Subscribe To This Site

HIV - AIDS

What are HIV and AIDS?

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system (the body's defense against infection). HIV uses healthy white blood cells to replicate itself, breaking down the immune system and leaving the body more susceptible to illness. Without treatment, most people infected with HIV become less able to fight off germs that we are exposed to every day. Someone who has HIV is said to be "HIV positive".

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a late stage of HIV infection. An HIV positive person is diagnosed with AIDS when their immune system is so weakened that it is no longer able to fight off illness. People with immune deficiency are much more vulnerable to infections such as pneumonia and various forms of cancer. These diseases are called opportunistic infections because they take advantage of the weakened immune system. Ultimately, people do not die from AIDS itself, they die from one or more of these opportunistic infections. It is believed that all people who become HIV+ will eventually have AIDS.

There is no known cure or vaccine for AIDS. While anti-viral medications and healthy behavior can improve the quality and length of life for some people living with AIDS, these treatments do not work for everyone and may cause harmful side effects.

It can take several years before HIV breaks down a person's immune system and causes AIDS, and people may show few symptoms for several years after they are infected. People who appear perfectly healthy may not know they have the virus and can pass it on to others. 1 out of 4 Americans with HIV do not know they have the virus. The only way to know if you have HIV is to GET TESTED.
Nutritional and Herbal Support

Etiology

In traditional Chinese Medicine, AIDS is often considered to be due to a deficiency or chronic weakness of the digestive, assimilative function, the lungs, and the kidneys/adrenals.

Treatment Overview

Because people who are HIV positive are generally nutritionally deficient, the category of foods and herbs called tonics are indicated. Long-term (9 months to years) use is recommended.

During acute infections, immune stimulants are indicated. In this short phase where "deficiency" heat is increasing in the body, avoid tonics, because they are warming and can aggravate the condition. As soon as the acute phase is waning, tonics can be added, continuing with stimulants for another week to 2 weeks.

Diet:

Building Diet

At least 90% unprocessed food

10% pleasure foods, if needed--best to slowly eliminate most if not all processed foods.

Protein requirements vary with the individual, but 35-55 gms is usually sufficient. Mother's milk is only 2% or less, which is the major source of protein at a time when our protein needs are greatest. Meat, fish, eggs, and dairy were recently downgraded to minor dietary additions from their "four food groups" status.

Grains and legumes contain all the protein needed for most people, if a variety of whole, fresh foods are consumed. If extra protein is desired, almonds and other nuts and seeds can be added. It is often desirable to soak them overnight, if one has difficulty digesting them.

Meat: meat is not needed for health, and some researchers have stated that humans have the teeth and digestive tract more of a vegetarian than a meat-eater. Meats are more likely to encourage toxin-producing bacteria in the gut, whereas lightly cooked and raw starch, natural fruits and sugars promote lactic-acid producing bacteria. If meat is desired, keep in mind that much of the commercial meat found in supermarkets, convenience marts, and fast-food outlets is "factory farmed." This meat may be heavily laden with pesticides, steroids and antibiotics. Often the animals are grown under very unhealthy conditions and have to be dosed heavily with life-support chemicals like antibiotics. If one has an immune deficiency condition, is this the kind of food that will lead to wellness? One wants only the freshest, purest and highest quality food.

If one must have meat, choose fresh fish and organically-grown meats only, and preferably no more than 3 times a week.

For winter or cold months

50% grains and legumes

some raw in the form of muesli or soaked grains in the morning...this encourages beneficial microflora. Keep bread to a minimum; whole grains are more energetic and nutritious. The best and most easily assimilated grains are millet, buckwheat, rice, amaranth, quinoa, corn (polenta, grits). For wheat or rye, coarse bread is much preferred to very light refined bread.

ca. 35% steamed vegetables, soups etc.

Add deep immune nutritive herbs (astragalus, reishi, shiitake, ligustrum) to soups. At least one good serving of lightly steamed greens such as kale, chard, collards, mustard greens. Incorporate some wild greens if available: dandelion greens, dock, mallow, nettles lightly steamed. Wild foods are very rich in nutrients, unlike modern genetic strains that may be bred for looks and sweetness.

ca. 15% raw fruits and vegetables

One or two servings a day. Best fall and winter fruits are grapes, pears, and apples.

Spring and Summer

Ca. 50-60% raw fruits and vegetables is desirable for many people.

One or two weeks of bowel cleansing is often desirable. Rest the digestive tract after a winter of heavier warming foods by eating more raw fruits and vegetables in season.

Eat a variety of fresh produce. Succulent, mouth-watering local cherries, apricots, peaches, plums, and grapefruit all have fruit acids that help cleanse the body naturally.

A short fast of no more than 3 days on freshly-squeezed juices along with liver flushes may be appropriate for some, but not if substantial deficiency and a feeling of coldness persists through the spring (see my book Digestion: The Foundation of Health).

30-40% cooked and raw grains, cooked and sprouted legumes in salads, soups, stews, etc.

10-15% nuts, seeds and other concentrated foods (meats, if desired).

While the above diet was formulated after over 20 years experience and research, I realize that people vary in their constitutions and needs. The amount of physical work one does and the climate in which one lives are important factors. People with sedentary, mental occupations must eat more lightly than one who is doing heavy physical work.

We must constantly reevaluate our diet to fit changing conditions.

One of the most important observations I have made about diet is that we should not worry excessively about what we are eating. If we crave refined foods often, we should indulge ourselves with moderation, while focusing on healthier, more wholesome food. Slowly and slowly we can move in the direction we focus our will--towards live food and health.

Dietary Supplementation

Isolated nutrients, the deficiency of which have been shown in scientific tests to suppress immune function.

Vitamin A (take as beta-carotene) (5,000 IU)

Vitamin C (4-10 grams), depending on constitution

Vitamin E (400 IU)

Zinc

Selenium

Generally speaking, it is best to take a vitamin and mineral supplement that contains a wide variety of major nutrients and trace minerals in a natural food base. It has been demonstrated that an excess of one isolated nutrient may interfere with the uptake or utilization of another.

Herbal Supplements

Anti-viral herbs:

St. John's Wort: 1 dropperfull of the liquid extract 2x daily every other day

Garlic: 2-4 capsuls daily--long term use

Lomatium: "lomatium isolate," follow directions on the bottle

Osha: liquid extract, 2 droppers twice daily as a stimulant

Isatis: short-term use as a strong antiviral (Chinese herb)

Licorice extract: small amounts dayl (2-4 grams)

Shiitake extract: LEM 4-8 grams daily, mushroom extract, add to diet

Momordica (bitter melon): grow your own, use as enema

Surface Immune support for short-term infections:Echinacea: up to 2 dropperfuls 4x daily

Baptisia: with echinacea, 1 dropperful 2x daily