:Wikipedia talk:Requests for adminship/Musical Linguist

This is in reply to Fawcett5's objection that my articles, "especially those related to Candida albicans frequently promulgate theories which have no credible scientific basis"

I have never edited Candida, Yeast, Candida (genus), or Candida albicans. However, Fawcett5 is quite correct in saying that I have dealt with the subject.

I have edited Candidiasis [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Candidiasis&diff=20402431&oldid=19948945] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Candidiasis&diff=19938467&oldid=19911529]. In one of those two edits, I inserted an external link, to Nutritionhelp. I admit that I have ties to Nutritionhelp, in that six members of my family have been treated there, with enormous success, in two cases after being told by their doctors that there was no cure for their condition – and two more have recently enrolled. However, I have no personal or financial connection, and that link has remained there, unopposed since 30 July. I think it's sufficiently relevant, but of course others may disagree.

Articles I have edited which mention or deal with Candida albicans include Probiotic (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Probiotic&diff=27982994&oldid=27720532], [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Probiotic&diff=27984587&oldid=20216114], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Probiotic&diff=28199125&oldid=28196499]), Leaky gut syndrome (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leaky_gut_syndrome&diff=28223921&oldid=28090428]), Thrush (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thrush&diff=28043760&oldid=25408227]), and Chronic fatigue syndrome (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chronic_fatigue_syndrome&diff=23366166&oldid=23069086], [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chronic_fatigue_syndrome&diff=next&oldid=23366166], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chronic_fatigue_syndrome&diff=next&oldid=23366358]).

For the articles I wrote, I won't give a diff, as in some cases I kept going back to tidy them. I'll give the last version, as edited by me, just in case anyone edits in the meantime. One is [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caprylic_acid&oldid=27957149 Caprylic acid]. Another is [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grapefruit_seed_extract&oldid=28074779 Grapefruit seed extract]. Another is [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Erica_White&oldid=28046701 Erica White]. I tried never to claim that caprylic acid cures candidiasis, although it is my strong personal belief that it does. I am aware that some doctors scorn nutritionist remedies.

Looking over these edits, I certainly can't claim perfection. That's why it's so good that Wikipedia is a collaboration. I tried scrupulously not to assert as fact anything which is disputed. I see that I have a few weasel words ("some nutritionists recommend" etc.) – it can get clumsy saying "White claims", and "Holford states" all the time, and sometimes it's hard to judge where to draw the line. In other cases, I have identified those who make the claims. Actually, it's not just White and Holford: the nutrition and health section in any large bookstore in Ireland would have dozens of titles by nutritionists stating the same thing. It's interesting that, as far as I can tell, nobody has reverted any of the edits I made about candida.

As far as I know, Candidiasis as a treatable illness was "discovered" by Dr William G. Crook, M.D. [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0394747003/qid=1131985108/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-5087471-1686218?v=glance&s=books], so I wouldn't say it's a theory with no credible scientific basis. I know that some doctors don't believe it exists, and if I had any sources, I'd be quite happy to include them. However, my own reading on the topic has included only the writers who do support the theories of William Crook, Patrick Holford and Erica White. If someone else wants to insert something about studies which show that caprylic acid is ineffective in combatting candida (if there are such studies), then that can only make the article better.

If there are any problems with the way I have presented natural remedies, I would very much welcome corrections to my edits, or proposed changes on the talk pages. They're all on my watchlist!

I believe I've given a full account of my candida-related edits. If there's any bad edit of mine that I failed to mention, it isn't deliberate!

I don't want to jump in with a defence every time someone opposes me – I don't think that looks good. But if anyone would like me to clarify anything, please put questions on this talk page, and I'll respond. Thanks. Musical Linguist ^(talk) 17:00, 14 November 2005 (UTC)