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Erectile
Dysfunction - Impotence
Erectile dysfunction,
sometimes called "impotence," is the repeated inability to get or keep
an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. The word "impotence" may
also be used to describe other problems that interfere with sexual
intercourse and reproduction, such as lack of sexual desire and problems
with ejaculation or orgasm. Using the term erectile dysfunction makes it
clear that those other problems are not involved.
In older men, ED usually has a physical cause, such as disease, injury,
or side effects of drugs. Any disorder that causes injury to the nerves
or impairs blood flow in the penis has the potential to cause ED.
Incidence increases with age: About 5 percent of 40-year-old men and
between 15 and 25 percent of 65-year-old men experience ED. But it is
not an inevitable part of aging.
ED is treatable at any age, and awareness of this fact has been growing.
More men have been seeking help and returning to normal sexual activity
because of improved, successful treatments for ED. Urologists, who
specialize in problems of the urinary tract, have traditionally treated
ED; however, urologists accounted for only 25 percent of Viagra mentions
in 1999. There are also other Erectile Dysfunction medications like
Cialis and Levitra as well as oral Viagra, all of which you will find in
our Medications drop down list above at the top of the page. Look under
Men's Health.
Treatment for Herpes
Treatment for genital herpes
There are three antiviral
medications that are FDA-approved for the treatment of genital herpes
and all are available here at XLPharmacy under our medications drop down
list at the top of this page (under Herpes):
Acyclovir
The oldest antiviral
medication for herpes is acyclovir. Acyclovir is available as a generic
drug and is also sold under the brand name Zovirax®. It has been
available since 1982 in a topical form (as an ointment) and sold since
1985 in pill form. Acyclovir has been shown to be safe in persons who
have used it continuously (every day) for as long as 10 years.
Valacyclovir
A newer drug, valacyclovir
(brand name Valtrex®), actually uses acyclovir as its active ingredient.
This medication delivers acyclovir more efficiently so that the body
absorbs much of the drug, which has the advantage of taking the
medication fewer times during the day.
Famciclovir
Famciclovir (brand name
Famvir®) utilizes penciclovir as its active ingredient to stop HSV from
replicating. Like valacyclovir, it is well absorbed, persists for a
longer time in the body, and can be taken less frequently than
acyclovir.
Antiviral medication
is commonly prescribed for
patients having a first episode of genital herpes, but they can be used
for recurrent episodes as well. There are two kinds of treatment
regimens: (1) episodic therapy and (2) suppressive therapy.
Episodic Therapy
In this approach, a person
begins taking medication at the first sign of recurrence (or ideally at
first signs of prodrome) and would continue for several days, in order
to hasten the healing, or even prevent an outbreak from fully occurring.
All three of the antiviral treatments mentioned above have been proven
to help shorten the amount of time that a person may experience symptoms
of herpes. However, keep in mind that results may vary from person to
person.
Many people feel the advantages of using medication for recurrent
episodes are marginal compared with use in a primary episode. But for
others, episodic therapy offers a useful way to manage outbreaks by
cutting the length of an outbreak by a day or two, on average. The
benefits may be greater
for those whose outbreaks
tend to last longer.
Also,
episodic therapy
has its best results when
treatment begins at the very first sign of prodrome. If lesions are
already present, therapy may offer little benefit. Because the
medications differ in their absorption rate and duration of
effectiveness, dosages vary with episodic therapy treatment ranging from
one to five pills every day for three to five days during an outbreak.
Suppressive Therapy
People with genital herpes
who want to eliminate (suppress) outbreaks altogether can take antiviral
medication daily to hold HSV in check so that it's less likely to flare
up and cause symptoms. For individuals who have frequent recurrences
(six or more per year), studies have shown that suppressive therapy can
reduce the number of outbreaks by at least 75% while the medication is
being taken. Also, for some, taking an antiviral on a daily basis can
prevent outbreaks altogether.
While
antivirals can
be successful in controlling herpes symptoms, researchers also have
turned their attention to the important issue of antiviral therapy and
asymptomatic shedding. Does suppressive therapy lower the risk of
unrecognized herpes reactivation as well as curb recognized outbreaks?
One study addressing this question found that women on suppressive
acyclovir (400 mg, twice daily) had a 94% reduction in subclinical
shedding while taking daily therapy. This type of study has also been
done with famciclovir and valacyclovir, yielding similar reductions in
both men and women.
Suppressive therapy
has been studied in
thousands of patients and it appears to be both safe and effective.
Because the medications differ in their absorption rate and duration of
effectiveness, dosages vary with suppressive therapy treatment ranging
from one to two pills every day.
Treatment for oral herpes
The antiviral medications
available in pill form (acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir) have been
specifically developed for the treatment of genital herpes. However, it
is not uncommon for health care providers to prescribe the antiviral
drugs to those who have frequent or severe outbreaks of oral herpes. A
recent study found valacyclovir (Valtrex®) to be effective for treating
oral herpes in a one-day treatment of 2 grams taken at the first sign of
a cold sore, and then again about 12 hours later.
There are two
topical antiviral
medications prescribed for
the treatment of oral HSV symptoms: acyclovir ointment (brand name
Zovirax®) and penciclovir cream (brand name Denavir®). Both work to
speed up the healing process and reduce the viral activity. These
topical drugs are put directly on the lesions themselves, but can also
be used at the onset of prodrome.
Other topical treatments
for oral herpes are
available over-the-counter (OTC), but are not antiviral compounds like
acyclovir and penciclovir. Some also contain ingredients that numb the
area and induce temporary relief from the discomfort of an outbreak.
