by Linda Page, N.D., Ph.D.
An Holistic Approach to Overcoming AIDS and HIV
There are over 122 HIV-AIDS drugs in development
and mixing natural products with the powerful drugs used for AIDS can be dangerous.
A qualified holistic physician offers the best results.
Despite all the advances of
modern medicine, serious,
incurable diseases are
spreading around the world
at an astonishing rate. HIV
infection has gone beyond the gay community
to heterosexuals and to babies from
infected parents and AIDS has become a
global epidemic in just 20 years.
At this writing, more than 36 million
people worldwide now live with HIV-AIDS
over 70 percent of them live in sub-Saharan
Africa where AIDS-suppressing drugs are not
widely obtainable and safe sex practices are
not culturally accepted. So far a staggering 17
million people have died from AIDS.
The body becomes unable
to defend itself.
AIDS and its cousin diseases are the result of
immune system breakdown. Long believed
to be caused by the HIV (human immunode-
ficiency virus), a retro-virus that affects DNA
and T cells, there is a growing body of evidence
that severe AIDS is influenced by nutritional
factors.
AIDS occurs in stages: 1) an asymptomatic
state (when HIV is most often passed);
2) a mononucleosis-like stage with one or
more AIDS-related complexes; 3) full
blown AIDS.
While the new HIV-AIDS drugs offer
some hope, they are not free of side effects or
serious risks. Most troubling: drug-resistant
HIV strains can emerge during drug therapy
and the viral load may skyrocket if the drugs
are discontinued.
Other severe drawbacks:
- Diarrhea due to digestive and assimilation difficulty (HIV itself compromises digestive function)
- Adult-onset diabetes
- Birth defects in children born to infected mothers
- Lipodystrophy syndrome (fatty growths on the neck and back)
- Anemia and resulting chronic fatigue
- Liver toxicity
- Bone marrow toxicity (AZT).
If one decides to use a combination of
orthodox and alternative treatments, it is
important to seek out a knowledgeable
naturopath. There are over 122 HIV-AIDS
drugs in development and mixing natural
products with the powerful drugs used for
AIDS can be dangerous. A qualified holistic
physician offers the best results.
It is important to know the facts
about AIDS.
It is fairly easy to transfer the HIV virus into
the body through anal intercourse, more difficult
through vaginal or oral sex. Powerful
proteins in tears, saliva and pregnant
womens urine, friendly flora in the intestinal
tract and HCl in the stomach produce a hostile
environment that destroys HIV. There is
no such protection in the colon.
Suppression of the immune system is
believed to occur when the HIV virus slips
through the intestinal wall and into the
bloodstream. Normal immune response is to
attack the virus with macrophages that then
die and are removed through the lymphatic
system. These toxic wastes are finally
dumped into the colon on its last leg of clearance
from the body but in an unprotected
colon without friendly bacteria or good
defensive pH environment, new HIV viruses
hatch from the dead macrophages and multiply
in the feces, repeating the cycle again
and again. The immune system cannot
detect the virus in the colon and does not
marshal its forces until the infection is in the
bloodstream, often too late if immune
defenses are exhausted.
HIV is never the only culprit in the AIDS
connection. Immunosuppression comes
before HIV. Syphilis is usually present in
AIDS victims, as are parasites and other
viruses that set the stage for AIDS and related
complexes. In fact, parasites are a cofactor in
AIDS development. If the lifestyle is
immunosuppressing, parasites can easily take
hold. If one is frequently diagnosed with a
bacterial infection and has used antibiotics
that havent helped, have the stool tested for
parasites. Amoebic parasites allow the virus
to spread by rupturing immune defense cells
that engulf the HIV virus in an effort to
destroy it. Parasites also worsen drug side
effects and reduce the bodys capacity to benefit
from the drug. Some physicians report
that when they treat the parasite infections,
the HIV viral load goes down to undetectable
levels.
One can also continually be re-infected.
Destructive immunesuppressing lifestyle elements
like continual exposure to HIV and
other STDs through sexual excess and multiple
sex partners and sharing needles or drug
snort straws for drugs expose people to the
virus by putting them in direct contact with
infected blood.
Hepatitis predisposes people to AIDS
because the liver is so weakened it cannot
play its part in resisting infection. HIV also
predisposes one to hepatitis by grinding
down liver defenses.
The symptoms of AIDS.
Symptoms can appear anywhere from six
months to three years after infection. Here
are the early symptoms:
- Diarrhea that lasts longer than a week
- Swollen glands and lymph nodes in the neck area, armpits and groin
- Inability to heal even minor ailments like a small cut, bruise or cold
- Unusual fatigue
- White patches in the mouth and difficulty swallowing (thrush)
- Nail ringworm fungus.
Continuing symptoms mean that AIDS is undeniable:
- Purplish blotches that look like hard bruises occurring on or under the skin, inside the mouth, nose, eyelids or rectum that do not go away (Kaposis sarcoma)
- Pneumonia, swollen glands that never go down
- Persistent dry, hacking cough (unrelated to smoking)
- Fevers and night sweats that last for days or weeks
- Severe, unexplained fatigue
- Persistent diarrhea
- Unexplained, rapid weight loss
- Visual disturbances
- Memory loss, confusion and depression
- Personality changes
Is there hope for people who are HIV positive?
