems and toxic metals rank at the top of the list.
What is the Biamonte Method and how is your program different from other nutritional regimens designed to treat Candida overgrowth?
The Biamonte Method of Candida Elimination is divided into five major sections. Each major section may have subsections. Besides having its own unique mechanism in eliminating Candida, each section is also designed to prepare the body for the section that follows. This ensures that each section will work correctly. For example, the second section or phase will not work correctly if the first phase was not done to full completion, and so on.
The reason for the five sections is that it is has been found that Candida must be eliminated or stripped out of the body in “layers.” This is due to the different stages of growth it undergoes and the different underlying causes that allow its growth.
Candida is also like a chameleon, able to transform itself from a fungus into yeast. Candida is highly resistive and may be able to mutate against an antifungal at or around 21 days, so “rotation,” or switching the antifungal used in an orderly fashion, is essential.
I now, more than ever, believe that using an approach which tries to correct all of the patient’s imbalances, symptoms, and/or deficiencies simultaneously will aggravate the Candida. Certain vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and herbs can spread Candida. These are the B- complex, vitamin D, Calcium, Copper, and Iron. Other nutrients protect the Candida from the very medicines used to kill it. Most antifungal treatments work by creating “oxidative stress” against the membrane or outer skin of the Candida. This works by “burning” or “digesting” the outer layer of the Candida. Antioxidant vitamins in high doses will protect the Candida from treatment.
In the Biamonte Method, we acknowledge two situations which may require attention early on that have a major impact on Candida. These are the presence of toxic metals and hormone imbalances. Both have been found to be underlying causes of Candida overgrowth. However, it is how these situations are addressed that makes the difference between success and failure.
Many years ago I discovered that parasites could cause Candida overgrowth. The exact mechanics of this is simple. Parasites destroy friendly flora just like antibiotics do. Many parasites excrete ammonia and other toxic chemicals that destroy friendly flora like acidophilus. Some parasites also depress the immune response in the intestinal tract allowing yeasts to overgrow. Anything that destroys friendly flora can cause an overgrowth of Candida since friendly flora holds Candida in check.
The purpose of Phase 0 is to eliminate enough of the parasites from the lining of the intestinal tract so that the person will not quickly relapse on Phase 1. Phase 0 also eliminates the top layers of Candida growth so there is less die-off from Phase 1 to make you feel sick. This also allows Phase 1 to absorb faster and deeper into your system. We have 27 different versions of Phase 0. I choose the one that best suits the patient’s medical history and current symptoms.
Phase 0, of course, also begins removing the top layers of Candida. Phase 0 acts as a “challenge” for the Candida urine test that is done. (See the article, The Biamonte Method of Candida Testing”). The Phase 0 program loosens and breaks up colonies of yeasts, bacteria, and parasites. This ensures that the waste products that they release show clearly on the urine testing so that we know the true nature of Candida levels. After I have studied the urine tests done before Phase 0 and after Phase 0, I will determine the Phase 1 program that is needed.
In many cases, testing for hormone imbalances and “Leaky Gut Syndrome’’ is requested when the patient begins Phase 0. The purpose of Phase 1 is to eliminate and destroy most of the Candida in the body. This program destroys Candida in the intestines, the blood, lymph, and vital organs.
This is known as the rotation program. Once we have tested the person to discover the type of Candida they have, we then select 4 substances that are especially effective on that type of Candida. The first one is taken for a 4-day period and then stopped. We then move to the next substance for another 4 days. This is repeated over and over again. This rotation is done so that the Candida does not develop a resistance to the substance. This program may last for 2-4 months, and may go through a series of increased dosages, depending on the results of the urine test. Phase 1 doses may be increases by 50%, 100%, or 150%. If the test does not indicate increased die-off taking place despite increases, the doses of the phase could be considered finished.
At this time, hormonal imbalances may be addressed and a program to correct them is begun as an adjunct. If the hormones are imbalanced, the Candida will not fully clear and Phase 1 will not kill all of its intended victims!
The purpose of Phase 2 is to: 1) Destroy the Candida buried in the intestinal tract. If this Candida is not removed, it will eventually cause a full-blown relapse within 6 months to a year. 2) Establish friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract and stimulate the immune response in the intestines that fight Candida and harmful organisms. This is not done in Phase 1 or Phase 0 because we have proved that Candida will prevent friendly acidophilus and bifidus bacteria from growing. The Candida must be eliminated first before the friendly bacteria will grow. An analogy would be trying to plant flowers in a garden of weeds. 3) Repair any damage to the intestinal tract (leaky gut) that has occurred that may be causing food allergies and chemical sensitivities. Each of these actions may be their own sub phase. This phase can also last 2-4 months or longer, depending on the needs of the patient and their test results.
