HIV/ AIDS TREATMENT & FACTS 

Table content: 

Numbers of death due to HIV/AIDS.Why is treatment important.When should i start treatment.Does ART causes side effects?.Teens and Mental Health.Why Nutrition and HIV/AIDS Are Linked.Taking care of yourself when you are living with HIV.Natural remedies for HIV.

Number of deaths due to HIV/AIDS

Expanded access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and a declining incidence of HIV infection have led to a steep fall globally in the number of adults and children dying from HIV-related causes. The estimated 1.1 million [940 000–1.3 million] people dying from HIV globally in 2015 were 45% fewer than in 2005 and 26% fewer than in 2010 in spite of a period of substantial population growth in many high burden countries.

Nevertheless, there is no room for complacency. Countries need to live up their commitment to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 -- a target included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015. The immediate challenge is to reach the Fast-Track targets for 2020, as HIV-related deaths are still unacceptably high.

The 2020 tragets include reducing the number of people dying from HIV-related causes to fewer than 500 000. Based on current estimates, this provides an opportunity to prevent over 600 000 deaths per year.

The drop in HIV-related mortality is especially evident in the regions with the greatest burden of HIV infection, including the WHO African Region, home to almost three in four people dying from HIV-related causes in 2015. An estimated 800 000 [650 000–980 000] people died in the African Region from HIV-related causes in 2015, which indicates that mortality has been halved in the past decade. In the region of Americas the HIV-related mortality dropped about 36% since 2005 to 62 000 [54 000–72 000] in 2015. Since ART came available in the mid-2000s, HIV related deaths declined both by 37% to 130 000 [110 000–150 000] in South-East-Asia region and 32% to 44 000 [31 000–69 000] in Western Pacific Region in 2015. An opposite trend played out the European Region, where the rate of AIDS-deaths increased about 16% between 2005 and 2015 from 48 000 [41 000–55 000] up to 56 000 [48 000–64 000]. The trend in the Eastern Mediterranean Region is even worse, rising from 7 900 [5700–10 000] to 15 000 [11 000–23 000], an increase of more than 95%.



HIV treatment involves taking medicines that slow the progression of the virus in your body. HIV is a type of virus called a retrovirus, and the drugs used to treat it are called antiretrovirals (ARV). These drugs are always given in combination with other ARVs; this combination therapy is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). Many ART drugs have been used since 1990 and are the reason why the annual number of deaths related to AIDS has dropped over the past two decades.

Although a cure for HIV does not yet exist, ART can keep you healthy for many years, and greatly reduces your chance of transmitting HIV to your partner(s) if taken consistently and correctly. ART reduces the amount of virus (or viral load) in your blood and body fluids. ART is recommended for all people living with HIV, regardless of how long they’ve had the virus or how healthy they are.

Why Is Treatment lmportant?


To protect your health, it is important to get on and stay on HIV treatment. HIV treatment is important because it helps your body fight HIV. You may hear the phrase “treatment adherence,” which means staying on your treatment plan. Most people living with HIV who don’t get treatment eventually develop AIDS.

If left untreated, HIV attacks your immune system and can allow different types of life-threatening infections and cancers to develop. If your CD4 cell count falls below a certain level, you are at risk of getting anopportunistic infection. These are infections that don’t normally affect people with healthy immune systems but that can infect people with immune systems weakened by HIV infection. Your health care provider may prescribe medicines to prevent certain infections.

HIV treatment is most likely to be successful when you know what to expect and are committed to taking your medicines exactly as prescribed. Working with your health care provider to develop a treatment plan will help you learn more about HIV, manage it effectively, and make decisions that help you live a longer, healthier life. HIV treatment will also greatly reduce your chance of transmitting HIV to your partner(s) if taken consistently and correctly. Learn more aboutHIV treatment as prevention.

When Should I Start Treatment?


Treatment guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend that a person living with HIV begin antiretroviral therapy (ART) as soon as possible after diagnosis. Starting ART slows the progression of HIV and can keep you healthy for many years.

If you delay treatment, the virus will continue to harm your immune system and put you at higher risk for developing opportunistic infections that can be life threatening.