In the U.S. an estimated 800,000 to 900,000
people are living with HIV. One-quarter of
them dont even know it. Testing antibody
positive does not mean that one has AIDS,
only that he/she has been exposed to the HIV
virus. Being HIV positive does not even mean
that one will develop AIDS. It is a warning, not
a sentence. Research shows that at least five
percent of people diagnosed HIV positive
never develop full-blown AIDS.
Most infected people coexist with HIV. The
face of AIDS has changed dramatically within
the last five years. Protease inhibitor cocktails
and genetic modifying drugs, coupled
with a healthy diet, elimination of recreational
drugs and responsible sexual behavior has
improved HIV status. HIV positive people are
recognizing that the destructive lifestyle factors
leading to their diagnosis can be changed
to prevent further re-infection and that
lifestyle therapies can greatly improve their
health condition and help keep them
symptom free. In many cases, when the infection
is caught early and lifestyle and nutritional
healing measures are embraced, HIV
infection can be effectively managed and the
patient can live a full, productive life.
What does it take to survive AIDS?
Thousands of long-term AIDS survivors are
free of HIV symptoms. In every case I know,
the survivor consciously decided to take
charge of his or her own life and healing. All
energies were channeled into the therapies that
the survivors thought were right for them.
They faced reality, acknowledged that there
was no silver bullet, realized that the process
would be long and hard and that the battle
would take great courage.
Holistic approach.
Holistic therapies show more promise than
ever for AIDS and its related immune syndromes.
Alternative treatment programs are
enormous factors in showing that HIV infection
and AIDS are no longer inevitably fatal as
they once were. Holistic treatments are often
seen as the key to abating symptoms, slowing
the advance of the virus itself and improving
the quality of life. Success is bringing more
expertise into the field of AIDS therapy
holistic physicians, homeopaths, naturopaths,
chiropractors, therapists, nutritional counselors
and others.
HIV itself isnt deadly. It weakens the
immune system to the point where its T-4
reserves are exhausted and cant fight.
Thousands of research papers show that
immune system failure which leads to AIDS
directly correlates to specific vitamin, mineral
and amino acid deficiencies.
Malnutrition is thus the number one
reason for low immune response. A high resistance,
immune-building diet is the key to
health. AIDS victims need about 4000 calories a
day, double the normal amount, to sustain
body weight. Also the intestinal environment
must be changed to create a hostile site for the
HIV virus.
The following liquid and fresh foods diet
represents only the first crash course stage of
the change from cooked to living foods. It is for
the ill person who needs dramatic measures
concentrated defense strength in a short time.
It has also been extremely helpful in keeping an
HIV positive person symptom free, even in
symptom recession during full-blown AIDS.
My diet program helps prevent attendant diseases
associated with immune deficiency.
As with other immunesuppressing viral
diseases, HIV lives on dead and waste matter.
(AIDS experts theorize that HIV feeds off undigested
proteins in the colon.) For several
months at least, eat a vegetarian diet, low in
dairy, yeast breads and saturated fats. Meats,
fried foods, dairy products (except yogurt and
kefir), coffee, alcohol, salty, sugary foods and
all refined foods must be eliminated.
Recreational drugs should be eliminated, as
well as unnecessary prescription drugs. The
ultra purity of this diet controls multiple allergies
and sensitivities that occur in the autoimmune
state yet it still supplies the needs of a
body that is suffering great nutrient deprivation.
For most people, this way of eating is a
radical change with major limitations but the
health improvement against HIV is excellent.
Remember: This diet is only a jump start.
Diet defense against HIV and AIDS.
On rising: take 3 T. cranberry concentrate in
8 oz. of water with 1/2 t. ascorbate vitamin C
crystals with bioflavonoids and 1/2 t. enzyme powder and a soy protein drink. Take a brisk
walk for exercise and morning sunlight.
Breakfast: have a glass of fresh carrot juice
with 1 t. liquid aminos and whole grain
muffins or rice cakes with kefir cheese; or a
cup of plain yogurt blended with a cup of
fresh fruit, sesame seeds, walnuts; or oatmeal,
amaranth or buckwheat pancakes with
yogurt and fresh fruit; and 1.2 t. enzyme
powder mixed in 8 oz. of aloe vera juice.
Midmorning: take a weekly colonic. On
non-colonic days, take potassium essence
(see below) with 1 t. liquid aminos and 1.2 t.
ascorbate vitamin C crystals with bioflavonoids
and have another fresh carrot juice or pau df
arco tea with 1.2 t. enzyme powder.
Lunch: have a green salad with lemonflax
oil dressing, plenty of avocado, nuts,
seeds and alfalfa or broccoli sprouts; or an
open-faced sandwich on rice cakes, or a chapati
with fresh veggies and kefir cheese; or a
cup of miso soup with rice noodles or brown
rice, and some steamed veggies, shiitake
mushrooms and tofu with millet or brown
rice; and take a cup of pau df arco tea or 8 oz.
aloe vera juice with 1.2 t. ascorbate vitamin C
and 1.2 t. enzyme powder
Midafternoon: have two drinks: another
carrot juice with liquid aminos and 1.2 t.
enzyme powder added; then a green drink
with 1.2 t. ascorbate vitamin C crystals and
bioflavonoids added.
