An oral fungal infection can simulate the appearance of geographic tongue and be cured by the appropriate drug, but geographic tongue itself has not been linked to any organisms. More info here.

There are probably more treatments touted for this condition than for any other discussed in the forum. Some seem to work for some people, but since geographic tongue naturally goes through cycles of improvement and worsening over time, the "cures" often end up being disappointing.

Nystatin is a good choice, because it doesn't get into the bloodstream. Whether applied topically for rashes, or taken internally, it isn't systemically absorbed. In my case, my doctor recommended that I swish it around in my mouth first, then swallow it. It did help my systemic yeast condition. And it's safe for the liver, which stronger antifungals like Diflucan can be harmful to.

But there is another component to yeast treatment. Yeast feeds on sugars and refined carbohydrates. An antifungal will do far more for you if while you're taking it, you eliminate all sugars from your diet, and stick with whole grains in your foods (no more white flour--sorry!). Without this, what the drug can accomplish is substantially limited. I would also strongly recommend a probiotic bacteria supplement, containing acidophilus, bifidus and others, available at any health food store, taken according to label directions. That will help to repopulate the healthy, necessary bacteria that have usually been depleted in a system where candida has overgrown. In a normal digestive tract, those bacteria will keep the yeast in check, and by taking them now and after the Nystatin is finished, you will help your system to stay in balance after the drug course is completed.

Good luck! Please let us know how you make out.

-BH

A number of misinformed authors have made Candida a bogeyman supposedly responsible for a wide variety of illnesses and vague symptoms. These claims are vastly overstated (systemic candidiasis is uncommon, and typically occurs in patients with severe immunosuppression, not otherwise healthy people on oral contraceptives or who take antibiotics for an infection).

buddingherbalist is correct that Nystatin as typically used is not absorbed systemically. Thus, it will not be effective against a systemic fungal infection.

Many references, including the Mayo Clinic article *you* cited, clearly state that "Why the tongue loses papillae isn't known. ", yet you're perfectly willing to say what it absolutely can't be. You know better than they?

The way science and medicine work (including evidence-based herbalism) is that claims need to be backed by convincing evidence. No such evidence exists for "systemic candidiasis" as a vague multi-system disorder in otherwise healthy people.

The fact that we don't know the cause of geographic tongue is no reason to blame Candida...or other pathogens...or certain foods...or environmental agents...or any of the myriad culprits that have been singled out in threads on GT in this forum.

I'll rephrase my answer for you: There's no evidence that Candida causes geographic tongue. It's not a good idea to take Nystatin or any other antifungal drug if you don't have a fungal infection. The "cure" could be worse than the problem you started with.

As for the rest of the thread, we can know if a factor causes a problem, and we can know if a factor does not cause a problem, or we can not know if a factor does or does not. Just because we do not know what factor causes GT to flair up does not mean we do not know that it is not Candida.

"Cures" for GT are hard to evaluate in part because of the disorder's relapsing and remitting nature. Other conditions whose symptoms come and go, and for which treatments are similarly hard to gauge include arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Things that are claimed to work for some of those afflicted just seem that way because they are used when the disorder is coincidentally entering a quiet phase.

For problems that do not have effective treatments yet (like GT) any alternative therapies should be a) cheap, and b) safe. Some lifstyle changes fit that description; nystatin doesn't.

It's probably best not to treat this if it isn't symptomatic.

It didn't, in fact everything just got worse! It made the symptoms at least twice as bad as before and the additional damage is irreversible.

Why do people insist on giving out advice which they are not qualified to give. Desperate people will take note and may have to live with terrible consequences.

I think this thread should be removed and I am considering legal action against the hosts of this website as they are solely responsible for publishing bad advice.

Paul.