Research Archive

Combining acupuncture and the relaxation response has synergistic beneficial effects on gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in HIV patients who are using highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Research carried out at the American College of TCM's HIV clinic programme, based on quarterly health surveys, demonstrated that the following symptoms were most responsive to treatment by Chinese medicine: weight loss, enlarged lymph nodes, abdominal pain, nausea and headaches. For other symptoms such as neuropathy, sore throat and common cold, the findings were more ambiguous. The research will ...

Although both acupuncture and the antidepressant amitriptyline are used to treat pain due to HIV-related nerve damage, neither treatment has been found to be effective. More than 30% of patients infected with HIV develop peripheral neuropathy. 250 HIV-positive patients with peripheral neuropathy were tested over the course of 14 weeks. Some received true acupuncture on acupuncture points recommend ...

In a study of 50 HIV-infected adults (half with full-blown AIDS) taking HIV medicines, all initially complained of at least two digestive side-effects: gas (80%), bloating (40%), cramps (50%), appetite loss (50%) and loss of weight (10%). All participants received six weeks of acupuncture - the first three weeks at acupuncture points designed to treat digestive symptoms and the last three weeks at ...