AIDS and TCM

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Traditional Chinese medicine can overcome problems with AIDS patients such as medicine resistance and side effects, according to Wei Jian'an, director of the AIDS Treatment Centre of Guang'anmen Chinese Medicine Hospital.

"The actual number of HIV carriers and AIDS patients that come to hospitals for treatment is about 30,000 in China. Now about 20,000 of them are receiving drug 'cocktail' therapy treatment," revealed Wei. "With this treatment, the fatality rate has dropped, but the toxic effects and resistance problems with the medicine can be serious."

"The side effects of anti-AIDS and HIV drugs include deterioration of liver and kidneys, bleeding at the capillary vessels at the end of the limbs, and problems with the lipid (fat) cells," said Wei.

Wei and his team applied Chinese herbs to reduce the harmful effects of Western medicine and to raise immunity function. After three months of this treatment a physical examination showed of a patient from Henan, who had already been taking Western medicines for two years, revealed that his liver and kidney functions, cholesterol levels and spine marrow were all in very good condition.

"Besides severe side effects, the virus in patients who take Western anti-virus drugs become resistant to medicines sooner," revealed Wei. "Chinese medicine can gain time for the patients."

It has been two years since the Henan patient started to take Western medicines. His physical condition has been stable. He is still taking anti-virus medicines produced in China and has not shown resistance to treatments.

Tang Chao Pian (), a patent Chinese herbal medicine, was recently approved by the Chinese Food and Drug Administration as a medicine to improve AIDS patients' immune system and supplement treatment.

Wei is the technical chief of a national AIDS treatment team comprising of Chinese medicine doctors. The team treated 2,700 patients nationwide in five provinces. It expects to treat 4,500 patients in 11 provinces this year.

"Traditional Chinese medicines still have very rich resources to explore. In the coming years we can expect a batch of effective herbal medicines to come onto the market," said Wei. "That will give AIDS patients some more hope."

From Chinadaily.com.cn