Homeopathic support for HIV and AIDS
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a disease caused by a virus called HIV. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV infection is a serious condition in the world today. World Health Organization (WHO) has considered AIDS a Pandemic (epidemic across a very large region) disease.
As the name suggests, the HIV virus leads to a deficiency of immunity in humans. This, in turn, leads to a range of diseases, primarily because the virus severely impairs immunity. AIDS leads to a decrease in the body's self-healing mechanism, and many opportunistic infections like Tuberculosis, Pneumonia, fungal infections, diarrhea, etc., affect the body.
The incidence of HIV:
From 1981 to 2006, over 25 million people died due to HIV infection. About 0.26 million children died of AIDS in 2009. An estimated 0.6% of the world population suffers from AIDS.
About the HIV virus:
The causative organism of AIDS is the HIV virus, which was discovered in 1982 by two scientists, Robert Gallo and Luc Montagnier, independently. This virus was found in some gay individuals who suffered from the then-unknown infection. HIV virus is believed to have come from chimpanzees. There are two types of HIV virus, simply called HIV type I and HIV type II. Type I is the most common.
HIV-1 is more dangerous and more infective and is the cause of the majority of HIV infections globally. HIV-2 is known to infect about 5% of all HIV infections and is more common in West African countries.
How does one get an HIV infection?
HIV infection is always transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculation fluid (pre-cum), or breast milk. The virus can be transmitted through these fluids. It may transfer via genital, anal, or anal routes through sexual contact. HIV is never transmitted through the air or by touch.
Infected syringes by doctors, nurses, drug addicts, tattooing, etc., form another major source of infection. HIV is largely a sexually transmitted disease. It must be noted that HIV does not spread by touch from healthy skin to healthy skin. The following are the modes of transmission of HIV
- Unsafe sex
- Contaminated needles (clinics, hospitals, drug addicts, tattooing) ¦ Breast milk
- Trans-placental - Transmission from an infected mother to her baby at birth
HIV infection
Once a person is infected with HIV, the virus is present both as a free virus and as a virus within infected body cells. In simple terms, HIV attacks white blood cells called CD4 cells. White blood cells are fighter cells. As a result, CD4 cells are destroyed, and their numbers decrease, which leads to the collapse of immune, or defense, mechanisms. As CD4 cell counts continue to decline, the patient becomes increasingly prone to infections such as colds, chest infections, tuberculosis, diarrhea, typhoid, viral fevers, and other conditions (diseases) like psoriasis, arthritis, weight loss, tumors, and even cancer.
Every person infected with the HIV virus is not labeled as a case of AIDS. The time taken for the appearance of AIDS symptoms varies from patient to patient, and it depends upon the patient’s immunity, number of viral episodes, and environmental factors.
Most patients may develop AIDS within 10 years of HIV infection. While some progress much sooner, others take much longer. Treatment of HIV-infected patients with antiretrovirals may increase life expectancy.
Following infection with HIV, a period of rapid viral multiplication ensues, leading to an abundance of virus in the blood. There can be millions of viruses per milliliter of blood during this primary infection. HIV then causes changes in RNA and DNA and integrates into the host's DNA. As a result, the immune system cannot detect the virus in the body, and the virus continues to destroy immune cells.
Symptoms of AIDS
HIV infection may remain silent and symptom-free for days or months.
- Early Symptoms
- Late symptoms
Early symptoms
It is observed that a few patients may show early symptoms once they get infected with HIV. The following early symptoms may be misdiagnosed as influenza.
- Low-grade fever
- Headache
- Nausea
- Tiredness
Late Symptoms
These symptoms may occur 4-7 years after infection with HIV. The following signs and symptoms may be warning signs of late-stage HIV infection:
- Rapid weight loss (more than 15 %)
- Relapsing fever
- All kinds of bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal infections
- Excessive fatigue
- Enlargement of lymph glands in the armpits, groin, etc
- Diarrhea for more than a week
- Recurring Pneumonia
- Loss of memory and other neurological disorders
- Increased risk of cancer, lymphoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and cervical cancer
Many patients may develop influenza-like symptoms called acute HIV infection (usually 2-4 weeks post-exposure). The common symptoms are
- Fever
- Swelling of Lymph nodes
- Skin rash
- Body-ache
- Weakness
- Recurrent nonhealing oral ulcers
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Swelling of liver/spleen
- Weight loss
These symptoms are often considered a common viral infection and not HIV infection. The patient is much more infectious during this period, and recognizing the syndrome can be important.
Opportunistic infections
As CD4 cells (fighter cells) decrease, the body's vitality declines, making it prone to various infections. Common opportunistic infections affecting HIV patients are those caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. For example, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, typhoid, dysentery, Cytomegalovirus, Viral hepatitis, Herpes, Human papillomavirus (HPV), Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), Candidiasis (fungus), Cryptococcal meningitis (fungus), Toxoplasmosis, Cryptosporidiosis (parasites).
Diagnosis
The presence of HIV in blood or other body fluids can be detected with
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
- Western blot test
- Immunofluorescence assay (IFA)
Prognosis
HIV continuously evolves and develops resistance to newer treatments. With no treatment, the expectancy of life after HIV infection is seen to be 9 to 11 years. Estimates of survival time are likely to continue to change. After an individual has developed AIDS, without treatment, life expectancy is estimated to be one year; however, there can be variations.
Most HIV-positive patients die from other opportunistic infections or cancerous conditions because of an immune-deficient state.
Vaccines for HIV:
There is no vaccine yet available to prevent HIV infection.
Preventive measures:
- Abstinence: Avoid indulging in a sexual relationship with strangers.
- Monogamous relations: Have only one (safe) sex partner
- Protected sex: Use condoms during a sexual relationship
- Sterile instruments: No use of used needles or any other instruments
Treatment
Conventional treatment with Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) is recommended for every case of AIDS when the CD4 count becomes less than 350. ART reduces deaths and also prevents fresh infections.ART does not offer a cure for AIDS or HIV infection; it helps to control the disease and protects against complications.
Homeopathic treatment for HIV/AIDS:
Homeopathy does not offer a cure for AIDS. Homeopathy is not suggested to treat HIV as a stand-alone therapy. However, several studies, including one from CCRH (Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Govt. of India), have shown some supportive role of homeopathic medicines for HIV patients, whereby patients achieve not only symptomatic relief but also reduced frequency of opportunistic infections, improvement in appetite, increase in weight, improved sense of well-being, etc. (Link to research paper: https://www.ijrh.org/journal/vol2/iss2/7/) At Life Force, we have conducted some studies with HIV/AIDS patients as part of our Clinical Research and Clinical Trial projects. The results are encouraging. In a scientific clinical trial at Life Force, we documented an increase in CD4 count in several patients after using homeopathic medicines. (Link: https://www.ijrh.org/journal/vol9/iss1/5/ ) More research is required. Homeopathy is recommended as a supporting line of therapy for all HIV patients.
Some of the commonly indicated homeopathic medicines for HIV and AIDS are HIV nosode, Sulfur, Tuberculinum, Syphilinum, Silica, Kali carbonicum, Phosphorus, Calcaria iodum, Arsenic album, Arsenic iodum, Bacillinum.
Written & Approved by-
Dr. Rajesh Shah
M.D. (Hom.)