Unfortunately, some OTC treatments may actually delay the healing time
of symptoms because they can further irritate the area with repeated
applications. There is only one OTC FDA-approved cream, called Abreva®,
which has been clinically proven to help speed the healing process.
How to Use a Condom
How you prepare
Condoms are available
without a prescription. They're sold in many stores and from vending
machines in some restrooms. Condoms may be less expensive at family
planning clinics such as Planned Parenthood. They're also usually
available at university health centers.
Condoms come in a number of shapes, sizes and textures. Finding a condom
that works well for you can take a little trial and error.
Fit is important.
If it's too tight, a
condom is more likely to break. If it's too loose, it may slip off.
Some men find that condoms decrease sensation or are uncomfortable to
wear. You may find that a certain type of condom is more comfortable for
you or provides greater sensation during sex.
Some condoms are
lubricated with nonoxynol-9, a spermicide meant to help prevent
pregnancy. However, condoms without spermicide appear to be a better
option for several reasons:
Spermicidal condoms
don't appear to be any
more effective than other lubricated condoms at preventing pregnancy.
Nonoxynol-9
may irritate or damage
skin cells in the vagina and rectum. This could potentially increase the
risk of getting an STD.
Spermicide
doesn't help protect you
or your partner against HIV/AIDS or other STDs.
Spermicidal condoms
cost more than other types
of condoms and have a shorter shelf life.
Condom safety tips
Store condoms
in a cool, dry place.
Exposure to air, heat and light increases the chance that a condom will
break. Don't keep condoms in a billfold, back pocket or glove
compartment for an extended period of time. Friction, perspiration and
changes in temperature can cause condoms to break down and become less
reliable.
Check the expiration date.
Don't use a condom after
its expiration has passed.
Check condoms for damage —
brittleness, small tears
or pinprick holes — before using.
With latex condoms,
be sure to use only
water-based lubricants, such as K-Y jelly. Don't use oil-based
lubricants, such as petroleum jelly, baby oil, cooking oil or lotion.
They can weaken a latex condom and cause it to break.
Never reuse a condom.
If a condom is inside out
and does not unroll easily, don't flip it over because there may be
semen in it. Use another condom.
If you're concerned about
preventing STDs, use
a latex or polyurethane condom. Lambskin condoms don't protect against
STDs as well as latex or polyurethane condoms do. Read the label on the
package to see what the condom is made of and whether it's labeled for
STD prevention.
For the best protection from STDs,
use a condom during any
sexual activity, whether vaginal, oral or anal.
What you can expect
It's important to use
condoms carefully, correctly and consistently.
Open the package carefully. Don't use teeth or fingernails.
If you use condoms that
aren't already lubricated, apply lubricant inside and outside of the
condom.
If you're not circumcised, make sure you pull your foreskin back before
putting on the condom.
Place the tip of the rolled-up condom over the erect penis. The rolled
rim should be on the outside.
Gently press the tip of
the condom to remove air.
Unless the condom has a reservoir tip, unroll the condom down over the
entire penis while leaving room — a half-inch space — at the tip to
collect the semen.
Remove any air bubbles to make sure the condom fits correctly. An air
bubble could cause the condom to tear or come off.
After intercourse,
withdraw the penis while holding the base of the condom so that the
condom doesn't come off. Then remove the condom and dispose of it in the
trash. Don't flush condoms down the toilet.
Results
Condoms are an effective
form of birth control. However, about 1 in 50 couples who use condoms
correctly will get pregnant in a year. Chances of pregnancy increase if
you don't always wear a condom during intercourse, or you use condoms
incorrectly.
Although there is still some risk for getting or transmitting STDs,
condoms are very effective at preventing the transmission of most STDs.
When used
correctly, a condom creates a barrier that limits your exposure — and
your partner's exposure — to semen or other body fluids that can carry
STDs.
In 1992, Sir Elton formed
the Elton John AIDS Foundation in NYC, then soon opened one in London in
1993. He'd lost "many dear friends" to AIDS and thought the best way to
combat the fatal disease was to contribute to the "global effort to end
the AIDS epidemic." Though he'd been doing charitable work since the
mid-80s, it was his relationship with young Ryan White that made him
decide he had to do more. Ryan White was a teenager in Indiana who was
expelled from school once it was discovered he had the disease. He was
hemophiliac and got the virus during a blood transfusion. He was
subjected to much harrassment as a result and died in April of 1990,
shortly before he was to graduate high school, with his mother and Sir
Elton by his side. EJAF addresses ignorance faced in relation to the
disease, as well as providing emergency funds for those in crisis. The
organization grew so quickly that it soon partnered with the National
AIDS Foundations, providing community-based grants on a nationwide level
and also distributing grants on an international level to developing
countries.
Since its inception, EJAF has raised over $150 million dollars and has
financially "leveraged" $315 million to enhance "HIV/AIDS prevention and
service programs in 55 countries around the globe." Some of the direct
services the organization provides are HIV testing/counseling, urban
outreach, mental and physical health services related to HIV/AIDS, and
assisted living services, just to name a few of the accessible programs.
Annually, Sir Elton honors those he feels have contributed to the
progress of humanity and medical research with the "An Enduring Vision"
Benefit. This year, honorees are former President Bill Clinton, Evelyn
and Leonard Lauder, Lily Safra and Sharon Stone, who've all made
large-scale philanthropic contributions to HIV/AIDS research, as well as
other humanitarian efforts. The benefit will be held on November 16 this
year at Cipriani Wall Street. For more information, go to: www.ejaf.org
or www.ejaf.com.
Chocolate Slashes Death Rate in Heart Attack Survivors
Heart attack survivors who eat chocolate two or more times a week cut
their risk of dying from heart disease about threefold compared with
those who never touch the stuff, a new study found.