Does ART Cause Side Effects?

Like most medicines, antiretroviral therapy (ART) can cause side effects. However, not everyone experiences side effects from ART. The HIV medications used today have fewer side effects, fewer people experience them, and they are less severe than in the past. Side effects can differ for each type of ART medicine and from person to person. Some side effects can occur once you start a medicine and may only last a few days or weeks. Other side effects can start later and last longer. If you experience side effects that are severe or make you want to stop taking your HIV medication, talk to your health care provider or pharmacist before you miss any doses or stop taking the medication. Skipping doses or starting and stopping medication can lead to drug resistance, which can harm your health and limit your future treatment options.

Some side effects of ART that are most commonly reported include:


Nausea and vomiting,Diarrhea,Difficulty sleeping,Dry mouth,Headache,Rash,Dizziness,Fatigue, andPain.

Contact your health care provider or pharmacist immediately if you begin to experience problems or if your treatment makes you sick. If side effects make you want to skip taking your medications sometimes or stop taking them altogether, talk to your health care provider or pharmacist right away to find solutions that work for you. Your health care provider may prescribe medicines to reduce or eliminate side effects or may recommend changing your medication to another type of ART that might work better for you. Learn more about the possible side effects of ART.

Side Effects of HIV Medicines

The main goal of HIV treatment is to fight the virus in your body. Almost as important is trying to do this without causing unpleasant, unhealthy side effects.

Side effects vary from person to person. For some, they're mild. For others, they get in the way of daily life.

Ask your doctor about what you can expect from your treatment so you know what to prepare and watch out for. Certain drugs may have potentially life-threatening side effects, so it's essential that you know what to look for.

Feeling "off" can be caused by:

HIV itselfConditions you had before you got HIVInfectionsStressDepressionDietAgingOther drugs

You should work with your doctor to figure out what's causing your symptoms and to make your side effects less of a problem.

Keep taking your HIV medications. It's dangerous to change how you're taking them -- or to stop altogether -- if you're unhappy with how you feel or how they affect you. That can make it easier for the HIV virus to become resistant to drugs and harder to treat. Continuing treatment is key to not only preventing the development of AIDS, but is key to maintaining a relatively normal lifestyle. It is possible, with the correct treatment to obtain a normal life expectancy.



Teens and Mental Health

What to know when yours goes to college.

Short-Term Side Effects

When you first start ART or change your antiretroviral drugs, you may have side effects as your body adjusts to it. Although these may bother you for a while, they often get better within a few weeks. Sometimes, you can do or take something a few days before you begin or change your medications to prevent or lessen the side effects.

If your symptoms don't get better, or if they're severe or unusual, tell your doctor right away. They may be caused by the ARTdrugs or something else.

You can manage most common, short-term side effects with changes to your lifestyle or habits. Don't smoke, do eat well, and try to exerciseevery day. Reach out for support if you need to.

Your doctor may also be able to change your dose, how you take the medicine, or switch you to a different drug.

Fatigue . Try brief 20-30 minute naps. Cut back your work schedule if you can. Balanced meals will give your body fuel, and gentle exercisecan boost your energy.



Feeling queasy and throwing up. Many HIV medicines should be taken with food. Make sure you know these food requirements. Avoid foods that trigger an upset stomach. Ginger -- in ginger ale, ginger tea, or gingersnaps -- may help settle your tummy. Eat some crackers in the morning. Stick with small meals and cold foods. Drink a lot of water to stay hydrated. Don't take antacids or other over-the-counter products unless your doctor says it's OK.

Diarrhea . Get plenty of fluids to avoiddehydration. Talk to your doctor about which over-the-counter (OTC) diarrhea products are safe to take.

Headaches . An OTC pain reliever may work. Rest, drink plenty of fluids, and stay away from loud noise and bright light.

Insomnia . Limit caffeine, and avoid heavy meals close to bedtime. It may be tempting, but try not to take daytime naps; stay on a regular sleeping schedule. Try relaxing bedtime habits such as warm baths, warm milk, soothing music, ormassage to tell your body it's time to sleep.



