Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use and Substitution for Conventional Therapy by HIV-Infected Patients

Abstract

Physicians should openly ask HIV-infected patients about CAM use to prevent adverse effects and to identify CAM substitution for conventional HIV therapy.

Beliefs and practices of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among HIV/AIDS patients: A qualitative exploration

“…[5] Given this context, it is well established that PLWHA experience physical and psychosocial issues, hence the use of CAM is very popular among this group of patients [6], both as an alternative or complementary to the conventional antiretroviral therapies (ARTs). [7] It is not surprising that CAM use is common among PLWHA with poor access to ARTs, particularly in many developing Asian and African countries [8][9][10][11]. On the contrary, in developed countries such practices are not as common, because ARTs are readily accessible.…”

Indigenous Knowledge and HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management in Local Communities in Africa South of the Sahara

“…For example, in United States of America people with HIV use many kinds of alternative approaches including traditional herbal medicine [35][36][37][38] to delay AIDS. Many HIV infected patients look for complementary medicine as a way to prevent or relieve AIDS treatment side effects; because some of side effects are not easily treatable with conventional medicine.…”

“…Further, it was noted that psychological and spiritual counselling were important aspects when faced with disease that carried a high social stigma [28,40]. All in all there was wide spread agreement that holistic approach was of great importance in treating HIV/AIDS [5,8,36]. …”

Potential health risks of complementary alternative medicines in HIV patients

“…Depending on the definitions and inclusion criteria, estimates of the reported prevalence of CAM use in HIVpositive patients range from 16 to 95% [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] (Table 1).…”