Complementary Therapies

Introduction
Reasons why people with HIV use complementary therapies
Important points to remember
Questions to ask a complementary therapist

Introduction

Many people living with HIV use complementary therapies

However, there is no consensus amongst doctors about the role of complementary therapies in the treatment of HIV. Some doctors dismiss them out of hand, whilst others take a more open-minded view.

It is important to know that there have been very few trials of complementary or alternative approaches to treating HIV infection or opportunistic infections. It is therefore difficult to say what works and what does not. Our advice is to always treat claims made about complementary treatments with caution, especially if you are being charged for the treatment.

Reasons why people with HIV use complementary therapies

Reducing stress – many people use complementary treatments to help reduce stress. They can also have added benefits, such as increasing a general sense of health and well-being. Severe stress has been shown to affect the rate at which people develop AIDS, but less stress has not been shown to have an impact. Experiments have shown that massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture, meditation, exercise and hypnotherapy can all relax the mind and body and reduce levels of stress chemicals. Many therapies are also concerned with giving you a greater feeling of control over what is happening to your body, which can also reduce the stress of illness.
Reducing treatment side-effects – the side effects of HIV treatment, and of the drugs used to treat infections, can also be improved by complementary medicines. Aromatherapy oils, such as rosemary and peppermint, can relieve feelings of nausea; calcium supplements can control diarrhoea, which is a very common side-effect of HIV treatment; and herbs, such as valerian, and relaxation therapies can help with disturbed sleep and anxiety.
Pain relief – acupuncture, massage therapies and osteopathy can all be effective in relieving pain. However, you should always tell your doctor if you experience anything more than mild pain, or if you are in persistent pain.
Treatment for infections – less serious opportunistic infections such as skin disorders, thrush, fungal infections and night sweats may be treatable with some complementary therapies such as herbal medicine but there is no evidence that complementary medicines can prevent or cure any major infection. You will be endangering your life if you choose an alternative treatment for a major infection, such as pneumonia, which requires treatment with appropriate antibiotics.

Important points to remember

Be realistic in what complementary therapies can deliver.
Treat with suspicion the claims made about the effectiveness of any therapy you are considering. Remember they do not have the same levels of regulation and control as other medicines.
Complementary medicines can have side-effects and herbal remedies can interact with ant-HIV drugs. Just because it’s ’natural’ does not mean that it is automatically safe or risk-free.

Questions to ask a complementary therapist

What is the treatment you are offering and how can it benefit me?
What is your experience of treating people with HIV?
What are your charges?
What are your qualifications?

Finally, always discuss complementary therapies with your doctor. Listen carefully to any doubts your doctor might express about your chosen complementary approach and take note of any evidence he offers to show that a therapy is harmful or does not have any benefit.

Remember that the dramatic improvements we have seen in recent years in the health of people living with HIV are due almost entirely to effective anti-HIV treatment, not complementary therapies.

Last updated April 2010