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Acupuncture Treatment For HIV/AIDS

Acupuncture Treatment For HIV/AIDSUntil now, there is no medicine that can cure HIV/AIDS complet
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The Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Right after the initial infection, a person may not notice any symptoms or may experience a brief period of influenza-like illness.1 Typically, this is followed by a very long period with no symptoms. As the infection progresses, it interferes more with the immune system, therefore increasing the risk of common infections like tuberculosis, as well as other opportunistic infections, and tumors that rarely affect people who have normal working immune systems. These late symptoms of infection are known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This stage is often also associated with weight loss.2

 

RESEARCH


Even that AIDS has many classifications and types, the traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment is not unique. The main observations from TCM include weak vital qi, viral invasion, stomach disorders, qi energy and blood shortages with unbalanced yin and yang. The symptoms include weak lungs, spleen and stomach disorders with deficiency of both spleen and kidney in addition to the presence of pathogens and toxins.3 Acupoints to be stimulated are CV-23, CV-22, CV-20, CV-17, CV-12, CV-6, CV-4, GV-14, GV-12, GV-9, GV-7, GV-6, GV-4, GV-3. When inserting acupuncture needles to CV-22, you should avoid to impact the trachea. You are suggested to apply acupuncture needles to CV-20, CV-17 and point toward the lower abdomen, and needle CV-12, CV-6 and CV-4 toward CV-8 with needle stimulation. The CV and GV channels should be needled three times per week, keeping the needles inside for 20 minutes.4

The basic Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment principle with HIV/AIDS has been supporting the body’s energetics by nourishing the deficient Zang, while eliminating toxic heat and phlegm. Even that there is evidence that using TCM increases the quality of life for patients, this treatment is suitable as an additional therapy. In fact, TCM’s aims to promote immunity, to treat side effects of medications, and to become complementary therapy to the conventional treatment of opportunistic infections and disorders. TCM is also known to reduce stress and anxiety.5 In treating patients with HIV/AIDS, it is key to focus on the disharmony patterns while treating specific disorders. Therefore, symptoms are treated by making a different diagnosis according to traditional principles. For example, an AIDS patient suffering from pain is treated for a combination of spleen deficiency, blood inactivity and toxic heat.6

Acupuncture treatment for the most common patterns of disharmony associated with HIV/AIDS use some of the most known acupuncture points in the TCM treatment. Spleen qi deficiency is treated by stimulating ST-36, SP-4, and CV-12. Kidney deficiency is treated by stimulating points KD-3, with SP-6 for Kidney yin deficiency and GV-4 with moxa for kidney yang deficiency. Toxic heat in the body is relieved through needling GV-14, LI-4, LI-11, SP-10, and BL-40. Other acupuncture points can be needled based on individual needs.7

Footnotes

  1. What Are HIV and AIDS? – hiv.gov – 2017, https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-aids/what-are-hiv-and-aids
  2. Contaminants in Human Milk: – archive.org – 2008, https://web.archive.org/web/20081106182431/http://www.ehponline.org/members/2008/116-10/focus.html
  3. The Treatment of AIDS with Traditional Chinese Medicine – acupuncturetoday.com – 2001, http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=27836
  4. The Treatment of AIDS with Traditional Chinese Medicine – acupuncturetoday.com – 2001, http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=27836
  5. Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment and HIV/AIDS – healthcommunities.com – 2015, http://www.healthcommunities.com/hiv-aids/alternative-medicine/tcm-treatments-for-hiv.shtml
  6. Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment and HIV/AIDS – healthcommunities.com – 2015, http://www.healthcommunities.com/hiv-aids/alternative-medicine/tcm-treatments-for-hiv.shtml
  7. Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment and HIV/AIDS – healthcommunities.com – 2015, http://www.healthcommunities.com/hiv-aids/alternative-medicine/tcm-treatments-for-hiv.shtml