AIDS, and the HIV virus, causes many symptoms,
for some of which there are natural treatments. In this informative
article, we discuss natural, herbal, chinese medicine remedies
and treatments for AIDS.
Q: "Brian, can Chinese
Medicine do anything for AIDS?"
A: Yes, it can. But first,
let's put it in context.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
is the last stage of HIV infection. HIV affects between 800,000
and 1.2 million Americans. It is now estimated that less than
half of HIV infectees are homosexual. There is a rising incidence
of female and neonatal HIV infection.
New 2002 statistics show that:
AIDS killed 3 million people this year
42 million people have AIDS or HIV- 5 million of them infected
this year alone
Even though this year new AIDS cases in Uzbekistan outnumbered
all previous years combined, one-third of young women there
have never heard of the disease
80% of new infections between 1997 and 2000 occured in people
under 29 years of age
The prognosis and expected life-span for AIDS
patients has improved a great deal, partly due to improved
drug therapies. However, these drug therapies (like chemotherapy
and radiation for cancer) typically take a serious toll on
the body. Common side-effects are fatigue, wasting and emaciation,
diarrhea, numbness, burning and pins-and-needles sensations,
muscle weakness, osteoporosis, and bone death.
Chinese medicine has various ways of viewing
AIDS that fits with HIV's characteristic entering of the deep
levels of the body, latency period, and heat signs.
Chinese herbal medicine treats AIDS via 4 main
methods, some of all of which may be combined in one herbal
formula:
Tonification (supporting the body's strength and immune system),
also called Fu Zheng ("support the righteous")
Attacking with anti-viral/anti-bacterial herbs (a similar
approach to the chemotherapy mentioned above)
Circulating (for autoimmune processes and to prevent stagnation),
and
Anti-fungal/Anti-parasitic treatment.
There are good research studies on both single Chinese herbs
and Chinese herbal formulas.
Compared to drug cocktails, herbal cocktails
are less proven and must be taken in very high dosages, but
they do not suppress the bone marrow. Often, the only side-effect
of the herbal cocktails is digestive disturbance. These herbal
cocktails might be a safe intervention for those without sufficiently
low CD4 counts to indicate drug cocktail treatment.
If the patient is already taking western
drugs, Chinese medicine can provide supportive therapy.
These drugs often cause immune system and bone marrow suppression.
In research studies, Chinese herbal formulas improved such
patients' white blood cell counts and boosted their immune
systems (http://www.itmonline.org/arts/sfxhivdr.htm).
Another solution for AIDS patients is
specific nutritional therapy and dietary modification in accordance
with the common problems of nutrient, protein, and calorie
deficiency, fat malabsorption, and the digestive and appetite
problems caused by drug cocktails.
References
Knox, Kathleen. World: Small Signs Of Hope Amid Grim AIDS
Statistics. Radio Free Europe. November, 2002.
All information herein provided is for educational use only and not meant to substitute
for the advice of appropriate local experts and authorities. Copyright 1999-2001, Pulse Media International