Smaller quantities confer less protection but are better than none,
according to the study, which appears in the September issue of the
Journal of Internal Medicine.
Earlier research had established a strong link between cocoa-based
confections and lowered blood pressure or improvement in blood flow.
It also had shown that chocolate cuts the rate of heart-related
mortality in healthy older men, along with post-menopausal women.
But the new study is the first to demonstrate that consuming chocolate
can help ward off the grim reaper if one has suffered an acute
myocardial infarction — otherwise known as a heart attack.
"It was specific to chocolate — we found no benefit to sweets in
general," said Kenneth Mukamal, a researcher at Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center in Boston and a co-author of the study, which Imre
Janszky of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm led.
"It seems that antioxidants in cocoa are a likely candidate" in
explaining the life-saving properties, he told AFP in an exchange of
e-mails.
Antioxidants are compounds that protect against so-called free radicals,
molecules that accumulate in the body over time and can damage cells.
The free radicals are thought to play a role in heart disease, cancer
and the aging process.
In the study, Janszky and colleagues tracked 1,169 non-diabetic men and
women, ages 45 to 70, in Stockholm County during the early 1990s from
the time they were hospitalized with their first heart attack.
The participants were queried before leaving hospital on their food
consumption habits during the previous year, including how much
chocolate they ate on a regular basis.
They underwent a health examination three months after discharge and
were monitored for eight years after that. The incidence of fatal heart
attacks correlated inversely with the amount of chocolate consumed.
"Our findings support increasing evidence that chocolate is a rich
source of beneficial bioactive compounds," the researchers concluded.
The results held true for men and women across all the age groups in the
study.
Welcome to the newly redesigned XLPharmacy Health Blog and Health
Videos, a collection of up-to-date Monthly Health Articles, News, and
Health Videos. In each current months issue XLPharmacy Health
Blog / health news provides a wealth of up-to-date medical news and videos we hope
you find helpful and informational. At XLPharmacy we care about you
and your family and we believe that everyone should have fast and
reliable access to affordable high quality medications in order to
maintain a healthy lifestyle. Staying in touch with the latest in
health news is only part of what we do. Be sure to stay
up-to-date by reading and watching XLPharmacy's health blog, news,
and health videos so you don't miss a single issue, video or health news
story in today's ever-changing world of health care. XLPharmacy
Health Blog and Health Articles will discuss everything from
Medicare to Social Security, Weight loss, Cancer to New Cancer
tests, Erectile Dysfunction and Medications like Viagra for Sexual
Health, Herpes, HIV, AIDS, Smoking, Women's Health, Mental Health
and so much more...(check our coupon code to the left)
New
articles are added all month long....
Featured Article - Swine Flu
Vaccine May Be More Dangerous than the Swine Flu
Vaccine May Be More Dangerous Than Swine Flu
An outbreak of swine flu occurred in Mexico this spring that
eventually affected 4,910 Mexican citizens and resulted in 85
deaths. By the time it spread to the United States, the virus caused
only mild cases of flu-like illness.
Thanks to air travel and the failure of public health officials to
control travel from Mexico, the virus spread worldwide. Despite
predictions of massive numbers of deaths and the arrival of
doomsday, the virus has remained a relatively mild disease,
something we know happens each year with flu epidemics.
Worldwide, there have only been 311 deaths out of 70,893 cases of
swine flu. In the United States, 27,717 cases have resulted in 127
deaths. Every death is a tragedy, but such a low death rate should
not be the basis of a draconian government policy.
It is helpful to recall that the Centers for Disease Control with
the collusion of the media, constantly tell us that 36,000 people
die from the flu each year, a figure that has been shown to be a
lie. In this case, we are talking about 300 plus deaths for the
entire world.
This virus continues to be an enigma for virologists. In the April
30, 2009 issue of Nature, a virologist was quoted as saying,“Where
the hell it got all these genes from we don’t know.” Extensive
analysis of the virus found that it contained the original 1918 H1N1
flu virus, the avian flu virus (bird flu), and two new H3N2 virus
genes from Eurasia. Debate continues over the possibility that swine
flu is a genetically engineered virus.
Naturally, vaccine manufacturers have been in a competitive battle
to produce the first vaccine. The main contenders have been Baxter
Pharmaceuticals and Novartis Pharmaceuticals, the latter of which
recently acquired the scandal-ridden Chiron vaccine company. Both of
these companies have had agreements with the World Health
Organization to produce a pandemic vaccine.
The Baxter vaccine, called Celvapan, has had fast track approval. It
uses a new vero cell technology, which utilizes cultured cells from
the African green monkey. This same animal tissue transmits a number
of vaccine-contaminating viruses, including the HIV virus.
The Baxter company has been associated with two deadly scandals. The
first event occurred in 2006 when hemophiliac components were
contaminated with HIV virus and injected in tens of thousands of
people, including thousands of children. Baxter continued to release
the HIV contaminated vaccine even after the contamination was known.
The second event occurred recently when it was discovered that
Baxter had released a seasonal flu vaccine containing the bird flu
virus, which would have produced a real world pandemic, to 18
countries. Fortunately, astute lab workers in the Czech Republic
discovered the deadly combination and blew the whistle before a
worldwide disaster was unleashed.
Despite these two deadly events, WHO maintains an agreement with
Baxter Pharmaceuticals to produce the world’s pandemic vaccine.
Novartis, the second contender, also has an agreement with WHO for a
pandemic vaccine. Novartis appears to have won the contract, since
their vaccine is near completion. What is terrifying is that these
pandemic vaccines contain ingredients, called immune adjuvants that
a number of studies have shown cause devastating autoimmune
disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and
lupus.
