Week 8: Cell Biology: HIV and AIDS

How do you feel about Western approaches to HIV/AIDS?

Honestly- I have a family member with AIDS who has been on Western meds that have successfully kept his viral load down and his t-cell count up. I say 'the proof is always in the pudding' so to speak. The one negative drawback that this person feels from the meds is the necessity of a strict adherence to a daily schedule that he cannot skip, and he must set his alarm to wake up and take a lot of pills to stay on schedule. But this person is not concerned with diet, holistic healthcare, and his HIV medication has enabled him to live well into his 70s seemingly without any harm. The WHO's (World Health Organization) approach of recommending earlier treatment for patients detected with HIV is certainly not a bad idea- though my family member had had the virus for a couple years before he starting taking meds- which drastically decreased his viral load to being almost undetectable. With a disease as serious as AIDS- it's better to exercise caution and start treatment as soon as one knows one is affected- especially to avoid getting any communicable and secondary infections due to a weakened immune system- which is what ultimately kills most people infected with AIDS. I support the line of research that is trying to find a way to strengthen the immune system so that AIDS can exit peacefully within the body without having to take meds for the rest of a person's life.

Can TCM strengthen our immune systems?

Of course it can! Let's just look at one obvious example from TCM: when a person is Lung Qi deficient, they are more susceptible to catching colds. With acupuncture and herbalism aimed at boosting Lung Qi, this person will notice that they develop more of a resistance to colds- meaning increased immunity. TCM helps improve immunity by increasing the deficient Zang organs while dispelling any underlying pathologenic factors such as Toxic Heat, Phlegm, and Blood Stasis.