| lor: #ffffff;" /> | | | | recently the Advertising Standards Authority of |
| It’s well documented that there are no | | | | South Africa demanded the withdrawal of an advert |
| medically verified cures for HIV and AIDS. While | | | | that boasted that the drug boosted immunity and |
| researchers continue to make progress towards | | | | reduced viral load. |
| getting a cure, there are always going to be a | | | | Colloidal Silver |
| number of discredited treatments and conmen trying | | | | Colloidal Silver is a suspension of tiny silver particles in |
| to make some money off the backs of | | | | water. It can kill germs in laboratory conditions, but |
| people’s desperation. Here are 9 of the more | | | | that doesn’t mean that it benefits people |
| unusual ones, as well as one that is yet to be | | | | with HIV as has been suggested. On top of the fact |
| externally verified that’s been rumbling on for | | | | that there is no evidence that it works as a cure, |
| 8 years… | | | | taking Colloidal Silver can be incredibly dangerous. It is |
| The Remarkable Recovery of Andrew Stimpson | | | | illegal in America, can cause irreversible bluish-grey skin |
| Anecdotally, there have been a lot of cases of | | | | discoloration (argyria) and in large doses can cause |
| people spontaneously recovering for no reason | | | | kidney damage, stomach issues, headaches, fatigue, |
| whatsoever, but in November 2005, two British | | | | skin irritation and neurological problems. |
| newspapers broke the story of Andrew Stimpson. In | | | | Virodene |
| May 2002, Stimpson underwent HIV testing and was | | | | In the late 1990s, Virodene was seen as a potential |
| diagnosed as positive. In August that year, he | | | | cure for AIDS, and was strongly supported by |
| underwent two further tests – both of which | | | | members of the South African government. Lab |
| confirmed the original diagnosis. The viral load test | | | | studies have shown that the chemical (based on the |
| showed the virus to be of low quantities, so he was | | | | industrial solvent dimethylformamide) does not |
| not prescribed antiretroviral medication, but took | | | | destroy HIV or inhibit its replication, and the only |
| vitamin supplements on his own volition. | | | | study on humans showed it did not reduce viral load |
| 14 months later, feeling surprisingly healthy he was | | | | and only marginally affected the immune system. |
| tested again and found to have no HIV antibodies in | | | | Dimethylformamide in its original form is a toxic |
| the blood stream – two follow up tests | | | | substance and workers are advised to avoid contact |
| confirmed this. After attempting to sue the hospitals | | | | with the skin as it can cause serious liver damage! |
| which had wrongly diagnosed him, it was confirmed | | | | Ozone |
| that there was no mix-up, and his original blood | | | | Ozone is a form of oxygen gas that is unstable |
| sample was retested – only to find another | | | | – it’s been touted as a cure for many |
| positive. | | | | diseases as well as for those who have had HIV |
| He went for follow up testing in 2006 to see if he | | | | tests return positive. Whatever form it is taken |
| held the answer of a cure in him, but no news has | | | | through – injected, applied to extracts of |
| appeared since. Although 3 false positives is highly | | | | blood, or swallowed – the gas has shown no |
| unlikely, many scientists still find it a more plausible | | | | significant effects on HIV infection. It’s illegal |
| explanation than a cure – and the vitamins | | | | in America for retailers to make any health claims |
| explanation is generally considered nonsense (many | | | | about ozone generators. |
| people worldwide take vitamins and mineral | | | | Dr. Hulda Clark’s HIV Zapper |
| supplements, and there is no evidence to suggest | | | | Dr. Hulda Clark – who does not actually hold a |
| they help cure an HIV infection.) | | | | medical license – promotes an |
| President Jammeh’s AIDS Cure | | | | ‘electrical zapper’ which she claims |
| In January 2007, President Jammeh of Gambia made | | | | can destroy parasites, bacteria and viruses in the |
| the claim that he could cure both Asthma and HIV | | | | body by generating low voltage electricity. No proper |
| AIDS with a day’s treatment. He promised | | | | studies of the zapper have been conducted, but |
| that in between 3 and 30 days an HIV test would | | | | given Dr Clark has been in trouble for practicing |
| show negative results. The treatment involves herbs | | | | medicine without a licence in both the US and Mexico, |
| mixed into a green paste and a pale yellow tea, along | | | | and believes that HIV comes from intestinal worms |
| with the power of prayer. | | | | and can be present in snails, would you really want to |
| Although the Gambian president still continues the | | | | take a chance on her remedy? |
| treatment, results have been met with skepticism | | | | Dr. Gary R. Davis’ Goat Serum |
| – at least two patients have died, and many | | | | When a goat appeared to Dr. Gary R. Davis in a |
| others show no improvement. Those that do show | | | | dream, he believed that a goat serum was the cure |
| an undetectable viral load test may well have been | | | | to HIV. He was unable to conduct tests in America |
| taking antiretroviral medication before the treatment, | | | | or Ghana due to legal restrictions, but one woman |
| which often leaves the virus undetectable. The | | | | stole a sample of the serum from his office and used |
| International AIDS association has labeled | | | | it on her daughter. Despite many reports to the |
| Gambia’s reliance on an untested program | | | | opposite, the daughter confirmed in an interview in |
| “unethical” and described the decision | | | | 2006 that the treatment had not been successful |
| to take patients off antiretroviral medications | | | | and that subsequent HIV testing had provided |
| “shocking and irresponsible” | | | | positive results. |
| Dr Sebi | | | | Jeremiah Abalaka |
| Dr. Sebi was arrested in 1987 and again in 1997 for | | | | Along with all these discredited cures, there is one |
| publishing false health claims and practicing medicine | | | | that has been rumbling on without a scientific |
| without a license, but that hasn’t stopped | | | | approval for some 8 years now. In May 2000, the |
| many being taken in by his “electric | | | | BBC reported on Jerimiah Abalaka, a Nigerian doctor |
| foods” which claim to cure AIDS, cancer and | | | | who claimed to have found a cure and a vaccine |
| others. The miracle cure, which comes with no | | | | against the dreaded HIV virus. After curing 29 people, |
| verifiable evidence, is a mixture of plant extracts | | | | Abalaka promised a paper on it soon – and |
| which claims to remove the mucous – which | | | | even claimed to have injected himself with HIV |
| Sebi believes is the cause of AIDS when | | | | positive blood on six occasions to prove the success |
| compromised. | | | | of his vaccine. |
| Ubhejane | | | | When the scientific paper was published, it emerged |
| Ubhejane is a brown liquid made from 89 herbs which | | | | that the vaccine was developed from the blood of |
| is available in South Africa, created by Zeblon Gwala. | | | | HIV patients and Abalaka claimed that it also |
| Rigorous human trials have shown no evidence of | | | | eliminated antibodies for Hepatitis B and C, and |
| this improving the condition of those with positive | | | | improved malaria symptoms in a number of patients. |
| HIV test results, but that hasn’t stopped the | | | | New Scientist described the idea of a vaccine as |
| Gwala’s employees describing it as a cure for | | | | ‘plausible’ in 2004, but to date it has |
| AIDS. The opposition party in South Africa has | | | | not been verified outside of the paper itself. |
| attempted to prosecute Gwala for fraud, and | | | | |