Animal studies using this adjuvant have found them to be deadly. A
study using 14 guinea pigs found that when they were injected with
the special adjuvant, only one animal survived. A repeat of the
study found the same deadly outcome.
So, what is this deadly ingredient? It is called squalene, a type of
oil. The Chiron company, maker of the deadly anthrax vaccine, makes
an adjuvant called MF-59 which contains two main ingredients of
concern—squalene and gp120. A number of studies have shown that
squalene can trigger all of the above-mentioned autoimmune diseases
when injected.
The MF-59 adjuvant has been used in several vaccines. These
vaccines, including tetanus and diphtheria, are the same vaccines
frequently associated with adverse reactions.
I reviewed a number of studies on this adjuvant and found something
quite interesting. Several studies done on human test subjects found
MF-59 to be a very safe immune adjuvant. But when I checked to see
who did these studies, I found—to no surprise—that they were done by
the Novartis Pharmaceutical Company and Chiron Pharmaceutical
Company, which have merged. They were all published in “prestigious”
medical journals. Also, to no surprise, a great number of studies
done by independent laboratories and research institutions all found
a strong link between MF-59 and autoimmune diseases.
Squalene in vaccines has been strongly linked to the Gulf War
Syndrome. On August 1991, Anthony Principi, Secretary of
Veterans Affairs admitted that soldiers vaccinated with the anthrax
vaccine from 1990 to 1991 had an increased risk of 200 percent in
developing the deadly disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),
also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. The soldiers also suffered from a
number of debilitating and life-shortening diseases, such as
polyarteritis nodosa, multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus, transverse
myelitis (a neurological disorder caused by inflammation of the
spinal cord), endocarditis (inflammation of the heart’s inner
lining), optic neuritis with blindness and glomerulonephritis (a
type of kidney disease).
The second ingredient, and one that greatly concerns me, is called
gp120, a glycoprotein. Researchers found when it was
mixed with squalene, the glycoprotein became strongly antigenic—that
is, it produced a powerful and prolonged immune response to the
vaccination. In fact, their studies show that with each dose, the
intense immune reaction lasts over a year.
Now for the shocker—the
glycoprotein-gp120, a major component of MF-59 vaccine adjuvant,
is the same protein fragment isolated from the HIV virus that is
responsible for the rapid dementia seen in AIDS patients.
Studies have shown that when gp120 is taken up by the microglia
cells in the brain, it causes intense inflammation and makes the
brain subject to excitotoxic damage—a process called
immunoexcitotoxicity. This is also the cause of the MS and optic
neuritis associated with vaccines that contain MF-59.
So, how would the gp120 get into the brain? Studies of other immune
adjuvants using careful tracer techniques have shown that they
routinely enter the brain following vaccination. What most people do
not know, even the doctors who recommend the vaccines, is that most
such studies by pharmaceutical companies observe the patients for
only one to two weeks following vaccination—these types of reactions
may take months or even years to manifest.
It is obvious that the vaccine manufacturers stand to make billions
of dollars in profits from this WHO/government-promoted pandemic.
Novartis, the maker of the new pandemic vaccine, recently announced
that they would not give free vaccines to impoverished
nations—everybody pays.
One must keep in mind that once the vaccine is injected, there is
little you can do to protect yourself—at least by conventional
medicine. It will mean a lifetime of crippling illness and early
death.
There are much safer ways to protect oneself from this flu virus,
such as higher doses of vitamin D3, selective immune enhancement
using supplements, and a good diet.
Current Month Story -
Osteoporosis Drug Kills Swine Flu
Osteoporosis Drugs Kill Swine Flu
Two
existing drugs used to treat osteoporosis may be effective in
killing influenza viruses, including the new H1N1 swine flu and the
H5N1 bird flu viruses, researchers in Hong Kong have found.
The two drugs are pamidronate and zoledronate, which are marketed by
Novartis AG under the brand names Aredia and Reclast, respectively.
In their experiment, the researchers exposed human cells that had
been infected with the influenza viruses to the two drugs.
They observed that the drugs triggered extra production of a type of
white blood cell called yd-T cells, which went on to kill human
cells that were infected with the flu viruses.
Flu viruses can only replicate in living human or animal cells and
killing infected cells would stop the viruses from replicating, the
researchers said.
Professor Lau Yu-lung at the University of Hong Kong's pediatrics
and adolescent medicine department described the infected human
cells as "factories that will produce viruses."
"These drugs attack the viruses specifically ... This approach kills
the factories that are producing viruses."
Malik Peiris, also part of the research team, said the drugs could
enhance immune responses of the human body.
That was especially important as flu viruses mutate constantly,
which reduces the efficacy of vaccines, he added.
The researchers plan to move next into animal and then human
clinical testing.
Current Month Story - HIV symptoms
HIV Symptoms
HIV is one of the most widespread diseases of our times and is
slowly taking the form of an epidemic. It therefore becomes
important for us, that we become increasingly aware of this great
threat to entire mankind. Sadly we are not left with too many
options, mainly because HIV is still an incurable disease.
One of the major reasons of the widespread advance of HIV is that in
most of the cases it is not actually accompanied by any visible
symptoms in the initial stages. However signs begin to show, once
the immune system breaks down, and the person is on the verge of
developing AIDS.
A person infected with HIV may show some or all of the following
symptoms:
1. Fever- Fever or Pyrexia
refers to a condition where a person suffers from increased body
temperature i.e. a body temperature higher than 98.6 degree F. It is
accompanied by an increased heart rate, muscle tone, as well as
shivering.
2. Night sweats- Night sweats
can be referred to as severe hot flashes which occur during the
night, resulting in severe perspiration. At times patient gets
totally drenched in sweat. Such a stage may last between 30 seconds
to several minutes as well.
