Pharmaceutical-Grade
Chitin Synthesis Inhibitor

AO Candida Caps

120 Capsules x 700 mg.

or years the compound, lufenuron, has been the subject of research into its anti-fungal properties. In 2000, for example, a nearly 300-case study was published in the American Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, showing that "lufenuron provides an effective, convenient, and rapid method for treating fungal infections in dogs and cats." (Other studies have come to similar conclusions, and some of these are posted in the column to the right.)

Lufenuron is a chitin synthesis inhibitor that is eliminated through the feces. Chitin is the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature after cellulose.
Humans and other mammals do not produce or use chitin, whereas most fungus, yeast, and mold are dependent on chitin production.
Lufenuron has no caloric value. When stored in a cool, dry place, it has a minimum shelf-life of five years.

Lufenuron is a veterinary compound that inhibits the formation of chitin. It is not metabolised or eliminated by the liver or kidneys; it is excreted through the feces.
There are different grades of Lufenuron; a purity of 99+% was used in AO Candida Capsules.
There are quite a number of people in the alternative cancer field who believe that cancer is a fungus. Interestingly, the leading proponent of this line of thinking is oncologist, Dr. Tullio Simoncini. In fact, his landmark book on the subject is entitled, Cancer is a Fungus: A Revolution in Tumor Therapy. He has even recommended patients taking large doses of sodium bicarbonate to attack the fungus. Having worked in the field over 30 years ourselves, we feel that this is an oversimplification, and we do not believe that the claim is supported. Worse still, Simoncini took up the practice of using an injectable form of sodium bicarbonate -- one that resulted in the death of two patients. This brought him enormous legal trouble.

Simoncini's position reminds us of that of the late naturopath, Dr. Hulga Regehr Clark, who took the position in books with titles like, The Cure for All Cancers and The Cure for All Advanced Cancers that all cancers were caused by parasites. In this case, the liver fluke -- which to us is extracting a frequent contributor and turning it into a universal etiology. We do not, however, wish our comments to be interpreted as besmirching either the work of Simoncini or Clark. Both of them have offered valuable clinical insights. Neither of these practitioners, in our estimation, however, provided a complete picture that could be extrapolated as relating to all cancer.

Why We Decided to Make
This Product Available

Most people know that we are herbalists and naturopaths. The vast majority of our work is with plants, and even personally, we avoid pharmaceutical drugs wherever possible, because it is our experience that nature usually provides the best solution -- without the smorgasbord of side effects.
One condition we encounter frequently in our work is fungal and yeast overgrowth. Candidiasis, by itself, is a big problem. For many, Lugol's Iodine is a traditional choice. It is naturally occurring, of course, and many people are deficient in iodine anyway. (The same can be said for oregano oil and cinnamon oil, both traditionally used essential oils.)
For this reason, we were interested in a compound that has been widely discussed among candida sufferers, despite the fact that it is most decidedly not natural. We've known about lufenuron and it effects since at least 2014, when we had the opportunity to speak with Sarah Vaughter, another vendor of the product. Later, we had the chance to talk extensively with another vendor who has since retired from the business. Our concerns centered around safety and efficacy, as they do in examining any new product.
After weeks of study, we came to the conclusion that the naysayers of "the lufenuron approach" are largely vendors with their own candida program and/or book, who are simply attempting to kick a competitor to the curb. Most of their arguments are disingenuous.
We do not recommend that you take this product on the mere suspicion that you might have fungus. It's better if you can get properly tested.

