| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | Antiretroviral medicines are the mainstay in the |
| At present, there is no scientifically proved cure for | | | | modern treatment of HIV/AIDS. However, a plethora |
| HIV /AIDS. Globally, the number of infected HIV | | | | of side-effects, development of resistance to drugs |
| AIDS patients is increasing at an alarming rate; with a | | | | and escalating treatment costs are serious concerns. |
| current estimate of 33.2 million people who are living | | | | In the absence of a definite cure for HIV/AIDS, |
| with HIV 1. Hence, there is a dire need to search for | | | | Ayurvedic medicines may provide a useful alternative |
| a safe, effective and economical treatment for HIV | | | | for long-term management of patients, since these |
| AIDS. | | | | medicines are economical and devoid of serious |
| In a retrospective study in 55 patients, Ayurvedic | | | | side-effects. However, scientific research is |
| treatment has proved to be very promising in the | | | | necessary to determine efficacy of these medicines. |
| management of HIV/AIDS. Fifty-Five adult patients | | | | This retrospective study is one such effort to assess |
| were given Ayurvedic treatment for HIV/AIDS, | | | | long-term therapeutic effects of an Ayurvedic Herbal |
| during the period from April 1999 to November | | | | Combination in the management of HIV /AIDS. |
| 2004.Each patient had tested positive for HIV/AIDS | | | | In this study, 4 patients died within the first 2 |
| on at least 2 different occasions. No patient was | | | | months of commencing treatment. Onset of |
| taking anti-retroviral drugs at the time of commencing | | | | therapeutic effect is slow with Ayurvedic medicines, |
| Ayurvedic treatment. All patients were started on | | | | and these patients probably could not benefit from |
| treatment after written, informed consent. | | | | Ayurvedic treatment. This emphasizes the need to |
| The Ayurvedic Herbal Combination ( AHC ) comprises | | | | start treatment as early as possible in |
| of eleven different herbs in different dosage | | | | immuno-compromised patients. The causes of death |
| strengths, based upon their respective potencies, | | | | indicate that Tuberculosis and CNS involvement are |
| reported anti-viral and immunomodulatory properties, | | | | major killers in HIV patients. Multi-drug resistance to |
| and their traditional usage according to Ayurvedic | | | | Tuberculosis is also a major concern. |
| principles of medicine 2 -4 .The constituents of AHC | | | | 16 patients ( 29% ) did not come back after just |
| with their respective dosages are as | | | | one ( 11% ) or two ( 18% ) visits. The reasons cited |
| follows:-Terminalia arjuna: 250 mg. ;Zinziber officinale: | | | | were, a complete inability to pay for treatment, or a |
| 250 mg. ;Phyllanthus niruri :1 gm ;Glycyrrhiza | | | | search for a better’ or a guarenteed |
| glabra:1gm. ;Withania somnifera:1gm. ;Eclipta alba: | | | | cure’. Fortunately, perceptions have changed |
| 250mg. ;Centella asiatica: 250mg. ;Boerhavia diffusa: | | | | in the last few years. Even illiterate patients from the |
| 250mg. ;Emblica officinalis: 250mg. ;Tinospora cordifolia: | | | | lower socio-economic strata are no longer asking for |
| 250mg. ;Rubia cordifolia: 250mg. This AHC was | | | | a guarantee’ or a cure’. |
| dispensed in a combined dose of 5 gms. t.i.d., to be | | | | Long-term management with minimum |
| taken with water after meals. Aqueous herbal | | | | expenses’ is a mantra being readily accepted |
| extracts of all the medicines were used, in tablet | | | | by the HIV positive patient of today. |
| form. | | | | All the patients who took medicines regularly, had a |
| All patients were advised to eat a well-balanced, | | | | high-protein diet and kept themselves busy, improved |
| nutritious diet. Therapeutic counseling sessions were | | | | very well and put on weight. Even 2 to 3 years after |
| conducted regularly to help the patients achieve mind | | | | stopping Ayurvedic treatment, most of the patients |
| relaxation, to modify their risk behavior , and to | | | | are doing very well, some inspite of very low CD4 |
| increase adherence and compliance to therapy. | | | | counts. This is probably one of the biggest long-term |
| All patients were followed up at monthly intervals. | | | | advantages of taking Ayurvedic medicines for HIV |
| Detailed clinical examination was done at each visit | | | | AIDS. However, patients with socio-economic |
| and significant findings were recorded. In addition, in | | | | difficulties and a lot of psychological pressure who |
| affording and willing patients, investigations like CBC, | | | | could not have access to regular treatment, started |
| Hb, Liver and Renal functions, X-Ray of chest, | | | | losing weight after initially improving with treatment. A |
| Western Blot, CD4 count and Viral Load were done | | | | comprehensive management of each patient thus |
| wherever possible. Other investigations were done, if | | | | needs to address several issues relevant to each |