3. Chronic yeast infection or thrush-
A person infected with HIV may develop chronic yeast infection and
thrush, which is an infection of the mucous membrane of the mouth,
caused by Candida (a fungal genus).
4. Bouts
of extreme exhaustion- A person infected with HIV may
suffer from extreme bouts of exhaustion, which are often
unexplained. Such unnatural occurrences may happen any time and are
warning signs for the patient.
5. Body rashes- A patient may
develop rashes on the skin which may be localized to one area, or
may be spread on a wider area. Such a condition is quite normal, and
is often ignored, resulting in severe consequences.
6. Easy bruising- A person
suffering from HIV may develop easy bruising on the body. This may
happen any time and are often unexplained. As the immune system is
already damaged, the bruises do not heal easily and may result in
open wounds.
7. Lesions- Appearance of
purplish lesions on the skin or the mouth is another common symptom
in such case. These lesions may be localized, as well as spread over
a wide area.
8. Sudden weight loss- This is another symptom which should not be
taken lightly. An infected person may lose weight drastically, often
within a few weeks time.
9. Chronic
Diarrhea- An infected person would
in all probability suffer from chronic diarrhea, which may last for
a month or more. Such a condition is extremely critical and needs
immediate action.
Although HIV is incurable, yet proper care as well as medication can
help in delaying the development of AIDS.
Current Month Story - Licorice
and HIV
Licorice is a powerful herbal
remedy in treating peptic ulcers
and shows much promise in the
treatment of HIV and AIDS.
Preparations of licorice
containing glycyrrhizin are
showing promise in the treatment
of HIV and AIDS, as well as
hepatitis. One long-term study
was performed on 16 HIV+
patients. None of the people who
received glycyrrhizin progressed
to AIDS or did their immune
function deteriorate.
Individuals who did not take
glycyrrhizin, had a decrease in
helper and total T-cell counts
and antibody levels. Two
developed AIDS.[2]
Taking
Licorice Has been Researched
There has been a great deal of
research on Licorice and HIV,
all one has to do is GOOGLE
"Licorice and HIV" to see the
many studies. One should consult
with their doctor on the proper
amount of licorice as it has
been know to raise blood
pressure if taken in large
amounts.
The information in the article
this disclaimer is linked from
should not be considered medical
advice. The information in the
article this disclaimer is linked
from is not meant to treat,
diagnose, prescribe or cure any
ailment. Always check with your
physician before taking any
products or following any advice
you have read on this or any
other article on this research.
Always consult your doctor
before you start, stop or change
anything that has been
previously prescribed. Certain
herbs and holistic remedies are
unsuitable to take if you are
pregnant or nursing and must
always be cleared by your doctor
before use.
read more...here
page 91 and 92 (Understanding
Herbal Healing)
Note: Licorice candy has
no real licorice in it, just
artificial flavor.
HOW TO TAKE THIS HERB:
as a decoction: 1 teaspoon or
cut root per cup of water, cover
and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
Strain and drink. It may be
combined with other herbs like
astragalus, burdock, dandelion,
slippery elm, etc.; it enhances
the properties of other herbs.
Licorice is also available as a
tincture and in capsules (follow
manufacturer's instructions).
• To make licorice tea, add 1
teaspoon of licorice root powder
to 1 cup of hot water and steep
for 5 minutes.
• You can also chew on whole
sticks to extract the juice.
• If you take DGL capsules, you
must chew on them to get the
health benefits of licorice
(saliva activates DGL).
Please note...No known herbal
remedy has been shown to cure
AIDS or even reduce chances of
AIDS-related infections. Still,
some herbs can be worth trying
if you use them safely and in
consultation with a qualified
practitioner who not only
understands herbs but also has
experience treating AIDS and HIV
infection.
Aloe vera, St. Johnswort,
echinacea, licorice, and ginseng
are just a few of the herbs used
to treat HIV/AIDS. Taking
immunity-boosting herbs (such as
astragalus, echinacea, and
ginkgo) may help revive an
ailing immune system, and
certain herbs (such as garlic)
may help battle bacteria and
viruses. Deglycyrrhizinated
licorice can soothe the mouth
and throat ulcers that often
accompany full-blown AIDS. Just
remember that even if these
herbs have these powers, no one
yet understands just how they
work in helping AIDS or whether
using them really makes a
difference in the course of the
disease.
Current Month Story -
Alternative Therapies for AIDS
The Key
The key to effective treatment
is early detection and
intervention. Some early
treatments aim to strengthen the
immune system, help patients
reduce stress, and maintain good
nutritional practices and
appropriate exercise regimens.
Many of the alternative
therapies described below place
significant emphasis on these
lifestyle issues. Taking an
active role in any disease is an
important adjunct to treatment.
Consideration of alternative
therapies in conjunction with
conventional medicine may offer
additional opportunities for
persons living with HIV/AIDS to
be proactively involved in their
treatment.
How to
Approach Alternative Therapies
Here are a few suggestions to
follow before involved in any
alternative therapy:
• Obtain objective information
about the therapy. Besides
talking with the person
promoting the approach, speak
with people who have gone
through the treatment—preferably
those who were treated recently
and those treated in the past.
Ask about the advantages and
disadvantages, risks, side
effects, costs, results they
experienced, and over what time
span results can be expected.
• Inquire about the training and
expertise of the person
administering the treatment
(i.e., certification). If any
uncertainty remains, verify the
information.
• Consider the costs.
Alternative treatments may not
currently be reimbursable by
health insurance.
• Discuss all treatments with
your primary care provider, who
needs this information in order
to have a complete picture of
your treatment plan.