The purpose of Phase 3 is to regain energy. We begin by completely eliminating all toxic metals. This is the first concern on Phase 3. We often test for toxic metals using tissue mineral analysis (hair testing), urinary challenge testing with DMPS or DMSA, and fecal toxic metal testing. Toxic metals will interfere with any correction or balancing of nutrients. Nutrient deficiencies, immune deficiencies, some hormonal imbalances, and some neurotransmitter imbalances will not correct in the presence of toxic metals. When toxic metals are fully eliminated, we then correct any deficiency of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, hormones, neurotransmitters, or fatty acids that exist.
Special blood and tissue mineral tests are performed to measure all the nutrients. Genetic testing is also a major component of Phase 3. We specifically look for genetic errors that can cause Candida! The genetic testing also tells us what illnesses and nutrient imbalances your body is prone to based on the chromosome errors one has inherited from their parents. I compare the genetic testing, which tells me “what can happen,” with the special blood and tissue mineral tests, which are telling me “what is happening,” in order to see if the genetic tendencies are causing nutrient imbalances in the present. These would be our next concern. From the genetic testing, we discover which nutrients a person needs to take as a permanent maintenance program based on their own genetics.
The most common mistake in trying to regain energy in one who has Candidiasis is the use of many vitamins and minerals or other exotic supplements intended to boost energy while the Candida still exists in the body.
Giving a toxic body dozens of nutrients is asking for trouble. One can become severely ill if they take many nutrients when they are chronically toxic. The nutrients will cause a mad, uncontrolled release of toxins, which the body will not be prepared to release. The result will be feeling terrible. Candida suffers usually get bad reactions to vitamin supplements. This is why vitamins are not given until Phase 3, after the Candida is gone.
In Phase 4 the purpose here is to stimulate the immune system. In order to prevent a relapse of Candida or any chronic viral condition, proper immune function must be restored. After Phase 1, Phase 2 (killing the yeast), and Phase 3 (eliminating toxins, restoring vitamin/mineral/hormone balance and energy) have been completed, the immune system is perfectly set up to be restored. Immune function will not come back if we have deficiencies and toxic metals, as these problems can suppress the immune system. You certainly cannot restore the immune system while you have an active Candida infection. If your house was on fire (which is like having an infection), would you run into the burning house with new rugs, wallpaper, and furniture to try to “build the house back up” while it was burning down?
There are also many immune stimulating herbs and glandular extracts that can be used in this phase. These are determined based on the special blood/tissue mineral tests that were performed. Many are taken in a cycle of 4-6 days on and 2-4 days off. This prevents resistance by one’s own body to the substance. The immune stimulating mineral, Gemanium, the herb Echinacea, and many other substances are best taken in this manner. Special testing may be done in this phase to measure immune function. This method has a success rate of better than 90%, according to our recent surveys. Much of the success of this approach is not in what we do, but when we do it, and what we DO NOT DO!
Mixing these phases together results in a patient that responds slowly, does not respond at all, or gets worse. Most doctors get poor results with Candida because they fail to understand the interactions between Candida, vitamins, hormones, and toxic metals.
The benefit and importance of this program is in preventing relapse. This program has two basic purposes: the first is to eliminate Candida using our advanced methods and the second is to prevent its relapse by systematically correcting all the known causes.
Do you have some success stories that highlight the benefits of the Biamonte Method?
Yes, we have a number of patient testimonials that you can read on our website.
What lifestyle changes can a person make to help bring Candida in balance?
Probably the first one is avoiding the excessive use of antibiotics and steroids like prednisone,cortisone etc. These medications directly cause Candida overgrowth. Next avoid recreational drugs as well, coke, marijuana, alcohol especially beer, etc., all can imbalance the gut flora and cause Candida to overgrow. Drinking enough water and eating a high fiber diet is very important to prevent constipation which is a major cause of Candida. Anything that one does or doesn’t do that would contribute to constipation will contribute to Candida overgrowth. In summary stay away from drugs of all kinds, alcohol in moderation, enough water and fiber and one can prevent Candida overgrowth. Avoiding sushi and undercooked meats will reduce exposure to parasites that could the help the Candida to grow. However once it overgrows these recommendations will not eliminate it, they will prevent it from getting worse but not eliminate. To eliminate it the person must do the program as I outlined above in my discussion of the Biamonte Method.
It is also worth mentioning that eating genetically modified foods (GMOs) will contribute to any and all diseases not just Candida. Everyone must educate themselves on the current problems we face by our exposure to these foods!