Rashes . Avoid long, hot showers or baths, andskin products with alcohol or harsh chemicals. Use sunscreen and moisturizing lotions or petroleum jelly on dry, itchy areas.

Reactions where you've been stuck by a needle (if taking an injectable medicine). Check with your doctor to make sure your injection technique is good. Change your injection sites so you give your skin and tissues a chance to heal. Warm the medicine in your hands before you inject it, and apply a cold pack to the area afterward.

Pain, tingling, or numbness in your feet or hands. Gently massage them. Wear loose-fitting shoes or jewelry. OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen or naproxen may help.

Dry mouth . Suck on sugarless candies or lozenges, or chew sugarless gum. Drink plenty of liquids. Avoid sugary or sticky foods and caffeine.

Remember: All of these can be signs of an underlying problem unrelated to your HIV treatment, too. Always call your doctor if you anticipate wanting to stop your medication because of possible side effects. If you have any serious symptoms, regardless of whether they might be related to your medicines, call your doctor.


Teens and Mental Health

What to know when yours goes to college.

Long-Term Side Effects

Some side effects may not go away or could cause serious problems. Yet there is often a way to manage them so that they're less troublesome.

Fat redistribution. Your body may change the way it makes, uses, and stores fat. This is called lipodystrophy. You might lose fat in your face and legs while gaining it in your belly and the back of your neck. You might be able to switch medications to keep symptoms from getting worse, but there are few other options for dealing with this.

Higher cholesterol or triglyceride levels. These can raise your risk for problems such as heart disease. Diet and other lifestyle changes are a first step. You doctor may also want you to take medications such as statins and fibrates.

Higher blood sugar levels. Regular exercise, watching your weight, and other lifestyle changes are a good place to start. Your doctor may also recommend medicine to help control your blood sugar.

Loss of bone density. You could be more likely to get broken bones, especially as you get older. Try weight-bearing exercises like walking or weight lifting. Check with your doctor about takingcalcium and vitamin D supplements. You may need medications to treat or prevent osteoporosis.Drug Resistance

Drug resistance can be a cause of treatment failure for people living with HIV. As HIV multiplies in the body, the virus sometimes mutates (changes form) and produces variations of itself. Variations of HIV that develop while a person is taking HIV medicines can lead to drug-resistant strains of HIV. With drug resistance, HIV medicines that previously controlled a person’s HIV are not effective against new, drug-resistant HIV. In other words, the HIV medicines can't prevent the drug-resistant HIV from multiplying. Drug resistance can cause HIV treatment to fail.

A person can initially be infected with drug-resistant HIV or develop drug-resistant HIV after starting HIV medicines. Drug-resistance testing identifies which, if any, HIV medicines won’t be effective against a person’s HIV. Drug-resistance testing results help determine which HIV medicines to include in an HIV treatment regimen.


Medication adherence—taking HIV medicines every day and exactly as prescribed—reduces the risk of drug resistance.


Nutrition and HIV/AIDS

If you're HIV-positive, nutrition and HIV is a subject you'll want to pay special attention to. That's because your body will undergo changes, both from medications and the disease itself. For example, you may experience extreme weight loss, infections, or diarrhea. Another common change is lipodystrophy (fat distribution syndrome) which can cause body shape changes and increases in cholesterol levels. Making improvements in your diet can improve your health and how well you feel. Here are a few tips that may help. A registered dietitian (RD) can give you even more guidance.

Why Nutrition and HIV/AIDS Are Linked

If you are HIV-positive, good nutrition can have several benefits. It can:

Improve your overall quality of life by providing nutrients your body needs.Keep your immune system stronger so you can better fight disease.Help manage HIV symptoms and complications.Process medications and help manage their side effects.

The Basic Principles of Nutrition and HIV

The basic principles of healthy eating will also serve you well if you are HIV-positive. These principles include:

Eating a diet high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumesChoosing lean, low-fat sources of proteinLimiting sweets, soft drinks, and foods with added sugarIncluding proteins, carbohydrates, and a little good fat in all meals and snacks


 What You Can Drink, Besides Water, When You Have Diabetes

Here are 13 versions of your favorite classic drinks you can enjoy when you’re managing type 2 diabetes.