People with HIV/AIDS in the
United States use many kinds of
alternative approaches to
treatment. Some of the most
common are briefly described
below and continue on the Life
Positive link shown.
The use of acupuncture and
Chinese herbal medications has
become one of the most commonly
used alternative therapies for
AIDS. Its use has become so
widely accepted that two Chinese
Medicine Clinics in San
Francisco have been awarded
contracts through the SF Health
Department`s
AIDS Office to provide
Chinese Medical treatment to
people with HIV. The contracts
are funded by Ryan White CARE
Act allocations. Most people
with HIV who use acupuncture and
Chinese herbs do so in
conjunction with western
medicine. There are, however,
some who use it as their
principal form of medical
treatment. It is strongly
suggested that it be used under
the supervision of a licensed
practitioner.
Current Month Story -
New HIV strain
discovered in woman from Cameroon
New
HIV strain discovered in woman
from Cameroon
A new strain of the virus that
causes AIDS has been discovered
in a woman from the African
nation of Cameroon. It differs
from the three known strains of
human immunodeficiency virus and
appears to be closely related to
a form of simian virus recently
discovered in wild gorillas,
researchers report in Monday's
edition of the journal Nature
Medicine.
The finding "highlights the
continuing need to watch closely
for the emergence for new HIV
variants, particularly in
western central Africa," said
the researchers, led by
Jean-Christophe Plantier of the
University of Rouen, France.
The three previously known HIV
strains are related to the
simian virus that occurs in
chimpanzees.
The most likely explanation for
the new find is gorilla-to-human
transmission, Plantier's team
said. But they added they cannot
rule out the possibility that
the new strain started in
chimpanzees and moved into
gorillas and then humans, or
moved directly from chimpanzees
to both gorillas and humans.
The 62-year-old patient tested
positive for HIV in 2004,
shortly after moving to Paris
from Cameroon, according to the
researchers. She had lived near
Yaounde, the capital of
Cameroon, but said she had no
contact with apes or bush meat,
a name often given to meat from
wild animals in tropical
countries.
The woman currently shows no
signs of AIDS and remains
untreated, though she still
carries the virus, the
researchers said.
How widespread this strain is
remains to be determined.
Researchers said it could be
circulating unnoticed in
Cameroon or elsewhere. The
virus' rapid replication
indicates that it is adapted to
human cells, the researchers
reported.
Their research was supported by
the French Health Watch
Institute, the French National
Agency for Research on AIDS and
Viral Hepatitis and Rouen
University Hospital.
A separate paper, also in Nature
Medicine, reports that people
with genital herpes remain at
increased risk of HIV infection
even after the herpes sores have
healed and the skin appears
normal.
Researchers led by Drs. Lawrence
Corey and Jia Zhu of the Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research
Center found that long after the
areas where the herpes sores
existed seem to be clear, they
still have immune-cell activity
that can encourage HIV
infection.
Herpes is marked by recurring
outbreaks and has been
associated with higher rates of
infection with HIV. It had been
thought that the breaks in the
skin were the reason for higher
HIV rates, but a study last year
found that treatment of herpes
with drugs did not reduce the
HIV risk.
The researchers tested the skin
of herpes patients for several
weeks after their sores had
healed and found that, compared
with other genital skin, from
twice to 37 times more immune
cells remained at the locations
where the sores had been.
HIV targets immune cells and in
laboratory tests the virus
reproduced three to five times
faster in tissue from the healed
sites as in tissue from other
areas.
"Understanding that even treated
(herpes) infections provide a
cellular environment conducive
to HIV infection suggests new
directions for HIV prevention
research," commented Dr. Anthony
S. Fauci, director of the
National Institute of Allergy
and Infectious Disease.
That study was funded by the
National Institutes of Health
and the Tietze Foundation.
Current Month Story -
New Evidence AIDS
virus traveled from gorilla to human
AIDS
from Gorilla to Human (New
Evidence)
For the first time,
researchers have found evidence
that the AIDS virus traveled
from gorilla to human, another
confirmation that the disease
continues to evolve even as
scientists race to vanquish it.
French scientists reported
Sunday that a woman in the West
African country of Cameroon
carried a strain of the AIDS
virus that is closely related to
a similar virus found in
gorillas.
It's not yet clear whether this
strain of HIV, the virus that
causes AIDS, is common among
humans or whether it's
especially dangerous.
"Findings like these remind us
that primates continue to
transmit viruses to humans just
as they did before we knew about
AIDS," said Rowena Johnston,
vice president of research with
the Foundation for AIDS Research
(AmFAR) in New York City. "HIV
continues to broadside us from
directions we do not necessarily
expect."
Previously, scientists had
believed that HIV mainly made
its way to humans via
chimpanzees, Johnston said. A
kind of monkey known as a sooty
mangabey is also thought to have
transmitted the disease.
The virus could have been passed
through blood as people ate
bushmeat -- meat from wild
animals -- or prepared it.
But the Cameroonian woman
appears to have a strain that
originated in a gorilla,
according to the report in the
Aug. 2 online issue of Nature
Medicine.
The 62-year-old woman, diagnosed
with HIV in 2004, hasn't
developed the symptoms of AIDS
even though she's not being
treated with medications. She
lives in Paris, where she moved
from Cameroon.
The study author was not
available for comment. Johnston,
who is familiar with the
findings, said the woman may
have been infected via sexual
contact with someone who hunted
gorillas, or she could have
gotten the disease by having
contact with gorilla meat. Or it
could have been transmitted
through several people before
reaching her.
It's not clear how long the
strain has been in existence,
but the research suggests that
it has made it through several
"rounds" of infection, Johnston
said.
"The jury is still out as to
whether this is bad news
relative to strains of HIV that
are already circulating," she
said. "We just can't draw those
kinds of conclusions from one
person."
