Complementary HIV Therapies

In the war against AIDS, the battles are being fought in many arenas. From prevention efforts to new treatment options, many advances have been made in recent months. The discovery of protease inhibitors in 1995 has directly resulted in longer lives and better health for HIV+ persons. Before the FDA approval of the first protease inhibitors, AIDS was the #1 cause of death for Americans between the ages of 25 and 44. It has now, at least temporarily, dropped to #2.

As a Person With AIDS (PWA), I have directly benefited from the new drug "cocktail". It has extended and greatly improved my life. There are problems, though, with the cocktail. Besides the side effects and the horrendous cost, we really have no idea how long the protease inhibitor (PI) cocktails will be effective. If the virus manages to mutate around one protease inhibitor, it will likely be resistant to all PI's. Each combination that I have tried has worked for about 6 months, then quit being effective. Some time ago I began looking into alternative therapies, with the realization that eventually all conventional treatments might fail. Since then I have come to prefer the term "complementary" to "alternative". I have used many non-traditional approaches to my HIV infection in addition to, not instead of, my medications. This holistic approach has proved highly effective in my personal war against AIDS. It has not only helped fight the virus, but has also improved many seemingly unrelated aspects of my existence. It has both lengthened and improved my life.

Some of the therapies which have been helpful are listed below. This list is by no means an exhaustive list of options available; rather, these are the complementary treatments which have been effective in my life, which I can personally recommend.

Acupuncture.

This ancient Eastern treatment involves the strategic placement of needles in the skin. Sometimes the addition of heat or low-grade electric current enhances its effectiveness. I suffer from peripheral neuropathy, a nerve damage which causes pain, numbness, and tingling sensations in the extremities. This condition is caused either by the virus or the medications. At times it has been so severe that it hurt my feet to walk on carpet. Another local PWA has described neuropathy as the "Princess and the Pea" syndrome, because she could feel every wrinkle in the bedsheets. Peripheral neuropathy results in immobility; when it hurts to move, we tend to remain motionless. This results in muscular atrophy, further compounding the problem.

I began acupuncture as a treatment for neuropathy and soon found it to be effective in the management of pain in my feet and legs. The severity of the pain has greatly decreased since beginning treatment. In the process, I learned that acupuncture can also boost the immune system. Thus, this treatment has been useful not only as a reducer of symptomatic pain, but as a treatment for the actual cause, namely, the HIV.

Creative Visualization.

Based on the book by Shakti Gawain, this therapy combines apparent mysticism with the process of self-hypnosis. During daily meditations, certain affirmations are repeated to the unconscious mind, which can result in seemingly magical improvements. I personally do not understand how creative visualization works. My approach has been "whatever works". I don't need to know how it works, only that it does.

Hypnotherapy.

Originally I tried hypnosis as a smoking cessation tool. It worked where other approaches had failed, and I am now a permanent non-smoker. Indirectly this has helped my immune system, since tobacco has been shown to compromise the human immune system, furthering the damage to the smoker and shortening his/her life. After my successful breaking of the nicotine addiction, I began to use hypnosis as another weapon in the anti-HIV arsenal. In effect, I am learning to communicate directly with my immune system and instructing it to "be fruitful and multiply", to continue and even accelerate its attacks on the virus.

Massage.

Regular massage has been one of the most effective tools in combating my HIV. I first used massage therapy as a treatment for peripheral neuropathy. After some success in that area, I learned that massage has also been proven to boost the immune system. At this point, I try to get a massage on a weekly basis.

Massage has many positive effects on the body and the mind. It releases tensions and reduces stress. It also detoxifies the body, an important function since many of my traditional medications are known to be toxic. It also feels good, making it much easier to do on a regular basis. There are several licensed massage therapists in the area qualified in the treatment of PWA's.

Personal Training.

One of the problems associated with HIV infection is unwanted weight loss. (No, I do not recommend HIV as a dieting tool!) Specifically, HIV-related weight loss is problematic because only about half of the weight loss is from fat. The other half comes from the deterioration and loss of muscle, or lean body mass (LBM). Some people have found steroid treatments effective in the rebuilding of lbm. But again, steroids have shown adverse effects on the human body.

I have found that nothing works like good old-fashioned sweat. By far the best way to increase muscle mass is to exercise. It is nature's way of beefing up. When I began regular sessions with my personal trainer, I had virtually no muscle mass left due to the ravages of the disease. I was extremely weak and lethargic, and frequently fatigued. At times I needed help just to stand up. In the past few months, my lbm has increased, along with my strength and energy levels. The difference in my general health and feeling of well-being is astounding.

 

All of the complementary therapies I have listed have had some positive effect on my life. But they are all the result of a change in my attitude. Most of my fellow PWA's are content to take a more passive approach to fighting this disease. They want science to find the cure. In fact, I remember asking my nurse once, "You mean I actually have to do something to get better? I just want to take the pills and forget it." It is easy to simply rely on the traditional therapies and let that be it. However, along with the protease inhibitors, I attribute my current good health to a proactive approach. In essence, I will try anything with a proven track record. I am bombarding my HIV infection with as many different weapons as possible.

The protease inhibitor cocktail operates on the fact that a combination of different anti-AIDS drugs results in a stronger effect than the same drugs taken individually. In essence, the cocktail is stronger than the sum of its parts. I have extended this concept to complementary therapies. I believe that proactively attacking the virus in a holistic approach from a variety of disciplines is very effective. I am living proof, considering that I have outlived my previous life expectancy by 2 years, and I feel better now than I have in many years. I cannot argue with results like that.

One final note. I began these therapies because many long-term survivors of HIV disease share a common thread; we are actively involved in our disease and treatment. Sometimes this means we volunteer to help in prevention, education, and direct services. HIV/AIDS Wellness Networks in Traverse City has been instrumental in such local efforts. Jim Carruthers, the director, is hoping for a strong community response to Michigan's very first statewide AIDS Walk, which will take place in several Michigan cities, including Traverse City, on Sunday, September 27, 1998. It is a way for local people to help prevent this epidemic, by donating only an hour or two of their time. Plus, the exercise will do you good. Questions may be directed to Jim at (616) 933-0279, or at HIV/AIDS Wellness Networks at P.O. Box 1632, Traverse City, 49685.

Editor's Note: This article was written for our last issue. Due to an email mix-up we didn't receive the article in time, so we include it in this issue. The AIDS walk was a big success, raising about $15,000.00.

Return to the Index of Synapse 45, Fall 1998