Here is more specific information to get you started with a healthier eating plan.

Calories are the energy in foods that provide your body with fuel. To maintain your lean body mass, you may need to increase calories. To get enough calories:

Consume 17 calories per pound of your body weight if you've been maintaining your weight. Consume 20 calories per pound if you have an opportunistic infection. Consume 25 calories per pound if you are losing weight.

Protein helps build muscles, organs, and a strong immune system. To get enough of the right types of protein:

Aim for 100-150 grams a day, if you are an HIV-positive man.Aim for 80-100 grams a day, if you are an HIV-positive woman.If you have kidney disease, don't get more than 15%-20% of your calories from protein; too much can put stress on yourkidneys.Choose extra-lean pork or beef, skinless chicken breast, fish, and low-fat dairy products.To get extra protein, spread nut butter on fruit, vegetables, or toast; add cheese to sauces, soups, potatoes, or steamed vegetables; add canned tuna to salads or casseroles.


What You Can Drink, Besides Water, When You Have Diabetes

Here are 13 versions of your favorite classic drinks you can enjoy when you’re managing type 2 diabetes.

Carbohydrates give you energy. To get enough of the right types of carbohydrates:

Eat five to six servings (about 3 cups) offruits and vegetables each day.Choose produce with a variety of colors to get the widest range of nutrients.Choose legumes and whole grains, such as brown rice and quinoa. If you do not have agluten sensitivity whole-wheat flour, oats, and barley may be ok. If you do, stick with brown rice, quinoa, and potato as your starch sources. If you are diabetic or pre-diabetic or have insulin resistance, then most of your carbohydrates should come from vegetables.Limit simple sugars, such as candy, cake, cookies, or ice cream.

Fat provides extra energy. To get enough of the right kinds of fat:

Get 30% of your daily calories from fat.Get 10% or more of your daily caloriesfrom monounsaturated fats.
Examples: nuts, seeds, avocado, fish, and canola and olive oilsGet less than 10% of your daily caloriesfrom polyunsaturated fats.
Examples: fish, walnuts, flaxseed, and corn, sunflower, soybean, and safflower oilGet less than 7% of your daily calories fromsaturated fats.
Examples: fatty meat, poultry with skin, butter, whole-milk dairy foods, and coconut and palm oils.


Vitamins and minerals regulate your body's processes. People who are HIV-positive need extra vitamins and minerals to help repair and heal damaged cells. Eat foods high in these vitamins and minerals, which can help boost your immune system:

Vitamin A and beta-carotene: dark green, yellow, orange, or red vegetables and fruit;liver; whole eggs; milkB vitamins: meat, fish, chicken, grains, nuts, white beans, avocados, broccoli, and green leafy vegetablesVitamin C: citrus fruitsVitamin E: green leafy vegetables, peanuts, and vegetable oilsSelenium: whole grains, nuts, poultry, fish, eggs, and peanut butterZinc: meat, poultry, fish, beans, peanuts, and milk and other dairy products

Because it is difficult to get enough of all the nutrients you need from foods, your health careprovider may recommend a multivitamin/mineral tablet (without extra iron). Check the label to make sure it provides 100% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA). Discuss with your doctor what you're taking -- more is not always better. If you don't eat at least three servings of high-calcium (green leafy veggies or dairy) foods each day, you might need to add a calcium supplement to your diet. This is becoming controversial however and more research is being done on this topic.


Nutrition and HIV: Coping with Special Problems

Your body may have a variety of responses to HIV and you may also experience side effects from medications. Here are tips for dealing with some of the most common problems.

Nausea and vomiting

Try bland, low-fat foods, such as plain pasta, canned fruit, or plain brothEat smaller meals every one to two hours.Avoid greasy or spicy foods, or foods with strong odors.Drink ginger tea or ginger ale.Eat more cold foods and fewer hot foods.Rest between meals, but don't lie flat.Ask your doctor about nauseamedications.

