Chinese Herbs for HIV Fail

read more articles on herbs

A scientific test of a standardized combination of 35 Chinese herbs were recently given 68 HIV-infected individuals and failed to improve their T-cells counts. The eleven physicians who conducted the test at the Dept. of Internal Med., University Hospital, Zurich, Switz., found that those HIV patients given the preparation had more gastrointestinal disturbances than those given placebos, although no toxicities were observed. The Chinese herbs neither decreased the viral counts nor benefited the "quality of life" as compared to those given placebos. 

DETAILS: It has always puzzled us as to why, in a disease characterized by diminished T-cell activity, mildly toxic drugs like aspirin and its more potent cousin, indomethacin were not tried on patients. By increasing the production of T-cell "scouts" interferon and interleukin, which signal T-cells to proliferate and mount an attack on invaders, one might assume this to be a logical avenue for research. Alas, they are not glamorous treatments. Could that be the reason?

Chinese Herbs for HIV Fail Bibliography

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndrome, 9-1-99. Drs. Weber, Christen, Loy, Cohen, et al.,  Dept. of Internal Med., University Hospital, Zurich, Switz.