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HIV Quackery:  Unproven, Useless, And/Or Dangerous Treatments for HIV

Money can be wasted, and false hope can be generated by treatments for HIV or the immune system that are not scientifically proven.  Herbal and natural remedies MAY have some merit, but they should be used in conjunction with conventional therapies for HIV and ONLY at the advice of a licensed healthcare provider who is experienced in HIV care.  Some herbal remedies such as St John's wort, milk thistle, and garlic supplements can actually interfere with more proven antiviral therapies such as protease inhibitors.

All herbal remedies should be discussed with your healthcare provider!

Basically, if the treatment seems to good too be true, it probably is not truly effective (or your healthcare provider would already be recommending it.

Terminology Method of Treatment The Real Story
Blood Heating In this treatment, the body and blood are heated above normal human temperatures in the "hope" that this treatment will kill HIV in the bloodstream.  The procedure may be done under anesthesia, the blood is withdrawn and heated, and then reinfused.  The patient awakes, warmer and poorer. This has been proven to have no merit by controlled studies conducted in the U.S.  Practitioners who recommend this type of therapy either have monetary interest in it or sadly misinformed and dangerous.
Coral
Calcium		 This form of calcium is thought to be cure all for many problems including a weakened immune system. This has nothing more to it than a little calcium and a few other minerals.  Coral calcium is expensive and it may be depleting the coral reefs of structure.  You are better off taking multivitamin and a regular calcium supplement.
Ozone Ozone which is relatively toxic form of oxygen is supposedly transfused into the patient via an intravenous drip or administered by a tube into the rectum.  The hope is that this treatment is toxic to HIV. There are no controlled studies that support the use of ozone for HIV. Practitioners who recommend this type of therapy either have monetary interest in it or sadly misinformed and dangerous.

If you know of any quack treatments, please email me at hivinfo(at)gmail.com and substitute @ for "at" in the address.

1.8.2005