[afro-nets] Prolonging Survival Among Children Without Access to ART (2)

[Bradford McIntyre <bradford@positivelypositive.ca>]

Prolonging Survival Among Children Without Access to ART (2)
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The way we address HIV is cause for concern.

The truth is that there are millions of people living to whom
HIV has not caused illness and death. This information brings
joy and hope to the heart of any person who has ever dreaded the
onset of AIDS.

Initially, we only saw the deaths of those infected with HIV.
Science, medicine and the pharmaceutical companies looked for
answers, but fear set the standard that HIV infection was a fa-
tal disease. Many cried out for answers. Pressure led to the re-
lease of drugs and the direction was set! High dosages and prob-
lems with toxicity played a major role in many of the lives con-
sidered plagued with HIV. What has happened is that the pharma-
ceutical companies have manipulated the shape of AIDS. They pro-
vide the medical profession with treatment information and dos-
ages. As well, they are providing funding and treatment informa-
tion to the AIDS organizations and in return AIDS organizations
are promoting the treatment information provided by the pharma-
ceutical companies. These drug companies know they have a vul-
nerable market! Drugs are promoted to combat HIV when the sup-
pliers know that many AIDS drugs may be unsuccessful. Whether
it's over a short or long term, many do fail. HIV strategies
evolve and outwit the immune system. Therefore, some individuals
are in constant need of new drugs when their drugs fail and re-
sistance develops. The more HIV/AIDS drugs that an individual
takes, the greater the risk of drug resistance occurring.

Another thing which ensures many individuals choose the drug
treatment, is the continual fear promoted by the pharmaceutical
companies and the medical profession to influence an individual
into believing they will progress to disease and/or die without
HIV/AIDS medications. Often, a physician tells patients that
those individuals who do use supplements and complementary
therapies: "they die!" Individuals voicing anything other than
the pharmaceutical company's ideology of HIV/AIDS and treatments
are discredited. This is all too clearly understood by millions
of people throughout the world.

Even the media has not told the true story but only conveys the
information provided by the pharmaceutical companies. It is the
responsibility of the media to investigate and then report! It
is important and necessary to recognize the need for voices from
all walks of life to be heard, thus helping to create a better
understanding. One of balance!

Since the beginning, living with HIV has prompted many to learn
about their bodies, to gain understanding of its needs. Large
numbers of people have incorporated the knowledge of HIV/AIDS
medications, how they work, what they do, dosages to take with
or without food, side effects and benefits! Antiretroviral medi-
cations deplete many of the micronutrients necessary to keep the
body healthy. Without proper nutrition how can anyone be ex-
pected to combat HIV or combat the side effects of the HIV/AIDS
treatments? Without complementary therapies, patients are at a
greater risk of failing drug treatments because they can't tol-
erate the side effects. They may decide to discontinue a treat-
ment, which could have proved beneficial, had they been able to
overcome the initial side effects. Providing proper nutrition
and Complementary therapies can address the immune system and
many of the side effects of HIV treatments.

There are no shortages of scientists and physicians as well as
individuals living with HIV, who have realized another under-
standing of how HIV and other diseases can be affected. The fact
the emphasis on treatment is placed predominantly on medical and
pharmaceutical while other methods are not given the same de-
serving recognition, is in direct conflict with the way in which
people infected with HIV have managed their infection!

Over half of the people infected with HIV ARE using alternative
and complementary therapies. Regardless of HIV infection or not,
in the United States alone, for every individual who seeks out
medical and pharmaceutical care, three times as many people are
seeking out alternative and complementary care. Here in Vancou-
ver, British Columbia, Canada, where I live, the numbers using
alternative and complementary are even higher! Yet alternative
and complementary care is not included in health care! . HIV has
shown us that it is reacting differently from person to person.
However, we began by trying to treat everyone infected with HIV
alike. Each one of us is physically different with what is hap-
pening in our body. In the treatment of any disease, we must be
careful not to have tunnel vision, or rely totally upon science,
medicine and in particular, pharmaceuticals to maintain our
health. The responsibility is ours, not something we pass on for
someone or something to fix. There is much we can do in the
fight against disease!