| required, for Opportunistic Infections (O.I.).All O.I. | | | | individual patient. |
| were promptly and aggressively treated with modern | | | | This study also brought forth some interesting |
| medicines. A close watch was kept for adverse | | | | results. One patient who subsequently died, had |
| reactions of the drugs. | | | | severe demyelinating disease of the brain (as |
| Therapeutic outcome was assessed by overall clinical | | | | diagnosed in a major hospital), and had lost most of |
| examination, change in Karnofsky score (assessment | | | | his motor control and sensory senses, since several |
| for overall well-being of patients), change in weight, | | | | months. After being given Ayurvedic treatment for |
| occurrence and response to O.I., and change in CD4 | | | | about 1 ½ months he became alert, and could |
| and Viral Load values. Maximum number of patients | | | | speak clearly, albeit temporarily, for 1 week. Another |
| was in the age ranging from 20 - 39 years (80 %). | | | | patient with Nephrotic syndrome resulting in |
| Of the total number of 55 patients, 39 were male (71 | | | | long-standing generalized oedema (2 years ) had |
| % ) and 16 were female (29 %), with the male: | | | | complete regression of the oedema after 2 months |
| female ratio being 2.4: 1. There were 7 couples who | | | | of Ayurvedic treatment without any other treatment. |
| took treatment together. | | | | One HIV positive patient with suspected malignancy |
| Of the 55 patients, 5 patients died, 42 patients took | | | | of lung in the right upper lobe was steadily losing |
| treatment for varying periods and then stopped | | | | weight. After starting Ayurvedic treatment, he |
| treatment, while 8 patients continued treatment till | | | | started putting on weight. Another patient with |
| the end of the study period. The 5 patients who died | | | | history suggestive of HIV Encephalopathy was |
| were critically ill at the time of presentation, and died | | | | semi-conscious at presentation. He was passively fed |
| mostly within the first two months of starting | | | | on liquid diet and a combination of both modern drugs |
| Ayurvedic treatment. The cause of death varied ; 1 | | | | and Ayurvedic treatment. This patient be!came |
| patient died from cirrhosis of the liver, 3 died of | | | | ambulatory within 2 weeks, and after 2 months of |
| extensive Pulmonary Tuberculosis (multi-drug | | | | treatment he was faring well, even with a CD4 count |
| resistant) and 1 died of a combination of Pulmonary | | | | of just 6.The above 4 instances indicate that the |
| Tuberculosis and demyelination disease of the brain. | | | | Ayurvedic medicines may have multi-faceted |
| In the 50 patients who were alive till the time of their | | | | properties and need further evaluation. |
| last follow-up , there was an average weight-gain of | | | | Thus,the retrospective study of 55 HIV positive adult |
| 2.3 kgs.(range = - 4 to + 7.5 kgs), usually within the | | | | patients treated with an Ayurvedic Herbal |
| first 3 months. In those patients who took | | | | combination from April 1999 to November 2004 |
| continuous treatment for more than 3 months, the | | | | proved the Ayurvedic medicines to be highly |
| Karnofsky score increased from an average of 75.9 | | | | effective as anti-viral and immuno-stimulant,and safe |
| at the commencement of treatment to 87.4 at the | | | | on long-term use. A nutritious diet, Ayurvedic baseline |
| last follow-up. Almost all the patients had 1-3 O.I. at | | | | therapy, timely allopathic treatment of Opportunistic |
| the time of presentation. Other than Tuberculosis, all | | | | Infections and regular counseling support appears to |
| the O.I. cleared up rapidly within the first 2 months of | | | | be an ideal combination in the management of HIV/ |
| treatment. | | | | AIDS patients. |
| Long-term administration of Ayurvedic medicines | | | | References |
| (upto 30 months) did not seem to have any major | | | | 1. UNAIDS. Global Summary of the AIDS Epidemic. |
| adverse effects. In fact, in a few patients, the tests | | | | Update |
| for liver and renal function appeared to normalize | | | | December 2007. |
| further, with treatment. Haemoglobin readings | | | | 2. Foundation for Integrative AIDS Research. |
| gradually improved in those patients taking regular, | | | | Potential Anti- |
| prolonged treatment.The most striking effect of the | | | | HIV Herbs. 15/9/2002. |
| Ayurvedic medicines was on the Viral Load and CD4 | | | | 3. Sharma P.V. Vegetable Drugs. Vol. II. IV Edition. |
| counts. Because of financial constraints, only 15 | | | | Chaukhamba Publications.1978. |
| patients (27 % ) agreed to do either the Viral Load | | | | 4. Dahanukar S A, Kulkarni R A, Rege N N. |
| or the CD4 count, or both. In most patients, there | | | | Pharmacology of |
| was a definite and steady decrease in the Viral Load, | | | | Medicinal Plants and Natural Products. Indian Journal of |
| and an increase in the CD4 cell counts. | | | | Pharmacology, 2000; 32: S81 - S118. |