The woman's case is unusual,
however, and that fact may be
revealing, said Dr. Philip R.
Johnson, an AIDS specialist and
chief scientific officer at
Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia.
The level of virus in the
woman's body is high but she
doesn't appear to have symptoms,
potentially suggesting that the
strain isn't strong, he said.
In the big picture, it's
possible that the disease didn't
pass directly from gorillas to
humans, but instead took another
route, Johnson added.
"More cases will need to be
found. The key is that
[researchers] now have the tools
to look [for them]," he said.
It's possible, he said, that
scientists missed similar cases
in the past because testing
technology couldn't detect them.
Current Month Story -
Proper Diet for people with AIDS
Diet And Nutrition
The role of good nutrition in the management of HIV/AIDS has assumed
increasing importance over the past decade. In fact, medical
research has shown that nutritious food is one of the most powerful
weapons available for fighting the often-calamitous effects of AIDS.
Furthermore, it has been clinically confirmed that malnutrition is
the fatal manifestation of AIDS for many of the people who succumb
to the disease. People living with AIDS may require up to twice the
normal daily caloric intake to protect themselves from the dangers
of HIV-related malnutrition: heightened immunosuppression, muscle
wasting, and outright starvation due to malabsorption and abnormal
metabolism of nutrients. In addition, appropriate dietary
modifications can significantly reduce both the side effects of
medications and the symptoms of opportunistic infections.
Although the recent emergence of protease inhibitors offers new hope
for effective treatments, these advances—for those who can afford
them—will only increase the importance of proper nutrition. Even the
most promising combination therapies have side effects, which can be
reduced by proper nutrition. Additionally, proper nutrition takes on
an added importance whin considered in conjunction with the effect
that diet has on the absorption of certain medications by the body.
In those cases where the new treatments prolong the lives of people
living with HIV/AIDS, the number of long-term survivors of the
disease will grow, increasing the number of people who could benefit
significantly from proper nutrition.
Good nutrition means getting enough macronutrients and
micronutrients. Macronutrients contain calories (energy): proteins,
carbohydrates, and fats. They help you maintain your body weight.
Micronutrients include vitamins and minerals. They keep your cells
working properly, but will not prevent weight loss.
Good nutrition can be a problem for many people with HIV. When your
body fights any infection, it uses more energy and you need to eat
more than normal. But when you feel sick, you eat less than normal.
Some medications can upset your stomach, and some opportunistic
infections can affect the mouth or throat. This makes it difficult
to eat. Also, some medications and infections cause diarrhea. If you
have diarrhea, your body actually uses less of what you eat.
When you lose weight, you might be losing fat, or you might be
losing lean body weight like muscle. If you lose too much lean
weight, your body chemistry changes. This condition is called
wasting syndrome or cachexia. Wasting can kill you. If you lose more
than 5% of your body weight, it could be a sign of wasting. Discuss
it with your doctor.
<
Persons with inadequate nutrition who are HIV positive, manifest
symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, malabsorption, diarrhea, oral/esophagealid
disease progression. Even when nutritional intake is adequate, an
HIV-positive person may lose weight long before he or she develops
AIDS. This happens because, throughout the progression of HIV ined
have an increased to opportunistic infections and a more rapstatus
is challenged by the fectiosusceptibilityn, the patient`s
nutritional problems, and infections that impede fat storage. People
with HIV may also develop lactose intolerance. After HIV infection
has progressed to AIDS, malabsorption of nutrients may become
severe. Weight loss can cause a vicious cycle of fatigue, muscle
wasting, and loss of appetite. Nutritionists and dieticians work
with people with HIV infection to design diets that provide those
nutrients that may be lacking. Some practitioners work within
mainstream medicine, while others have unique approaches.
It is important to know that many of the physical symptoms
associated with HIV can be made better or made worse by the food one
eats. The right foods to eat for one problem may be exactly the
wrong foods to eat for another. If one has more than one problem, it
can be difficult to know what to eat. Always try to ask the doctor
for advice on what is best for your condition.
The general principles of
Nutritional
Healing in HIV/AIDS upon which
Zimmerman bases her practice:
1. Maintain normal body weight. Be
aware of the caloric intake you need to achieve and maintain a
normal weight.
2. Build muscles/maintain lean body mass
(avoid wasting). Use strength training and, if necessary, steroids
or hormones to build/maintain muscle mass.
3. Optimize digestion. The digestive
tract is your center of health—simple steps like chewing your food
carefully can make its job much easier! Eating 4-6 small meals is
more efficient than eating 1-3 large meals.
4. Eat more `healing foods`, fewer
processed foods.
5. Drink 6-10 cups of non-caffeinated fluids
daily.
6. Use supplements rationally and consistently.
7. Address social and emotional isolation,
as these factors can negatively influence your food choices.
Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements are commonly used in an effort to boost the
immune system. Foods or substances derived from foods (garlic,
Chinese bitter melon, and turmeric) are used, as well as nonfood
dietary supplements such as shark cartilage or blue-green algae (spirulina).
Vitamins, minerals, and amino acids are also used in an attempt to
boost the immune system.
Supplements can be beneficial as just that: supplements to a well
balanced
healing foods diet. Supplements are
not a substitute for the vitamins in food. If you`d like to start
taking supplements, consult with an HIV nutrition specialist to help
you develop a supplement regimen that meets your needs. In general:
• Use supplements consistently for 6-8 weeks in order to see
results.
• Never take supplements on an empty stomach: they will be absorbed
more effectively if you take them with food.
• Tell your primary care provider about the supplements that you are
taking.
Some specific supplement suggestions are:
• Protein/Calorie (Boost, Ensure, etc.)
