Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth Panel

Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth Panel

  • Lela Altman, ND, LAc

  • Mona Morstein, ND, DHANP, VNMI

  • Christina Carew, ND

  • Ami Kapadia, MD, ABFM, ABIHM

    NANCEAC CE pending, 2.5 CE (1.75 general + 0.75 pharm)

    Expires 09/30/2023

    Four brief presentations on intestinal fungal overgrowth followed by a Q&A panel.

Recognition and Diagnosis of IFO in Clinical Practice

with Lela Altman, ND, LAc

In this talk we will discuss terminology related to IFO, why IFO is problematic and common signs and symptoms associated with fungal overgrowth.

We will then discuss the overlap between SIBO and IFO and how the symptoms differ.

We will then move on to discuss screening and diagnosis as well as considerations for difficult to treat cases.

Dr. Altman received her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and her Master of Science in Acupuncture at Bastyr University. She went on to complete a 3-year residency at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Naturopathic Primary Care.

Dr. Altman is considered an expert in the field of digestive health. She has written articles, given continuing medical education lectures and performed interviews in several venues on these topics. She currently teaches several classes and supervises clinical education at Bastyr University and is on the Board of Trustees of Bastyr University.

Additionally, she provides patient care in her private practice and at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the Virginia Mason Medical Center in downtown Seattle. Dr. Altman also directs the Digestive Wellness Clinic at Bastyr University and helped to create a Fellowship in Naturopathic Gastroenterology with the Gastroenterology Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

A Review of Fungal OverGrowth in the Intestines

with Mona Morstein, ND, DHANP, VNMI

Intestinal fungal overgrowth is a common problem that many patients suffer from; it can occur in the small and large gut.

Symptoms oftentimes occur as gas/bloating, constipation, brain fog

(a classic indicative symptom), muscle soreness, fatigue, interstitial cystitis, headaches, and if

you check Google, pages of other ones. This lecture will comprehensively discuss fungal overgrowth etiology, diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Mona Morstein has been a naturopathic physician for thirty-three years. She was Chair of Nutrition, Gastroenterology professor and Clinical Supervisor at a naturopathic medical school for eleven years.

She has her own clinic, Arizona Integrative Medical Solutions, in Tempe, AZ. Dr. Morstein has always worked with patients with gastrointestinal concerns, and she has a busy gastrointestinal focused medical practice, seeing patients with SIBO, IBS-C/D/M, GERD, IBD, gallbladder conditions, etc.

She lectures regularly on GI (and other medical topics) at conferences.

Dr. Morstein also has an expertise with all hormonal conditions and auto-immune diseases. She is the author of “Master Your Diabetes: A Comprehensive, Integrative Approach For Both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.”

In 2012, Dr. Morstein received the AANP “The President’s Award”.

Her website is drmorstein.com.

Evidence-Based Review of Botanical and Pharmaceutical Antifungal Medications

with Christina Carew, ND

This evidence-based presentation focuses on providing information on the impact of fungal botanical and pharmaceutical approaches to understand what options we have in treating patients with intestinal fungal overgrowth. 

Dr. Christina Carew is a functional medical investigator who approaches health with an out-of-the-box problem solving attitude. Her patients love that she breaks what seems like complicated mumbo-jumbo into humorous stories, and digestible information nuggets. She witnesses that empowering patients to better understand their own health leads to better outcomes and healthier lives.

Christina became a naturopathic doctor after experiencing her own complex heath journey. Her passion is to make health “easy to understand” for everyone. She is a forever learner, especially around the role our environment has on health, how our gut really is the center of many health concerns and how our mental wellness affects our daily living.

She is an international speaker, a published author, and an outdoor enthusiast. Her husband refers to her as a mermaid for her love of water sports and the ocean.

SIFO/Candida/Yeast Related Disorders: A Focus on Associated Conditions, Treatment Strategies & Commonly Overlooked Risk Factor

with Ami Kapadia, MD, ABFM, ABIHM

In this presentation we will talk about when to consider SIFO/Yeast overgrowth in relation to particular medical conditions such as IBS, IBD, gluten sensitivity, allergy and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome.

We will then talk about an overall treatment “pyramid” that can be used, with particular focus on botanicals.

Finally, we will discuss a risk factor that is often overlooked and strategies to treat it.

Dr. Ami Kapadia, MD has practiced as a family medicine and functional medicine physician since 2005.

She completed her residency at Thomas Jefferson University hospital in Philadelphia and went on to work in varied settings including an inner-city urban clinic, VA hospitals around the country, and urgent care clinics in the Portland area.

She has pursued training with the following organizations:

  • The Institute for Functional Medicine

  • The American Academy of Environmental Medicine

  • Certification from the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine (ABIHM)

She has been practicing at Kwan Yin Healing Arts Center East in Portland Oregon since 2015. Her practice focuses on digestive health and autoimmune disease, and she pays particular attention to the role of chronic infections, allergic disease and environmental exposures in illness.