Chinese Medicine Boosts Immunity in HIV Patients
By Carrie Elizabeth Sklar, Pacific College Media

June 27, 2004 is National HIV Testing Day. Though HIV has no known cure, acupuncture has been proven a safe and effective means of relief to many of the disease's symptoms.

According to the United States Agency for International Development, over 60 million people around the world had HIV/AIDS in 2003, and approximately 900,000 of those are residents of the United States. Though acupuncture cannot cure HIV, it has been cited by the World Health Organization to treat over 43 conditions, including such HIV symptoms as headache, fatigue, aching muscles, sore throat, swollen lymph glands, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

Traditional Chinese Medicine, which encompasses acupuncture and Chinese herbs, has been used to treat AIDS conditions since the beginning of the 1980's. Acupuncture raises levels of endorphins, white blood cell levels and anti-body levels, thereby increasing the body's level of immunity. Chinese herbs that have antiviral and immuno-enhancing qualities can improve the quality of life for many patients by reducing the potency of virus, rebuilding the immune system, treating opportunistic infections, and compensating for the side effects of Western medication. Short-term improvements such as increased energy level, improved sense of well-being, weight gain, and decreased stress levels are also added benefits experienced by many who use this adjunct therapy. When compared to current treatments offered by Western medicine, acupuncture and Chinese herbs are reported to be less costly, less toxic and have fewer negative side effects.