Diarrhea

Drink more fluids than usual. Try diluted juices or Gatorade.Limit milk and sugary or caffeinated drinks.Eat slowly and more frequently.Avoid greasy foods.Try the B.R.A.T. diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) for a brief time.Instead of fresh produce, try well-cooked vegetables or canned ones.Try calcium carbonate supplements or fiber supplements like Metamucilwafers.

Lack of appetite

Exercise to help stimulate your appetite.Don't drink too much right before meals.Eat with family or friends, making meals as attractive as possible.Try smaller, more frequent meals.Include a variety of textures, shapes, and colors.Ask your doctor about medications that stimulate appetite.


Too much weight loss

Include more protein, carbohydrates, and fats in your diet.Use cream or half and half on cereals. Add ice cream to desserts.Eat dried fruits or nuts for snacks.Talk to your doctor about adding a nutrition supplement, such as Boost, Ensure, or Carnation Instant Breakfast.Ask your doctor about medications that stimulate appetite and treat nausea.

Mouth and swallowing problems

Eat soft foods such as yogurt or mashed potatoes.Avoid raw vegetables; cook them instead.Choose softer fruits, such as bananas or pears.Stay away from acidic foods, such as oranges, lemons, and tomatoes.See your doctor to make sure you do not have an opportunistic infection or need more diagnostic testing.

Lipodystrophy (fat redistribution syndrome)


Limit fat, especially saturated and trans fats.Choose unsaturated fats and sources of omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and tuna.Limit alcohol, and refined sugars.Prevent insulin resistance by limiting foods that raise glucose and insulin levels: primarily carbohydrates.Eat more fiber-rich whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.



TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF WHEN LIVING WITH HIV



FAST FACTS


• Starting antiretroviral treatment early, and sustaining it as part of your everyday routine, is the best way of ensuring that your immune system stays strong.


• Healthy eating, regular exercise and getting enough rest are all good ways to maintain your health.


• Your mental wellbeing is just as important as your physical health. Talking about your concerns with family, friends or a support group can really help.


Having HIV doesn’t have to stop you living a full and healthy life. With the right treatmentand care, you can expect to live just as long as someone who doesn’t have HIV.1


There’s a lot you can do to take care of yourself and feel fitter, healthier and happier.


If you have any questions, talk to your healthcare professional about nutrition, exercise, mental health or any of the other issues covered here.


Taking HIV treatment


Current treatment for HIV is not a cure for the virus, but it can keep HIV under control and this keeps your immune system strong.


In the past, older HIV drugs had serious side-effects, but treatment with modern HIV drugs is much better. If a side-effect doesn’t go away and is affecting your quality of life, you should be able to change to a different drug. Once youstart HIV treatment, taking it every day is important to keep yourself well.2 Talk to your healthcare professional if you are having any problems taking treatment.


Eating healthily


People living with HIV should aim to eat a balanced diet, without too much fat, sugar or salt. For many people, eating well is a pleasure, and learning how to cook and prepare food for yourself, your family, or friends can be fun.


If you are underweight – perhaps because HIV was already making you ill by the time you were diagnosed – or overweight, or if you have any particular dietary problems or side-effects that make it hard to eat well, then you might benefit from talking to a healthcare professional about your diet.


To make it easier to understand what a balanced diet is made up of, it can help to think about the type of foods you eat.3 Your diet should be made up of:


plenty of fruit and vegetables to provide fibre, vitamins and mineralsplenty of starchy carbohydrates to give you energy – such as brown rice, potatoes, wholemeal pasta and breadsome protein such as lean meat, fish, eggs and beanssome dairy products, such as milk, yoghurt and cheesesmall amounts of fats and sugars.


Exercise and keeping fit


Being active is good for you in lots of ways – it can help to build your muscles, keep your bones strong, burn fat and keep your heart healthy. Some people who are living with HIVexperience a loss of muscle mass and strength, so exercise can help prevent this.4


You might get your exercise by taking part in a sport, or going to the gym, but everyday activities like dancing, playing in the park with your children, walking to work and gardening can all help get you moving.


