The way we
address HIV is cause for concern
by Bradford McIntyre
The truth is that there
are millions of people living to whom HIV has not caused illness and
death. This information brings joy and hope to the heart of any person
who has ever dreaded the onset of AIDS.
Initially, we only saw the deaths of those infected with HIV. Science,
medicine and the pharmaceutical companies looked for answers, but fear
set the standard that HIV infection was a fatal disease. Many cried
out for answers. Pressure led to the release of drugs and the
direction was set! High dosages and problems with toxicity played a
major role in many of the lives considered plagued with HIV. What has
happened is that the pharmaceutical companies have manipulated the
shape of AIDS. They provide the medical profession with treatment
information and dosages. As
well, they are providing funding and treatment information to the AIDS
organizations and in return AIDS organizations are promoting the
treatment information provided by the pharmaceutical companies. These
drug companies know they have a vulnerable market! Drugs are promoted
to combat HIV when the suppliers know that many AIDS drugs may be
unsuccessful. Whether it’s over a short or long term, many do fail.
HIV strategies evolve and outwit the immune system. Therefore, some
individuals are in constant need of new drugs when their drugs fail
and resistance develops. The more HIV/AIDS drugs that an individual
takes, the greater the risk of drug resistance occurring.
Another thing which ensures
many individuals choose the drug treatment, is the continual fear
promoted by the pharmaceutical companies and the medical profession to
influence an individual into believing they will progress to disease
and/or die without HIV/AIDS medications. Often, a physician tells
patients that those individuals who do use supplements and
complementary therapies: “they die!” Individuals voicing anything
other than the pharmaceutical company’s ideology of HIV/AIDS and
treatments are discredited. This is all too clearly understood by
millions of people throughout the world.
Even the media has not told the true story but only conveys the
information provided by the pharmaceutical companies. It is the
responsibility of the media to investigate and then report! It is
important and necessary to recognize the need for voices from all
walks of life to be heard, thus helping to create a better
understanding. One of
balance!
Since the beginning, living
with HIV has prompted many to learn about their bodies, to gain
understanding of its needs. Large numbers of people have incorporated
the knowledge of HIV/AIDS medications, how they work, what they do,
dosages to take with or without food, side effects and benefits!
Antiretroviral medications deplete many of the micronutrients
necessary to keep the body healthy. Without proper nutrition how can
anyone be expected to combat HIV or combat the side effects of the
HIV/AIDS treatments? Without complementary therapies, patients are at
a greater risk of failing drug treatments because they can’t
tolerate the side effects. They may decide to discontinue a treatment,
which could have proved beneficial, had they been able to overcome the
initial side effects. Providing proper nutrition and Complementary
therapies can address the immune system and many of the side effects
of HIV treatments.
There are no shortages of
scientists and physicians as well as individuals living with HIV, who
have realized another understanding of how HIV and other diseases can
be affected. The fact the emphasis on treatment is placed
predominantly on medical and pharmaceutical while other methods are
not given the same deserving recognition, is in direct conflict with
the way in which people infected with HIV have managed their
infection!
Over half of the people
infected with HIV ARE using
alternative and complementary therapies. Regardless of HIV infection
or not, in the United States alone, for every individual who seeks out
medical and pharmaceutical care, three times as many people are
seeking out alternative and complementary care. Here in Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada, where I live, I would say the numbers using
alternative and complementary are even higher!
Yet alternative and complementary care is not included in
health care!
.
HIV has shown us that it is
reacting differently from person to person. However, we began by
trying to treat everyone infected with HIV alike. Each one of us is
physically different with what is happening in our body. In the
treatment of any disease, we must be careful not to have tunnel
vision, or rely totally upon science, medicine and in particular,
pharmaceuticals to maintain our health. The responsibility is ours,
not something we pass on for someone or something to fix. There is
much we can do in the fight against disease!
Many who have been living
with HIV (some for two decades now) have no need for antiretroviral
treatment because their immune system is strong. Others, who are on
HIV medications, have included nutrition and replacement therapy
(vitamin supplements, herbs and botanicals). Successfully boosting the
immune system and positively addressing the efficacy of drugs and
there many side effects. Whether it is being able to avoid treatment
entirely, prolong treatment or in conjunction with medical and
pharmaceutical treatment, we must recognize the importance of using
every available means in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
An integrated health care
system is the will of the people! World wide! Governments can include
complementary treatment and supplements into health care to benefit
those living with disease. Pharmaceuticals are an important part in
research and treatment and there is no shortage of work ahead for
pharmaceuticals. But, what the pharmaceuticals can’t do is address
the need the body has for nutrients.
What stands out for me about
having lived with HIV for 19 years is the ability individuals have
shown to positively impact the immune system using a nutritional diet
and complementary therapies. Incorporating vitamins, minerals, herbs
and botanicals into daily life provides the necessary requirements for
an immune system to be up and running at optimum capacity. In my own
experience, I did not take HIV/AIDS medications for 13 years, out of
the 19 years I have been infected!
It is important to
understand the immune system and what it needs to be able to carry out
all its functions. Knowledge is necessary of the cells, the nutrients
and all they require to be up and running to maximum capacity. The
digestive system and organs all require their own needs be met. The
immune system knows how to run the body and keep it healthy. On the
other hand, we as human beings may not have been as conscientious.
This creates far more for the immune system to handle, when the immune
system does not have the proper requirements to provide balance and
harmony throughout.
The immune system is made up
of proteins and cells and these cells require nutrients. A healthy
nutritional diet of protein is necessary to rebuild muscle. Protein
provides the building blocks for new cells, including muscle and
immune cells. Individuals infected with HIV have much higher protein
requirements! Nutritional needs of those infected with HIV are 10%
higher than someone not infected with HIV. A nutritional diet, which
also includes vitamin-rich fresh fruits and vegetables, has been
effective in boosting the immune system and reducing the side effects
of the HIV/AIDS medications, as well as maintaining and improving
health. Nutrition is a primary defense! However, we don’t see or
hear this side!
Funding, education and implementation of nutritional supplements and
complementary therapies in health care is paramount. Nutritional
supplements can be introduced into health care quickly and
effectively, having positive effects on individuals with illness and
disease. As a bonus, there are no toxic side effects. We must look to
what is causing illness and disease and incorporate natural healing
with traditional methods. Understand the immune system, all the
workings of the body and when the body conveys immune deficiency!
Pharmaceuticals have played
an important part in the evolution of how we understand disease and
treatment. With the uncertainty of long-term effectiveness of
experimental approaches and deaths associated with pharmaceuticals, it
is time we validated the successes of people using nutrition and
natural supplements in the fight against HIV and all illness and
disease. These can have a major impact on health and can add years to
one’s life. However, the multi-national pharmaceutical industry is
providing information about HIV/AIDS to make money and ensure
continued financial success. How long will we continue in this
direction and at what cost? Will the cost be the risk of causing
illness in healthy people?
The body needs more than the HIV drug combinations and people all over
the world are in agreement! Individuals not on medications know the
importance and the work required, to remain off, or go off HIV/AIDS
medications. Many individuals on medications are not relying totally
on combination therapy. They are including the use of complementary
therapies (CAM) and they ARE successfully boosting the immune system,
reducing the side effects of the drugs and increasing the efficacy of
the HIV/AIDS drugs.
I strongly recommend that
the world community embrace this shift and redirect the focus from the
negative health condition to the positive solution.
Bradford
McIntyre
Vancouver,
B.C. Canada
wwwPositivelyPositive.ca
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