COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

by Sheri Kaplan
July 2007
Decisions about your health care are important–including deciding what types of therapy to use. Most doctors will agree that using complementary therapies with standard medicines can help treat HIV and other illnesses. Complementary therapies refer to a series of health care treatments that are presently not considered to be part of conventional medicine. These types of treatments can include aromatherapy, massage therapy, and nutritional supplements.

Where HIV drugs reduce the progression of HIV, complementary therapies strengthen the immune system.

What are some common complementary therapies?

Herbs and dietary supplements

These therapies may involve the use of herbs such as Echinacea, garlic, goldenseal, chamomile, and Chinese herbs. Health professionals may also prescribe foods and vitamins as part of a biological-based therapy. Multivitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, C, and E contain antioxidants, which neutralize the effects of dangerous particles called “free-radicals.” These “free-radical” particles are natural by-products of the body’s functions, but they cause damage to cells and lead to disease.

And thanks to recent studies, we know additional calcium, soy and soy products, selenium, and whole-grain products particularly help women living with HIV.

For more details about supplements, please visit our Vitamins and Supplements page.

Essential Oils

Essential oils can fight routine bacterial and viral infections in place of prescription antibiotics that can weaken the immune system. Essential oils also aid immune cells to fight viruses and bacteria. Some essential oils such as lavender, bergamot, and eucalyptus perform both of these functions. Essential oils of rosemary, geranium and black pepper also support the immune system. Tea Tree oil is an excellent natural antiseptic. Any use of essential oils should be discussed with your doctor.

Mind-Body Techniques

These activities enhance the mind’s ability to affect bodily functions and symptoms. Mind-body techniques often include patient support groups, meditation, prayer, mental healing, and therapies that use creative outlets such as art, music, or dance.

Deep Relaxation involves using audiotapes to guide you in accessing deep states of relaxation. Techniques include meditation, mindfulness, guided visualization, progressive muscle relaxation, prayer or Chinese exercises such as Chi Gong, and Tai Chi.

Developing a sense of purpose and meaning also enhances immune functions. Research has found that cancer patients who find purpose in life often experience physical improvements, and even long-term survival. In a study of people who survived AIDS-related deaths, survivors had a strong will to live and were engaged in meaningful activities and relationships. Other studies show that prayer and other spiritual activities have also been associated with better overall health, healing, and long term survival with HIV.

How can managing stress improve immune functions?

Mind-body techniques decrease stress, which can physically affect the body. The basic premise of mind/body medicine is that our thoughts, feelings, and mental states influence our bodies at the physical level and express themselves in our health.

The brain has often been called the organ of the mind because it connects to the immune system through nerve fibers that reach into all of the organs and systems. When you experience stress, the nervous system becomes hyperactive and provokes the effects of the immune systems over and over again. This causes the body to move into a state commonly called “fight or flight”. In this state, the immune system becomes weakened and the adrenal glands become exhausted causing the body to feel weak and lethargic. You can also experience dizziness, headaches, memory loss, irritability, allergies, cold and flu symptoms and more serious illnesses.

Studies have shown that people with high levels of social support and intimate relationships have stronger immune systems and fewer illnesses. Research at Southern Methodist University in Dallas has shown that confiding thoughts and feelings about traumas — if only by writing them down — improves immune function. Seeking a support group in your area can reduce stress and benefit overall health.

What kind of complementary treatment may my doctor prescribe?

When prescribing complementary treatment, the doctor makes decisions based on the patient’s condition and other factors such as the patient’s strengths, lifestyle, medical history, support systems, and all other factors relating to one’s health and wellness. This enables the physician to knit together a program tailored for each patient and may involve the following:

Diet Change: Replacing refined/ enriched carbohydrates with whole grains, fresh vegetables, and fruits for overall health. Your doctor may also suggest choosing low-to-moderate fat sources of protein such as turkey, chicken, and fish and limiting dairy and red meats.
Vitamin and mineral supplements: Your doctor may prescribe multivitamin/mineral supplements that must include Vitamins A, D, E, K, and C (these are free- radical fighting anti- oxidants). B-vitamins, calcium, iron, iodine, magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese, potassium, chromium, and selenium can all enhance the immune system in proper dosage.
Herbs: A variety of herbs support body functions. These include garlic, Echinacea, goldenseal, and myrrh. Doctors may prescribe Chinese herbs, such as Astragulus, Ganoderma, Atractylodes, and Schizandra support immune functions and contain antiviral, antibacterial and stress reduction properties.
Digestive health treatments: Herbs such as black walnut, berberine, grapefruit seed extract, and wormwood support digestive functions. Acidophyllus helps maintain a healthy digestive system, but should be used with caution. Mainstream antiparasitic (drugs which kill parasites or “bugs” in the body) drugs also relieve digestion problems.
Exercise: Each day, one-half hour of enjoyable exercise that causes sweating, signals the removal of waste from the body (and possibly the reduction of virus replication). Cardiovascular fitness can strengthen the heart and circulatory system. This is done by simply increasing one’s heart rate about 20 percent more than resting heart rate, and keeping it up for at least 20 minutes, at least six times per week.
Stress reduction: Deep relaxation practice two times per day for 15-20 minutes can reduce many health risks and maintain one’s focus on practicing good health and wellness.

More and more, the medical community prescribes complementary therapies for many types of conditions. Since complementary treatments have become more common, The National Institutes of Health has developed a department called The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) that is dedicated to the study of these treatments. You can learn more about complementary therapy at the NCCAM website, http://nccam.nih.gov.

For further reading, go to: TheWellProject