Acupuncture for HIV and AIDS Symptoms by acaom.edu (c)

Abdominal Nine Needles Developed to Improve the Side Effects of HIV/AIDS Symptoms

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Clinicians at American College of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine have been able to help patients suffering from symptoms related to HIV and AIDS. As part of the institution’s community service initiative, faculty members have been treating patients at Legacy Community Health Center (formerly Montrose Clinic) since 2004.

The primary Western medical treatment for HIVat this time is Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART).

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HAART is the therapy composed of multiple anti-HIV drugs that is prescribed to many HIV-positive patients even before they develop symptoms ofAIDS[1] However, the side effects of the HAART are common and severe, including headache, peripheral neuropathy, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, as well as abnormalities of liver and kidney[1].

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Current American College of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine faculty, Dr. Baisong Zhong, has been treating patients with HIV and AIDS. “Until recently, there were few techniques in Western medicine to improve the side effects ofHAART effectively”, he says. Dr. Zhong has developed a nine abdominal needle formula to relieve HAART side effects. According to his observation, the main etiology and pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS is deficiency root with the accumulation of damp toxin and damp phlegm, with qi and blood stagnation. “The method of treatment is to tonify the deficiency, eliminate damp toxin and phlegm, regulate qi, and remove blood stasis,” he says.

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Since 1981, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic has continued to grow in the United States. At the end of 2004, an estimated 1,147,697 HIV or AIDS cases had been diagnosed and reported to the Center for Disease Control[2].

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, better known as AIDS, is caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS is the most advanced stage in the course of HIV infection. The virus attacks and destroys the body's immune system[3].

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Case Study

A male, 54 years old, has AIDS and hepatitis C for 13 years. He is currently taking Acyclovir 800mg bid, Asacol 600mg bid, Rittalin 20mg bid, Aricept 5mg qd, Allegrad 120mg bid, Provigil 100mg bid, and Vitamin B 2mg bid. Before treatment, the patient rated his symptoms on a scale from 1 to 10, and the was treated by acupuncture using the nine abdominal needle formula once a week.

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Fatigue - Resolved after 8 treatments

Forgetfulness - Resolved after 7 treatments

Headache - Eliminated after 2 treatments

Nervousness - Resolved after 10 treatments

Lower Back Pain - Resolved after 7 treatments

Shoulder Pain - Resolved after 11 treatments

Absolute CD4 Helper - Increased after 5 treatments

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More research and tests are necessary, and hopefully in the future the College will be involved with a research study related to this disease.

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References:

(1) American Cancer Society, http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content

(2) CDC. HIV/AIDS surveillance report 2004. Vol. 16. Atlanta, Georgia: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2005. Available athttp://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/reports/2004report/default.htm.

(3) Eugene Braunwald, Anthony Fauci, Dennis Kasper, et al. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. 2001. 15th Edition. P1901

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