Faex medicinalis

Faex medicinalis, also known as medicinal yeast, is a pleasant-smelling powder prepared from the fresh or dried cells of Saccharamyces cerevisiae (Meyen) and/or Candida utilis (Henneberg) with a high content of protein and vitamins of the B group. The "medicinal yeast" is mainly used in naturopathy in the treatment of acne, furunculosis or diarrhoea. It is also used as a food supplement in vegan nutrition.

Faex medicinalis contains vitamins, especially the B group, about 50% proteins, 36% carbohydrates (glucans, mannans) 2 to 3% lipids and phytosterols.

Essentially, medicinal yeast acts via vitamin B effects. In a broader sense it has a phagocytosis stimulating effect. Medical Yeast" inhibits the development of undesirable microorganisms in the gastrointestinal and vaginal tract.

Medical yeast is used in the treatment of vitamin B deficiency symptoms, for example during pregnancy, loss of appetite, diarrhoea (only species HANSEN CBS 5926) and adjuvant in chronic forms of acne and furunculosis.

The average daily dose of the drug is 6 g. In the case of an existing vitamin B deficiency 10 to 20 g daily.

Sensitive patients may experience migraine-like headaches in individual cases. In addition, fermentable yeast can cause flatulence.

There are no known contraindications.

If monooxidase inhibitors are taken at the same time, an increase in blood pressure is possible.

Medical yeast contains a high amount of vitamin B as well as carbohydrate-splitting enzymes and can also help against digestive insufficiency.

1. Hermann PT et al (2014) Faex. In Hunnius, pharmaceutical dictionary. De Gruyter publishing house. S. 646
2. Schilcher H (Ed.) in, Guide to Phytotherapy, Urban & Fischer Verlag (2016) Munich, p. 214.