If you want to do more exercise, feel fitter, have more stamina, more flexibility, or lose weight, there are three types of exercise to think about. These include:


Cardio or aerobic exercise – this increases your heart rate to help blood flow right around your body, delivering oxygen to your muscles and keeping your heart and lungs healthy. Try running, swimming, dancing or cycling5Resistance training – this increases the strength of your muscles by lifting weights for a period of time and then repeating. Even lifting a tin of beans will do!Flexibility training – this stretches different parts of your body to strengthen your muscles and joints. Try stretching before and after any exercise you do, or focus on flexibility with an activity like yoga.


Particularly as we get older, regular exercise is important in reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes, which can be more common in people living with HIV. Exercise is also great at reducing feelings of stress and symptoms of depression.6


Staying happy and fulfilling your potential


Taking care of yourself is not just about your physical health, but looking after your mental and emotional health too.


Finding out you have HIV can be a shock, and it may take you some time to adjust. Support from your friends and family, or other people living with HIV, can really help when you are finding things difficult.


Once you begin coming to terms with HIV, it’s a good idea to think about the rest of your life. What are your goals? What’s important to you? Maybe you want to study, have a family, travel or change career – HIV shouldn’t stop you doing any of these things!

What else can I do to take care of myself?

Many of the things we do to look after ourselves are common sense. Try to get plenty of rest and sleep. If you smoke, try to stop – it isn’t always easy, but there is support available to help you. If you are concerned about youralcohol or drug use, talk to a healthcare professional for advice and support.


It’s also important to think about any other health conditions you have; particularly as we get older, we’re more likely to experience other health problems.



NATURAL REMEDIES FOR HIV.


2. Black Seed

Black seed (nigella sativa) has long been known to possess medicinal benefits and is widely used in alternative medicine. However, one study has produced some astonishing results as a home remedy for HIV. (2)

A patient who was exhibiting late stage HIV (AIDS) with symptoms of diarrhea, weight loss, and multiple lesions, was given a black seed concoction of 10mls twice daily for six months.

At the end of the treatment, the patient was showing no visible AIDS-related symptoms. Viral load had diminished to undetectable levels, and his CD4 count had increased from 250 cells per mm to 650 cells (A CD4 count above 500 is considered to be a healthy normal level).

These results would be considered extraordinary even for the most successful antiretroviral treatment.

However, there is more.

24 months after the black seed treatment had ceased, the patient experienced no relapse in viral load and CD4 count. Given the results, one would almost be tempted to say that this individual had been ‘cured’.


However, a note of caution must be made. This study was only conducted on one patient and while there is more anecdotal evidence for black seed efficacy, proper clinical trials on many people need to be conducted for confirmed proof.


Zinc

Zinc has long been known to be an essential mineral for the healthy functioning of the immune system. However, research now suggests that zinc supplements can help with some of the symptoms of AIDS

A control group of HIV/AIDS patients was given zinc nutritional supplements over an 18 month period.


The results of the study showed that those taking the supplements showed a four-fold decrease in immunological failure and a 50% reduction in diarrhea incidence relative to the placebo group. 


Neem leaf

Neem is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and widely used in herbal medicine.

1g of a compound extracted from neem leaf (known as IRAB) was given to 60 HIV positive patients on a daily basis for a period of 12 weeks. 50 patients completed the trial and the average increase in CD4 cells count was significant.

Average cell count increased by 159% over the period . No adverse side effects were reported in the liver and kidney functioning.

The exact mechanism for which the neem leaf extract counteracts the virus is still unknown, but the results were so impressive that neem extract is being evaluated as an addition to standard retroviral drug treatment ‘combination’ therapy, i.e. where several drugs are given simultaneously.

Green Tea

Green tea has long been used as a herbal remedy for a host of ailments through the ages but only now is it being studied as a possible treatment for HIV.

It is a compound in green tea called EGCG which has taken the spotlight in the research. The compound has been shown to prevent HIV from successfully bonding with the CD4 cells.

It is this initial bonding which is the precursor to the CD4 cell destruction and subsequent virus replication. 

The precise mechanism is currently unknown, and further research is being conducted to assess whether green tea’s EGCG compound could offer a range of drugs.



