Living + Magazine Issue 1 - Positive Living BC

COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES
HEIGHTENING THE BODY’S NATURAL DEFENSES
Homeopathy and HIV/AIDS: an
alternative medical approach
by TOM MOUNTFORD
Homeopathy is a therapeutic system
which uses medicine to heighten the
body’s natural defences. Practitioners
say that it is founded on a precise and
systemic set of scientific laws. In the early
19th century a method was established
in Germany to test substances such as
herbs, plants and minerals to see what
specific disease symptoms they produced
in healthy people. It was discovered
that a substance which can, in high
doses, cause health problems in a
healthy person can, in small doses, cure
these problems in a sick person. This is
called “the law of similars”. Since all substances
used are from natural sources
and extremely small amounts are used
they are completely non-toxic.
Although homeopathy is not well understood
in North America at present;
at the turn of the century approximately
15 - 20% of health care practitioners in
the United States used homeopathy.
After having almost completely disappeared,
it is now steadily growing in
popularity again. The Royal family in
Great Britain has their personal
homeopath and colleges in homeopathic
therapeutics are readily available
in that country. It is also very popular
in continental Europe and South
America. In India there are approximately
100,000 practitioners with government
sponsored colleges and hospitals
throughout the country.
Instead of treating specific diseases,
the homeopath will treat the person by
looking at all aspects of that individual.
The initial consultation will look into
the patient’s mental and emotional
makeup, their reaction to different
kinds of weather, to different kinds of
food, the nature of their lifestyle etc.
These factors, along with the individual
As PWAs in the age of HAART,
we have had to rely on anecdotal
information concerning the benefits
derived from complementary therapies
such as homeopathy.
nature of their physical complaints, will
direct the homeopath in diagnosing disease
or imbalance of the whole system.
It is believed that disease originates in
the person’s constitution and is often
related to external substances or factors.
Disease is not seen as an entity or thing
separate from the constitution. A well
chosen remedy will affect the susceptibility
of the individual so that organically,
over time, there will be an increase
in the patient’s vitality. In addition to
the disappearance of the disease, prevention
of further similar states from
reappearing occurs. Follow-ups are then
necessary for the homeopath to understand
the changes that have taken place
for subsequent care that may
be needed.
In British Columbia there
are three ways a person may
access homeopathic therapy.
The first is to purchase a remedy
off the shelf at a retail
outlet. This is the least expensive
option as consultation
with a professional is not involved and
it is usually for a single symptom such
as headache. The second option is to
visit a naturopath with training and experience
in homeopathy. Often, in this
case, there is not enough time for an
intensive consultation in which the
naturopath can totally assess all aspects
of the individual. The third and most
expensive option is to see a classical
homeopath. In this case the homeopath
has had more extensive training and has
more time to understand the patient in
totality. A remedy can then be prescribed
to meet the individual’s specific
situation.
There has been very little research
carried out on homeopathy and HIV/
AIDS. Extensive clinical research, however,
has shown homeopathic medicine
is effective, particularly at the onset of
common diseases. One laboratory study
showed that the homeopathic medicine
Silicea had dramatic effects on stimulating
macrophages, an important part
of the body’s immune system by 55.5%
to 67.5%. A few studies in India showed
a significant increase in CD4s, weight
and survival in persons with AIDS
treated with homeopathic remedies, as
well as a significant improvement in
their qualtiy of life. A small study by a
San Francisco Bay area homeopath also
showed similar increases in CD4
lymphocytes and weight gain. An ongoing
study of homeopathic growth factors
by Barbra Brewitt and her associates
in Seattle has shown results comparable
to HAART therapy without the
side effects.
In spite of homeopathy’s successes in
treating infectious disease epidemics
and research suggesting its immunomodulatory
effects, it has been virtually ignored
by the AIDS medical community.
As PWAs in the age of HAART, we have
had to rely on anecdotal information
concerning the benefits derived from
complementary therapies such as homeopathy.
I have personally, with the assistance
of a classical homeopath, resolved
problems such as Human Papilloma
Virus covering my gums, for which
allopathic medicine had no simple answers.
We should not be limited to adding
more drugs to our protocols to deal
with side effects of HAART or HIV disease
when medical approaches such as
homeopathy may assist us in improving
the quality of our lives and perhaps even
survival.
JULY/AUGUST 1999 • LIVING + 27