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Date Posted: 13:28:45 01/26/02 Sat
Author: No name
Subject: DRUGS;ETC.

WHAT IS NATIVE AMERICAN TRADITIONAL HEALING?
Most Native American tribes have traditions about health and illness. These traditions are not based on western science. Instead, they come from the tribe's beliefs about how individuals fit in the web of life. This web includes the tribe, all humanity, the earth, and the universe. Many healing traditions focus on harmony. Healing occurs when someone is restored to harmony and connected to universal powers.

Traditional healing is "holistic". It does not focus on symptoms or diseases. Instead, it deals with the total individual. Different people with HIV disease may get different treatments. Healing focuses on the person, not the illness.

Certain people in each tribe are recognized as healers. They receive special teachings. Healing traditions are passed from one generation to the next through visions, stories, and dreams.

Healing does not follow written guidelines. Healers work differently with each person they help. They use their herbs, ceremony and power in the best way for each individual.

Healing might involve sweat lodges, talking circles, ceremonial smoking of tobacco, shamans, herbalism, animal spirits, or "vision quests". Each tribe uses its own techniques. The techniques by themselves are not "traditional healing." They are only steps towards becoming whole, balanced and connected.


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WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM TRADITIONAL HEALING?
Traditional healing can be very powerful for Native Americans dealing with HIV. It can restore a sense of connection to their tribe and culture. This promotes spiritual, psychological, emotional, and physical healing.
Some traditional healers only work with members of their own tribe. Others will work with outsiders. Some people who are not Native American believe that working with a traditional healer has helped them.

Most healers work in their local tribal communities. A few participate in public conferences. If you are not a tribal member, it is very difficult to know if someone is really a traditional healer.

Many people use the techniques of traditional healing. However, there is a big difference between traditional healing and using traditional techniques. Participating in a sweat lodge might help almost anyone. However, the experience could be very different depending on who runs the sweat lodge. Were they raised in a tradition that used sweat lodges? Or did they simply learn about the technique? Also, a sweat lodge will mean more to someone who grew up in a tribe that traditionally uses them. Some techniques might have no meaning unless you grew up using them.

Traditional ceremonies usually involve much more than outsiders are aware of. When you attend a ceremony, show respect by asking about guidelines for observing or participating.


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HOW DOES TRADITIONAL HEALING INTERACT WITH WESTERN MEDICINE?
Healers have different views about combining their methods with western medicine. Some do not see any value in medical science or treatments. Others believe that the systems deal with different aspects of an individual so there is no problem using both.

Most western physicians do not understand the value or importance of traditional healing to their Native American patients. A few, especially in areas with large Native American populations, are more open to traditional healing.

If you combine western medicine and traditional healing, let your physician know about any treatments you are using. There might be interactions. For example, a traditional healer might use an herbal preparation to help you sleep. In that case, your physician would probably not want you to take sleeping pills. Your healer might want you to use herbs to cleanse your system. These might interact with western medications that you are taking. Your physician might help you avoid negative interactions.


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THE BOTTOM LINE
Native American traditional healing is a holistic approach to health. Each tribe has its own healing traditions.

Traditional healers do not follow a standard procedure. Instead, they apply their skills to each person individually.

By themselves, techniques such as sweat lodges or vision quests are not "traditional healing." They have the most meaning as part of an overall healing tradition.

Traditional healers and western physicians are often skeptical of each other. However, it is best if your care providers all know about everything you are doing for your health. There may be interactions among different techniques that you want to avoid.



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Reviewed May 24, 2001



WHAT IS CAT'S CLAW?
Cat's claw is a vine that grows in Peru. The plant gets its name from pairs of large, curved thorns that grow along the vine. In Spanish, the vine's name is uņa de gato. Its scientific name is Uncaria tomentosa. Traditionally, the inner bark and the root of the vine are used to make a tea. A similar vine, Uncaria guaianensis, lacks a potentially important compound. A Chinese variety, Uncaria rhynchophylla, has many similar compounds.

WARNING: A plant called "cat's claw" grows in northern Mexico and southern Texas. This plant, Acacia gregii, has no known health benefits and its bark may be poisonous.

Natives of the Peruvian jungle, especially the Ashaninka tribe, have used cat's claw for hundreds of years as a medicine. It did not come to the attention of researchers until the 1970s.

Cat's claw contains chemicals called oxindole alkaloids. A researcher named Klaus Keplinger patented some of these based on evidence that they affect immune function. However, a patent is not the same thing as approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Keplinger has used cat's claw to treat some people with herpes or HIV.