Many who have been living with HIV (some for two decades now)
have no need for antiretroviral treatment because their immune
system is strong. Others, who are on HIV medications, have in-
cluded nutrition and replacement therapy (vitamin supplements,
herbs and botanicals). Successfully boosting the immune system
and positively addressing the efficacy of drugs and there many
side effects. Whether it is being able to avoid treatment en-
tirely, prolong treatment or in conjunction with medical and
pharmaceutical treatment, we must recognize the importance of
using every available means in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

An integrated health care system is the will of the people!
World wide! Governments can include complementary treatment and
supplements into health care to benefit those living with dis-
ease. Pharmaceuticals are an important part in research and
treatment and there is no shortage of work ahead for pharmaceu-
ticals. But, what the pharmaceuticals can't do is address the
need the body has for nutrients.

What stands out for me about having lived with HIV for 20 years
is the ability individuals have shown to positively impact the
immune system using a nutritional diet and complementary thera-
pies. Incorporating vitamins, minerals, herbs and botanicals
into daily life provides the necessary requirements for an im-
mune system to be up and running at optimum capacity. In my own
experience, I did not take HIV/AIDS medications for 13 years,
out of the 20 years I have been infected!

It is important to understand the immune system and what it
needs to be able to carry out all its functions. Knowledge is
necessary of the cells, the nutrients and all they require to be
up and running to maximum capacity. The digestive system and or-
gans all require their own needs be met. The immune system knows
how to run the body and keep it healthy. On the other hand, we
as human beings may not have been as conscientious. This creates
far more for the immune system to handle, when the immune system
does not have the proper requirements to provide balance and
harmony throughout.

The immune system is made up of proteins and cells and these
cells require nutrients. A healthy nutritional diet of protein
is necessary to rebuild muscle. Protein provides the building
blocks for new cells, including muscle and immune cells. Indi-
viduals infected with HIV have much higher protein requirements!
Nutritional needs of those infected with HIV are 10% higher than
someone not infected with HIV. A nutritional diet, which also
includes vitamin-rich fresh fruits and vegetables, has been ef-
fective in boosting the immune system and reducing the side ef-
fects of the HIV/AIDS medications, as well as maintaining and
improving health. Nutrition is a primary defense! However, we
don't see or hear this side!

Funding, education and implementation of nutritional supplements
and complementary therapies in health care is paramount. Nutri-
tional supplements can be introduced into health care quickly
and effectively, having positive effects on individuals with
illness and disease. As a bonus, there are no toxic side ef-
fects. We must look to what is causing illness and disease and
incorporate natural healing with traditional methods. Understand
the immune system, all the workings of the body and when the
body conveys immune deficiency!

Pharmaceuticals have played an important part in the evolution
of how we understand disease and treatment. With the uncertainty
of long-term effectiveness of experimental approaches and deaths
associated with pharmaceuticals, it is time we validated the
successes of people using nutrition and natural supplements in
the fight against HIV and all illness and disease. These can
have a major impact on health and can add years to one's life.
However, the multi-national pharmaceutical industry is providing
information about HIV/AIDS to make money and ensure continued
financial success. How long will we continue in this direction
and at what cost? Will the cost be the risk of causing illness
in healthy people?

The body needs more than the HIV drug combinations and people
all over the world are in agreement! Individuals not on medica-
tions know the importance and the work required, to remain off,
or go off HIV/AIDS medications. Many individuals on medications
are not relying totally on combination therapy. They are includ-
ing the use of complementary therapies (CAM) and they ARE suc-
cessfully boosting the immune system, reducing the side effects
of the drugs and increasing the efficacy of the HIV/AIDS drugs.

I strongly recommend that the world community embrace this shift
and redirect the focus from the negative health condition to the
positive solution.

Bradford McIntyre
HIV+ 20 years
Vancouver, Canada
mailto:bradford@positivelypositive.ca
http://www.PositivelyPositive.ca