Dinner: have a baked potato with liquid
aminos, yogurt or kefir cheese and a green
salad and black bean or lentil soup with 1.2 t.
enzyme powder; or a fresh spinach or artichoke
pasta with steamed veggies and lemon-
flax oil dressing; or a Chinese steam stir-fry
with shiitake mushrooms, brown rice and
vegetables. Sprinkle on 1.2 t. enzyme powder.
Before bed: have two drinks: a glass of
aloe vera juice with 1.2 t. ascorbate vitamin C
crystals and 1.2 t. enzyme powder added; then
a fresh carrot or papaya juice.
Note 1: Unsweetened mild herb teas and bottled
water throughout the day offer additional
toxin cleansing and system alkalizing.
Note 2: Add 1.2 t. ascorbate vitamin C powder
with bioflavonoids to any drink throughout
the day until the stool turns soupy.
Nutritional notes:
Compromised nutrition is clearly tied to low
immune response. Diet improvement is the
key to keeping HIV infection from becoming
AIDS. Intestinal pH environment must be
changed for disease protection.
- Extreme toxicity, fatigue and malabsorption of AIDS forestalls a liquid detox plantoo harsh for such a weakened system. Three glasses of fresh carrot juice and a cup of potassium essence (see below) daily keeps the detox ongoing.
- The diet should have the best possible nutrition. A modified macrobiotic diet is ideal for resistance and immune strength. Produce should be fresh and organically grown when possible.
- No fried, fatty foods (they aggravate diarrhea). A low sugar, low fat diet is best if one has fatty accumulations related to drug therapy. Coconut oil is easily digested and has anti-HIV activity. Avoid concentrated sweeteners and chemicalized foods of all kinds. Avoid protein from dairy and red meat, especially fried meat, difficult to digest for people with HIV. Limit high gluten foods: wheat bread, barley, rye, commercial pastas and cereals and baked goods.
- Eat foods with anti-parasitic enzymes: cranberries, pineapple, papaya.
- Flush with fresh lemon juice (a specific for HIV) or six to eight glasses of mild herb teas and bottled water daily.
Detoxification Bodywork:
- One must detoxify the liver for holistic healing to be effective. (See my liver cleansing program at www.healthyhealing.com)
- Remove infected feces from the intestinal tract. Take both a colonic and an enema implant with aloe vera, wheat grass or spirulina once a week until recovery is well underway. Follow up with once a month treatments.
- Acupuncture, meditation, massage therapy and visualization help relieve AIDS symptoms.
- Get fresh air and sunlight on the body every day. Get mild exercise daily and plenty of rest. Do deep breathing exercises morning and evening.
- O2 spray.Use two times a day on the soles of the feet.
- Hydrotherapy is effective in restimulating circulation and inhibiting HIV growth. Take a sauna or an overheating bath once a week (not if one is very weak).
- Hormonal imbalance and depletion contribute to the progression of AIDS. Consider a hormone blood panel or saliva test to assess your levels.
Lifestyle practices to avoid HIV:
- Practice safe sex. Use condoms even for oral sex. Latex condoms are 98.100 percent effective in preventing transmission, if used correctly.
- Avoid anal intercourse.
- Avoid needle-injected pleasure drugs and snortable drugs. (HIV can be spread with shared snort straws.)
- Make sure any blood transfusion plasma has been tested for HIV virus (a regular practice in the U.S.).
Are the new HIV home tests a good choice?
Pharmacies now carry HIV tests, costing $40
to $50, that you can perform privately in
your home. People who are reluctant to get
HIV screening from a doctor may find home
tests a good choice. There are a few drawbacks:
One must send in the sample to a lab
and the results will be communicated over
the phone a few weeks later. Brands without
FDA approval may provide unreliable results.
Most communities also offer free, confidential HIV screening and counseling. Look
under AIDS-HIV in the yellow pages to find a
clinic. Regardless of onefs chosen screening
method, know that the HIV status is critical
to health and to sexual responsibility in the
modern world.
Potassium Essence
For a two day supply.
Make fresh in a soup pot.
Cover with water in a soup
pot:
 3 to 4 carrots, 3 stalks celery, 1.2 bunch parsley, 2 potatoes with skins, 1.2 head cabbage, 1 onion, 1.2 bunch broccoli and 2 T. snipped dzry sea veggies.- Simmer covered 30 minutes. Strain and discard solids.
- Add 2 t. liquid aminos or 1 t. miso.
Store in fridge, covered, and warm up for
each serving.
For additional information Linda Page,
N.D., Ph.D., recommends a visit to
www.healthyhealing.com for sea veggies,
books and more.
See her book, Healthy HealingA Guide
To Self-Healing For Everyone. For a full
healing program on AIDS/HIV.
Her complete diet program with supporting
recipes may be found in her books
Cooking For Healthy HealingBook One
The Healing Diets and Book TwoThe
Healing Recipes
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