I'll let others field the questions about candida here Kriminal, since I don't know a lot about it. Sounds like such a frustrating battle.

You all are wonderful, thanks for the ideas. I think I can respond to some of them with a reasonable degree of confidence.

I don't think I've ever had candida overgrowth because I've looked at the symptom profile and it's never really matched me. I also have had a few good months of strict paleo at a time and have never experienced die-off. My digestion has been in excellent shape on Paleo.

I'm not technically even craving sugar -- not gasping for it. It's just that I know I feel better "on" it. It isn't that I want something sweet, even. I want that relief and energy that it gives me. And yes, the endorphins that it raises are pleasurable too.

I don't think I'm hypoglycemic, again because I've done so well on paleo. My blood sugar actually has improved since I got my fillings out. It used to be that if I went more than about four hours without food, I'd get shaky and low. Now I can go seven hours or more, though I rarely do; I have three square meals that keep me full. I did look into dietary supplements for hypoglycemia for a time, considered a cinnamon extract, but eventually decided on taking a couple of things I can't honestly remember right now. Took them for several months and noticed no difference, so cut them out.

I think it's clear that the sugar is causing me to have more energy. No battles with sluggishness today, and it's certainly had a knock-on effect on my mood. The problem now is that if I cut sugar out again, which I am keen to do, it's back to zombie-state.

The Chinese medicine might help with the symptoms but my gut instinct is that it isn't going to do much for the root causes of the problem. I'm thinking I'll have my appointment Friday, have a week of the herbal tea, and leave it at that unless there are some noticeable effects. I'm going to order a glandular in a moment and see if that helps.