HIV/ AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a virus that destroys the cells in the body whose job is to fight off illness. The most advanced stage of HIV is called AIDS, or Advanced Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Some risk factors are sharing needles, sexual contact, and if the mother has AIDS it can be passed to the baby through breastfeeding. With the onset of AIDS, you can expect such symptoms as: fever, sweats, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, diarrhea, headaches, swelling of lymph glands, sore throat and rashes. Basically, it will feel like the flu with the purging and aches. It can cause progressive fatigue and weight loss called wasting further down the line. Wasting can be treated with Growth Hormone according to the FDA as of 1996. 

Eventually AIDS may cause oral candidiasis and pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is a lung infection caused by a tiny parasite which can also cause damage to the liver, eyes, skin and other organs. HIV/ AIDS cannot be spread by hugging, kissing, or ordinary touching. Some common infections include tuberculosis cytomegalovirus, candidiasis, cryptosporidiosis and toxoplasmosis. Cancer of the lymph and blood vessel tumors can also be caused by AIDS.

An additional problem which may be caused by this retro virus is something called wasting. Wasting is when the person with the disease loses around 10% of their body weight. Neurological problems can also occur such as confusion, depression and anxiety. Kidney disease may occur due to the filtering of all the wastes in the body. The only way to be diagnosed with AIDS is by blood or saliva testing for antibodies. Which it can take up to three months for your body to produce the antibodies that show up in the test. 

Treatment for HIV/ AIDS consists of antiretroviral therapy and several types of inhibitors. The treatment can be fairly painful, and it comes with its own set of side effects. Side effects such as heart disease and flu like symptoms are not uncommon. A couple home remedies are eating healthy to help prevent wasting. Also, it is not advised to eat raw meats as they may have parasites. Being careful around animals is a must because of the potential parasite issue as well. Foods that contain acetyl-l-carnitine are said to help treat nerve issues. Some cautions that should be taken are St. John’s Wort because of its HIV medication impairment.

        Traditional Chinese Medicine can greatly enhance the effects of the antiretroviral therapy. From 2001- 2009 the CD-4 counts of nine living patients who received TCM and antiretroviral treatments had their CD-4 counts in the “good health range”. The side effects from the antiretroviral treatments can be dramatically reduced with TCM. Ginger, for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can be used as an herbal extract. Skull cap is used for its heart health boosting effects and helps relieve anxiety. Astragalus is another herbal extract used by TCM to boost the immune system and reduce inflammation and fight kidney disease. The patients combined the TCM and ART have not been taking any medical treatments since 2010 and survived more than fifteen years after their AIDS onset. A staggering 80% of patients that did not receive the TCM with their ART died within six years of the onset.

Bodywork is an important part of many healing processes. As a massage therapist it is important to be healthy while working on an AIDS patient due to their compromised immune system. There is no legal obligation for the AIIDS patient to disclose the fact that they have the virus as we are not health care providers. Any compromised skin on either the therapist of the client should be properly covered, as with all clients. Massage is great for anxiety relief and is helpful for lymph drainage. Light pressure may be necessary due to inflamed organs, specifically the kidneys. Massage is useful for its ability to improve blood and lymph flow and reducing atrophy. Also, it can boost the immune system for the client. Exercise and deep breathing are amazing tools to use to help in keep atrophy and anxiety at a minimum. Tai chi specifically is amazing because of its non-vigorous and yet still very active movements. 

sources:

*aidsinfo.nih.gov/news/109/pneumocytosis-carinii-pneumonia-pcp-

*The Encyclopedia od Natural Medicine 3rd Edition 

by: Michael T. Murray, M.D. & Joseph Pizzorno M.D. 

*Mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiv-aids/symptoms-causes/syc-20373524

*mayoclinic.org/diseases/hiv-aids/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373531

*healthline.com/nutrition/ginseng-benefits#section1

*healthline.com/nutrition/skullcap#what-is-it

*healthline.com/nutrition/astragalus#immunesystem

*ncbi.ncm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc5391671/#!po=2.50000

*ambp.com/textonlymags/article.php?article=1724

*ambp.com/textonlymags/article.php?article=1724

*google.com/amp/s/www.massagemag.com/hivaids-patients-massage-provides-touch-humanity-40379/amp/

*Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology 8th Edition

by: Elaine N. Marieb