Use: weight gain
*not for people with severe thrush or yeast infections
• Protein Powders (whey, glutamine,
soy)
Use: increase protein intake (can help build/preserve muscle mass)
*not for people with severe liver or kidney disease
• Therapeutic Multivitamins
Use: provides 100% of the recommended daily allowance of many
vitamins
• Selenium
Use: antioxidant
This is the only supplement directly related to improved mortality
in HIV infection. The recommended daily allowance can be obtained in
1-2 Brazil nuts or in pill form.
• Alpha Lipoic/Thioctic Acid
Use: antioxidant
Good for liver detoxification and neuropathy relief.
• Calcium
Use: preserves bone, muscle, and nerve function
May help treat diarrhea.
• Coenzyme Q10
Use: support body`s energy pathways
May aid in mitochondrial toxicity from long-term antiretroviral use.
For further information on nutrition`s role in HIV care, Ms.
Zimmerman recommends reading
Healing HIV: How to Rebuild Your
Immune System by Jon Kaiser and Nutrition and HIV: A New Model for
Treatment by Mary Romeyn.
Current Month's Story -
Yoga and HIV
Yoga
It takes a great deal of courage to face a disease that seems to
have no cure as yet. Many people with HIV experience intense
feelings of fear, hopelessness, anxiety, loneliness, and depression.
Yoga cannot take the place of professional counseling in dealing
with severe distress, but Yoga techniques can do much to help one
reduce excessive fear and anxiety, learn stress-coping skills, and
build inner strength through the relaxation and self-awareness
training of meditation.
Yoga is the practice of an ancient system of breathing exercises,
postures, stretching exercises, and meditations based on Ayurvedic
medicine and Indian philosophy and religion. The aim of Yoga is to
help the individual balance the body`s chakras or energy centers.
Its practitioners believe that yoga can aid in detoxification,
strengthen particular organs, improve stamina, and alleviate chronic
fatigue. Although it is certainly not necessary for someone who is
HIV positive to take a specially designed yoga class, it could be
beneficial. Yoga is quickly gaining ground as an important
complementary therapy in the treatment of HIV and AIDS because of
its adaptability and its physiological and psychological benefits.
Stress, whether chronic or acute, produces biological changes that
are not only damaging, but can be lethal for anybody, especially
someone whose immune system is compromised. With all this stress,
tuning out the world through yoga, even for a few minutes, can be
difficult. That's where HIV/AIDS yoga classes come in. "To support
the yoga practices, we need sangha, a community of like-minded
people. This is especially true in healing, when pain and depression
can so easily interfere.
Jean Boulte has been taking
yoga class at the Integral Yoga
Institute in New York City once a week since he was first diagnosed
with AIDS in 1986. Boulte has a sincere belief that his commitment
to a holistic approach is what saved his life. "You need to do many
good things for yourself—take the medication, eat healthy, get
plenty of rest, and pay attention to the mind and body," he says.
"Yoga lets me disconnect from everything," he says. "It is
purifying, and the body thrives on purity."
Healthy Recipe of the
Month - Lemongrass chicken
skewers
Lemongrass chicken skewers with spicy squash
salad
This recipe combines
fashionable fusion, with lime, chilli, coriander
and lemongrass, which is wonderfully cleansing
for the body. It’s all cooked in the oven in
around 30 minutes – fast, healthy food!
This recipe combines fashionable
fusion, with lime, chilli, coriander and
lemongrass, which is wonderfully cleansing for
the body. It’s all cooked in the oven in around
30 minutes – fast, healthy food!
2.5cm (1in) piece fresh ginger, peeled and
chopped
2 red chillies, deseeded and finely chopped
5 long sticks lemongrass, 1 finely chopped, the
rest reserved for skewers
2½tbsp sunflower oil
zest and juice 1 lime
3 skinless free-range chicken breasts, cubed
1 butternut squash, approx 1kg
(2lb 4oz), peeled (optional), deseeded and cut
into cubes
2tsp Chinese 5-spice powder
50g (2oz) wild rocket
extra limes, to serve
1 Preheat the oven to 200 C,
180 C fan, 400 F, gas 6. Put the ginger, half
the chilli, chopped lemongrass, 1 tablespoon of
the oil, and lime zest and juice into a
mini-chopper or food processor and blend
until smooth.
2 Thread 4 to 5 pieces of
chicken on to each of the 4 lemongrass stalks
and place them side by side in a dish.
Spoon the lemongrass paste over the
chicken, making sure it’s all well
coated. Cover and marinate for a
minimum of two hours, or overnight.
3 Put the squash into a
roasting tin, and sprinkle with the
5-spice powder and remaining chopped
chilli. Drizzle with the rest of the oil
and toss everything together. Season with salt.
Transfer to the oven and cook for 25 to 30
minutes until tender.
4 Place the chicken on a
lightly oiled baking tray and bake in the oven
for 20 to 25 minutes, turning halfway through
cooking. When the squash is cooked, toss
with the rocket and serve with the
chicken skewers, plus lime wedges for squeezing.
Per serving: 267cals, 8g fat,
1g saturated fat, 21g carbohydrate
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Feedback
Thanks for the alternative therapies for AIDS/HIV. I am
always looking for new or missed research that could help me.
Keep up the stories here...I look forward to them every month.
J.G. - Mississippi
Glad to read more about the proper way to use condoms.
Everyone seems to know how to use one, and I thought I did, but your
article shed some light on things I was not doing correctly.
S.W. - North Carolina
Two
existing drugs used to treat osteoporosis may be effective in
killing influenza viruses, including the new H1N1 swine flu and the
H5N1 bird flu viruses, researchers in Hong Kong have found. 
