HIV Wellness
Living Well with HIVBlending East and West: Creating a Program that Works
I am convinced that people with HIV infection can create the most effective treatment program by combining Chinese and Western medicine under the umbrella of the Chinese philosophy of healing. When used together wisely, they provide the best chance for prolonged survival and minimal complications. That’s why, no matter what symptoms a person has, when someone comes to me for treatment I help them create a comprehensive program to restore balance to the mind/body/spirit as a whole. In addition, when called for, I also focus of providing symptomatic relief.
Sometimes that means suggesting Western and other therapies in addition to Chinese medicine. I believe strongly you do anything you can to help an individual create wholeness and wellness in their life.
For example, when someone comes to the clinic with diarrhea, we will run a Western stool test at a special laboratory called Great Smokies to see if the diarrhea is being caused by organisms which can be treated by antibiotics, herbal formulas and/or nutritional supplements. When I receive the results, I will consult with the person’s Western doctor to determine if antibiotics are the best solution, or if we can proceed with herbal formulas and nutritional supplements alone. Often we design a protocol using all three treatments.
At the same time, I will use Chinese medicine to restore balance to the mind/body/spirit and when necessary to help alleviate potentially toxic side effects of the Western medicine. I’ve observed that when Western drug therapy causes anemia, Chinese blood tonics and vitalizers often help reverse the reaction.
There are circumstances when we may not use Western therapy at all. Chronic sinusitis is especially suited to a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine. And neuropathy can be treated quite well using acupuncture, moxibustion, massage and in some cases herbs.
Choosing the most appropriate therapy or combination of therapies to restore harmony to the whole mind/body/spirit gives the person with HIV/AIDS an opportunity to put together a powerful regimen of healing.
Chinese Medicine and HIV/AIDS
For details on how Chinese medicine views disease, and HIV/AIDS in particular, click on the items listed below:
What is Chinese Medicine?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a 4,000 year-old system of balancing the body’s own health-preserving forces.
A View from the East
Understanding Chinese medicine and its ability to improve the treatment of people with HIV.
Guardians of Harmony
The Immune System in Chinese medicine.
Toxic Heat and HIV
Toxic Heat creates the initial flu-like symptoms that for may accompany initial exposure to HIV. As it moves more deeply into all systems of the body, it triggers a whole variety of common HIV-related symptoms.
“People with AIDS have given me great gifts that imbue my spirit with an all-encompassing feeling of respect and awe: Over and over I am struck by the resilience and determination that you possess. I am honored to be allowed to share in your process of coping with the consequences of this difficult disease. And I want to express my thanks to those of you who are living with HIV for allowing me to come into your life, gain wisdom from your struggle, and participate in your healing process.”
— Doc Misha, OMD, L.Ac.