Patents, Studies, Rebuttals,
Comments Concerning Lufenuron

U.S. Patent Number 6,110,971: Original Novartis patent for Lufenuron, entitled, "Fungicide Composition Comprising A Benzoylphenylurea" -- The purpose and range of function of Lufenuron is revealed in the patent itself: "The invention allows a therapeutic treatment of a variety of fungal infections. These may include systemic infections as well as topical fungal infections. In particular, and by a preferred embodiment, the present invention allows treatment of skin fungal infections in both humans and animals, nail or genital fungal infections in humans, eye fungal infections or ear fungal infections in both humans and animals, and others. Particular examples of fungal infections which may be treated in accordance with the invention are caused by dermatophytes such as those of the genus Microsporum (e.g. Microsporum Canis) which cause various skin fungal infections of the skin, nails or hair; those of the genus Aspergillas, and yeasts, e.g. Malassezia or Candida."
Use of lufenuron for treating fungal infections of dogs and cats: 297 cases (1997-1999) -- Conclusions and clinical relevance: Results of this study suggest that lufenuron provides an effective, convenient, and rapid method for treating fungal infections in dogs and cats.
Control of cutaneous mycosis in five chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) with lufenuron -- Five chimpanzees at the Limbe Wildlife Centre in Cameroon, of both sexes and between six and eight years of age, were treated with lufenuron at a dose rate of 60 mg/kg bodyweight to control various types of mycotic skin infections. The 409.8 mg tablets were administered by mixing them with milk and avocado. Each animal received two or three treatments three weeks apart. Most of them improved significantly during the two to three weeks after the first treatment, and they had completely recovered two to four months later. All the chimpanzees accepted the medication readily, and no adverse drug reactions were observed either immediately after the treatment or during the subsequent eight to 10 months.
In vitro efficacy of lufenuron against filamentous fungi and blood concentrations after PO administration in horses -- The value of this study concerns toxicity. True efficacy has to be measured "in vivo," in other words, how does the compound perform in the organism being studied. This study doesn't measure that. What's important here is that "Lufenuron was detected in the blood of all but one (out of 21) horse and showed no adverse effects."
Lufenuron: A Potential Chitin Synthesis Inhibitor Against Aedes aegypti L. -- This is a study of the effects of lufenuron against Aedes aegypti, a mosquito and dengue vector. It's importance is that it advances the understanding of how Lufenuron, an IGR, Insect Growth Regulator, works against invertebrate chitin.
Dr. Myhill (UK): Lufenuron -- a potentially useful treatment to treat candida -- One practitioner's perspective.
Marty Ross, M.D.: Lufenuron: An Experimental Yeast Treatment -- One physician's comments, noting that there are no human safety studies.
Lufenuron -- Candida Treatment -- Danielle M. Bryant is an author and therapist, who has struggled with severe candidiasis. On this page she gives a "blow-by-blow" of her experiences with lufenuron. She doesn't think lufenuron is a panacea (neither do we).
Lufenuron Candida Treatment Patient Guide -- This is the 14-page PDF treatment guide produced by Sarah Vaughter, a pioneer in lufenuron/candida treatment. It has quite a number of valuable insights, however, it also has comments that run counter to our own experiences. (For example, Sarah pooh-poohs the use of natural vermifuges, which is just nonsense. We live near the Amazon, and nasty parasites are so prevalent that nature vermifuges are integral to the health of entire tribes. They are central to their ethnobotany.) Her comments marginalizing the importance of diet is also, in our opinion, not helpful, if not misleading.
Rebuttal to Comments from Dr. McCombs' Candida Plan Site -- This is a doctor who has his own Candida treatment plan. I've done a cursory examination of it, have no critical comments to say about it. He has a three bottle program that uses undecenoic acid as an anti-fungal agent, his own probiotic, and something he calls "Detox Essentials." He also coaches with dietary and other lifestyle advise.
I don't know anyone who's used these products, so I can't say anything -- good or bad.
The reason I mention this link here is because this Dr. McCombs does a hatchet job on lufenuron that not only doesn't comport with my associate's experience with lufenuron, having worked with many hundreds of people, but flies in the face of the more credible material I've read in the extent literature. I'll go one step farther: if lufenuron was capable of doing half the things Dr. McCombs says it does, I wouldn't even bother with it. This is, however, not the case. The studies he does site appear extremely bias and remind me of the article I wrote last January (2020) about corruption in the medical journal business. (See: Official Medical "Science" in Retreat.