Alternative and Natural Remedies for HIV Treatment

July 25, 2019 - Health Care & Medical

Advancements in medicine have ushered in a new era of HIV treatment and prevention. It was only a couple of decades ago that receiving an HIV diagnosis was almost synonymous with receiving a death sentence. Nowadays, though, new medications have revolutionized the HIV treatment landscape. In addition to medications, there are numerous alternative and natural remedies for HIV treatment. These remedies are of particular value to those looking for non-conventional therapies.

Herbs and Spices

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Image via Flickr by futureshape

You can get HIV by having sex with someone who already has it or by sharing needles with someone who has it. One of the best ways to prevent yourself from getting HIV is by taking Truvada for PrEP. This medication has a 99 percent prevention rate when taken as prescribed. If you already have HIV and you’re looking for alternative treatment methods, you may want to consider certain herbs and spices. Always be extremely careful in which herbs and spices you use, as they may interfere with your current HIV medications.

According to Alfredo Bowman, also known as Dr. Sebi, some of the best herbs and spices to use to treat HIV include elderberry, yellow dock, sarsaparilla, and burdock root.

Medical Marijuana

Many states across the United States have already approved the use of marijuana for medical purposes. If you live in a state where it is approved, it is worth discussing with your doctor whether this alternative therapy could benefit your HIV treatment regimen. Some people who use medical marijuana as part of their HIV treatment report reduced nausea, improved appetite, and lower levels of pain. 

If you live in a state where marijuana is approved for recreational purposes, you won’t need a prescription to access it. However, you should always discuss with your doctor whether the use of marijuana will interfere with any of your other HIV treatment medications.

Relaxation Techniques

Meditation can reduce anxiety. Those with HIV tend to have higher anxiety and stress levels than many of those who don’t have the disease. If you are looking for ways to incorporate meditation into your daily life, there are several ways you can do this:

  • Journal daily
  • Pick a quiet place and read a book
  • Create a meditation/prayer closet
  • Join a meditation group

Physical Therapies

Living with and treating HIV can cause a lot of stress. It’s important that you relax as much as possible both during and after your treatments. For many people, HIV treatments are a lifelong process. By integrating physical therapies into your HIV treatment regimen, you can reduce anxiety and depression. Best of all, there are many forms of physical therapy to take advantage of including yoga, acupuncture, medical massages, and chiropractic care. A 2016 study discovered yoga has the ability to reduce depression in those with HIV.If you are in need of HIV treatment or prevention medications, you can use telemedicine to your advantage. Companies like Nurx specialize in telemedicine and make it very simple to access the medications you need over the internet. Thanks to medicines like Truvada for PrEP, you can significantly reduce your chances of getting HIV. Always speak with your doctor about any regimens you want to use to treat or prevent HIV.

About the author

David van der Ende is a full-time blogger and part-time graphic design enthusiast. He loves to write about a broad range of topics, but his professional background in both legal and finance drives him to write on these two subjects most frequently.