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August 2003
THE HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS
“Disputing the overwhelming evidence that HIV causes
AIDS is not only unscientific, but also inexcusably derails the
only known approaches that can stop the terrible pandemic of AIDS.
While the best approaches to improving health in settings with
limited funds and substantial epidemics can be debated, the results
of the studies conducted in the last sixteen years are indisputable:
HIV causes AIDS. The presence of HIV infection is the only factor
that is strongly and consistently associated with the conditions
that define AIDS.”
The Principal Investigators of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study
(MACS) and the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS)
“The higher the amount of HIV in the blood, the greater
the risk of developing AIDS.”
Annals of Internal Medicine 1997; Journal of Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndromes 1999
“When therapies that prevent HIV from replicating were
used to drastically reduce the amount of HIV in a patient's blood,
there was also a dramatic and unprecedented decrease in the incidence
of AIDS and death.”
Journal of the American Medical Association 1998
“Even in individuals infected with the virus that causes
Kaposi's sarcoma, Kaposi's is extremely unlikely to occur without
the immunosuppression caused by HIV infection.”
Journal of Infectious Diseases 2000
With HIV infections going
on without anyone knowing, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus known
as HIV went around the world. We only started to see HIV cases
cropping up in 1981. It was even longer before any real understanding
of the situation occurred. From the start, people seemed to be
dying quite rapidly. We really didn't know how long they
had been infected. We didn’t have any treatment!
I remember when the AIDS virus was reported on the news by using
a picture of the world to show the countries where the virus existed.
When we realized there were many strains of HIV, these different
strains were marked on a map of the world. Letters from the alphabet
were used to identify the different strains. In the beginning,
some countries showed one strain, maybe two strains. People were
unaware of being infected long before getting tested. Now, mutated
strains and multiple exposures have taken place all over the world.
We scrambled to learn about HIV, trying to come up with ways to
treat infected people.
From the early beginnings of the HIV/AIDS epidemic when HIV first
hit the gay community, no treatment forced people into action!
People infected sought out complementary therapies and supplements
and created a network – a network for wellness! More people collaborated,
sharing experiences and the information network spread, providing
anecdotes on immune boosters, vitamin supplements, herbs, botanicals
and tinctures. The understanding grew and people acknowledged
how important it is to keep the body strong and healthy. Information
included incorporating: traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture,
Ayurveda, aromatherapy, homeopathy and naturopathy. Also, the
positive effects of: MIND, BODY, SPIRIT connection, using prayer,
meditation, visualization, Reiki, reflexology, massage, cranio-sacro,
body rebalancing, yoga and many others were being realized as
more people opted to try these methods.
In many cases, taking responsibility for their life and health
has been overwhelmingly effective. Many people infected with HIV
did not die! There are people who have lived the last 20 years
without health problems. Others have gone without HIV related
drugs and dealt with some of the same health issues as those on
the drugs, with great success! Certainly, there are many individuals
experiencing the benefits of the HIV/AIDS drug treatments available.
Voicing the successes of people not on any of the HIV treatment
drugs and the fact those people are doing so well, must be accounted!
There is very little mention or recognition given by the government,
medical profession, pharmaceutical companies or media, of the
successes of people who are not on HIV medications and
who are addressing their health through vitamin supplements, herbs
and botanicals, complementary therapies and/or naturopathic medicine.
Having lived infected with HIV, without antiretroviral combination
therapies, suggests that nutrition, vitamins, minerals, herbs
and botanicals can be used to protect the body’s healing
system and boost the immune system. Vitamins and minerals are
necessary for regulating cell function and HIV infection increases
the need for vitamin supplements. It is these (not the HIV medications),
which are more readily available and being used by millions of
people worldwide. With remarkable results! Creating longevity
for a happy healthy life!
HIV infects immune cells called CD4
“Healing this disease requires an equal emphasis on vanquishing
a viral enemy and strengthening the body’s natural defenses. Microbiologists
have recently shown that exposure to HIV initiates a long, drawn–out
power struggle between invader and host. Over the course of many
years, what appears to be a quiet truce in an otherwise healthy
person is anything but. Immune ‘soldier’ cells in the
body are constantly fighting to stay ahead of HIV as it reproduces
itself.
HIV positive people can outmanoeuvre the virus by strengthening
their immune defenses with diet, supplements, herbs, exercise
and mind–body medicine. It’s up to the individual to take great
measures to support their immune systems in that fight. That includes
getting enough protein and nutrients while conserving energy and
reducing stress.
These efforts enable patients to achieve what I call a ‘dynamic
equilibrium’. That's when the immune system keeps pace with
HIV, preventing active infection and keeping the viral load, as
we call it, at low or modest levels."
Dr. Jon Kaiser, author of ‘Healing HIV: How To Rebuild Your
Immune System’.
How many people have to voice this united understanding? How
many letters, articles, research studies, books and web sites
devoted to complementary therapies does it take before we recognize
and implement the necessary changes in health care? There are
scientists, doctors, naturopathic physicians, nutritionists and
all those in the healing arts using complementary therapies, including
patients who have healed, all expressing the positive results,
outside of pharmaceuticals, when it comes to health and healing!
HIV is NOT solely responsible for every health issue facing
individuals infected!
When a person tests positive for the HIV virus or a person who
is HIV positive goes to the doctor because of feeling unwell,
physicians most often recommend anti-viral therapy in both situations.
The physician recommends blood work. The blood work is then regarded
as a marker for which treatment is prescribed. The underlying
concern is for those individuals who may not be having trouble
with the virus in their system, as much as having some other factor
affecting their health.
Manufacturer’s statement in the leaflet accompanying
the Western Blot (HIV) test kit, states:
“Positive tests do not prove AIDS or pre AIDS disease
status
nor that these diseases will be acquired.”
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