Forum background

Complementary therapies, are used by a lot of people with HIV and they can be a useful ‘extra’ to anti-HIV treatment.  They are taken in the hope of alleviating some of the side-effects that anti-HIV (or other) drugs can cause or in the belief that they may boost the immune system or promote a general feeling of well-being. 

There’s no consensus amongst HIV doctors about the role of complementary therapies in the treatment of HIV. Some doctors dismiss them out of hand, whilst others take a more open-minded view. This is partly because complementary therapies have not, on the whole, been subjected to the same rigorous assessment of their effectiveness and safety as licensed medicines.  The term complementary therapies is starting to be replaced by the term ‘integrated health’, a move to a recognition that in some areas people have found a way of combining the two approaches to treatment and healthy living to maximize the benefits of both.

Complementary therapies are never a replacement for HIV treatment but understanding how they work alongside HIV treatment helps people make sensible and safe choices about managing their health.    

The speakers at the Monday night forum came from two different London based integrated health practices. If you have any questions about if you are eligible to access their services please contact them directly.

Integrated therapies- what to expect:

In most centres’ you will have an initial consultation with a therapist lasting about 20 minutes. The therapist will use this appointment to try and find out the issues that are concerning you and to a find a way of integrating your conventional anti-HIV treatment and care with some complementary approaches.

Some of the therapies that might be offered include:

• acupuncture
• Chinese herbal medicine
• iridology (study of the iris to help diagnose health issues)
• Vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements including the K-pax combination
• shiatsu
• massage

The benefits of complementary therapies.

• Reducing stress
  Many people use complementary therapies to reduce stress. They can also have added benefits, such as increasing a general sense of health and well-being.
• Reducing treatment side-effects
  The side-effects of HIV treatment, and of the drugs used to treat infections, can be improved by supplements and complementary medicines. For example, calcium supplements can help control diarrhoea, a very common side-effect of HIV treatment. Aromatherapy oils, such as rosemary and peppermint, can relieve feelings of nausea; and herbs, such as valerian, and relaxation therapies can help with disturbed sleep and anxiety.
• Boosting the immune system
  There’s very little evidence, partly due to a lack of research, that complementary therapies can boost the immune system, despite the fact that this benefit is claimed for many treatments.
• Slowing HIV disease progression
  It’s known that people with HIV often have certain nutritional deficiencies. This is a symptom of HIV infection rather than a cause of immune deficiency or opportunistic infections. Providing supplementation may help address these deficiencies, but there’s very limited evidence that this will lead to any improvement in immune function or health.
• Pain relief
  Some forms of complementary therapy can provide effective pain relief. Acupuncture is commonly used to relieve pain, and massage therapies and osteopathy can also be effective, particularly for muscle or joint pain. Always tell your doctor if you experience anything other than mild pain, or if you are in persistent pain.
• Treatment for infections
  There’s no evidence that complementary medicines can prevent or cure any major infection. You will be endangering your life if you choose an alternative approach for the treatment of a major infection such as pneumonia, which always requires appropriate antibiotic treatment. Having said that, herbal remedies, acupuncture and homeopaths can help relieve some of the symptoms of infections, such as night sweats.

Finally, some things to issues to consider if you are thinking about using complementary or alternative therapies:

• Alternative and complementary therapies can be a useful addition to your anti-HIV treatment and care. They are not a replacement for anti-HIV treatment.
• Therapies can work differently with different people. Talking to your therapist about what you hope to get out of alternative treatment is an important step in choosing which therapy will suit you.  It is important to let them know what HIV medication you are already taking.
• Some herbal remedies can interact with anti-HIV drugs. For example the herbal antidepressant drug St John’s wort stops some anti-HIV drugs working properly and garlic supplements can lower blood levels of some anti-HIB drugs.
• Complementary and alternative remedies have their own side-effects and risks – just because something is thought to be ‘natural’ doesn’t mean it’s safe. Consultation with your therapist will help you assess the best therapy for you and understand what the possible risks, if any, might be.