Bitter Melon

Bitter melon, (bitter gourd or karela in India) is an extremely bitter medicinal plant used widely across Asia. It is used to treat a variety of diseases as it has anti-viral, anti-tumor, and immune system boosting properties.

Studies have shown that it anti-viral properties extend to HIV and such we have listed as one of home remedies for HIV.

One study identified a plant protein (MAP30) that is effective against multiple stages of the HIV viral lifecycle, both in terms of initial infection as well as replication of infected cells.

In human trials, one experimental study showed promising results from bitter melon therapy. One patient was given 16 ounces per day of bitter melon juice for one year. The patient noticed increased energy levels, with improved stamina and appetite.

One year after therapy, his CD4 count had increased greatly, and his chronic sinusitis and recurrent respiratory problems ceased.


Selenium

Selenium is an essential mineral for the human body and has long been associated with the healthy functioning of the immune system. It is also involved in antioxidant processes in the body preventing damage from free radicals and inflammation.

However, research now shows it to be one of the best home remedies for HIV.

In one study, HIV positive adults with a CD4 count between 300-650 were daily 200 μg selenium tablets or a placebo and then assessed over the next 24 months.

It was found that the depletion rate of CD4 cells was reduced on average by 44% showing that selenium supplements can slow the onset of AIDS.

Another similar study showed that daily selenium supplementation can suppress viral load and provide indirect improvement of the CD4 count.


Turmeric

Curcumin is the active ingredient in theturmeric plant and is the pigment responsible for giving the root its yellow color. Turmeric has long been known to be anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antioxidant as well as antiviral. It really is a superfood for medicine.

It was only a matter of time until someone tested it versus HIV.

Studies have shown that it is an effective home remedy for HIV. The curcumin in turmeric inhibits infection and replication of viral genes.

It works by degrading a protein called TAT which plays an essential role in viral replication.

In addition, curcumin enhances the effect of conventional anti-HIV drugs while reducing their side effects. As such, adding turmeric to your diet should be a priority.


Probiotics and Prebiotics

It is a common misconception that the immune system is regulated by our glands. However, most would be surprised to find out that it may be the gut where the core of the immune system resides.

Studies have shown that there is ‘cross-talk’ between the microbes in our gut and other cells in the body responsible for the immune system and metabolism.

If your gut bacteria become unbalanced, this can have a knock-on effect on the immune system leaving the body vulnerable to pathogens.

It has long been known that HIV infection is associated with significant damage to the gastrointestinal tract and the gut wall, upsetting the gut bacteria balance.

Microbial products leak out from the gut into general circulation. This leakage has been linked to inflammation and HIV disease progression.

Probiotics and prebiotics can prevent gastrointestinal infections and maintain an effective gut barrier.

One study looked at 68 HIV patients who were given probiotic yogurt containing lactobacillus bacteria and measured their CD4 cell count over the treatment period.

Average CD4 cell count increased significantly across the group by over 100%.


Licorice

Licorice root has long been used to treat gastrointestinal problems. It is used for food poisoning, stomach ulcers, and heartburn. The active compound in the root that has the medicinal qualities is glycyrrhizic acid.

Glycyrrhizic acid has been tested for its effects on HIV. A daily dose of 1600mg of glycyrrhizic acid was administered intravenously for a month to hemophiliacs with HIV on six separate occasions.

Viral antigens were detected at the beginning of the treatments, but by the end of 3 out of 5 courses, viral antigens were undetectable in three courses and had decreased to low levels in the remaining two.

Further studies have also shown that glycyrrhizin significantly inhibits HIV replication in HIV-seropositive patients.

Final Note

People who are infected with HIV often try dietary supplements many of which claim to boost the immune system or counteract the side effects of anti-HIV drugs.

In this article, we have listed the home remedies for HIV that have clinical research to support their efficacy. We are aware of other home remedies for HIV not listed here, but we found insufficient evidence to support their claims.

Also, most home remedies for HIV have not been tested in combination with conventional HIV drugs, and one should always consult medical advice before attempting home remedies treatment.

Indeed, certain home remedies such as St John’s wort or garlic may actually lessen the potency of antiviral drugs.