Other research showed that cat's claw also contains different kinds of alkaloids that affect the central nervous system. These alkaloids might work against the alkaloids that affect the immune system. More research is needed.


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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CAT'S CLAW?
Peruvian natives use cat's claw to treat inflammatory diseases like arthritis, to clean out the digestive tract and to treat cancer. It has also been used to treat dysentery, recovery from childbirth, and women's hormone imbalances.

In laboratory studies, cat's claw normalizes some immune system functions. It also appears to help reduce blood clotting. We do not know if these laboratory results will carry over to studies in people.

There have been some small human studies, including in people with AIDS. The results were inconclusive. In one study, cat's claw speeded the healing of people with herpes simplex virus (cold sores or genital herpes) and herpes zoster virus (shingles). A company that makes a purified version of cat's claw did this study. No independent researchers have gotten similar results.


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WHY DO PEOPLE WITH HIV USE CAT'S CLAW?
Many people with HIV are attracted to herbs that are supposed to strengthen the immune system. However, the benefits of cat's claw have not yet been documented in humans. Also, it is possible that cat's claw could stimulate the immune system in ways that lead to progression of HIV disease. Without controlled studies, we don't know if it does anything, good or bad.

Health food companies promote cat's claw as a possible treatment for a wide range of health conditions. Some promotional materials call it a "miracle herb" and claim it is stronger than many other herbal products. These claims are not supported by careful research.


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HOW IS CAT'S CLAW USED?
The traditional use of cat's claw was to make a tea from the inner bark of the vine. Health food companies offer cat's claw in capsules of powdered dried bark, as a liquid extract to use under the tongue, as tea bags and as bulk bark and root to make into a tea. It is difficult to know the best dosage to use. In addition, there is no way to standardize the concentration of the active ingredients of cat's claw. It contains at least six chemicals that are supposed to have health benefits.


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WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
There are no recorded side effects from the use of cat's claw. However, very few people have been treated with cat's claw in scientific research studies. Some cat's claw products say that they should not be used by pregnant women, or by people with immune disorders like multiple sclerosis.


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HOW DOES IT INTERACT WITH OTHER THERAPIES?
There are no known interactions between cat's claw and medications or other herbs. However, most interactions between herbs and medications have not been studied. Tell your doctor if you are using herbal supplements.


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HOW DO WE KNOW IT WORKS?
We do not know if cat's claw has any beneficial effects for people with HIV. There have been several laboratory studies that show promising results. However, very few people have taken cat's claw in careful scientific studies.


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THE BOTTOM LINE
Cat's claw is an herbal product made from the bark and root of a vine that grows in Peru. Local native people have used it for hundreds of years to treat a variety of health problems.

Although some laboratory studies have shown promising results for cat's claw, there are very few studies in humans. Until there is more research on cat's claw it is difficult to feel confident about its benefits or side effects.

Note: This Fact Sheet is based largely on the work of Direct AIDS Alternative Information Resources (DAAIR). For more details, contact DAAIR at 1-888-951-5433 or http://www.daair.org.



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Reviewed July 30, 2001



WHAT IS DHEA?
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. A hormone is a chemical produced in one part of the body that is carried to another part of the body where it has a specific effect. The adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys.

DHEA is a steroid, which means that it has a particular chemical structure that looks like connected rings. DHEA has not demonstrated the same effects as anabolic (muscle-building) steroids, but the Food and Drug Administration has already examined the possibility of classifying DHEA as a Schedule III drug. If this happens, it will be extremely difficult to get DHEA.

DHEA is the most common steroid in humans. It can be transformed in the body into testosterone (the primary male sex hormone), estrogen (an important female sex hormone), or other steroids.

In normal adults, DHEA levels are highest at about age 20, and then decrease steadily. HIV patients with lipodystrophy have very low levels of DHEA.


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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DHEA?
People with various diseases have levels of DHEA that are unusually low. DHEA has been used in the last thirty years or so to treat obesity, diabetes, and lupus. It has also been found to improve sleep. Many people who have taken DHEA report improved energy levels and a better sense of well being.


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WHY DO PEOPLE WITH HIV USE DHEA?
Some people with HIV take DHEA in amounts designed to restore normal levels. This might help improve their energy levels. Several studies have found that DHEA increases levels of IL-2, a chemical messenger that increases the production of CD4+ (T-helper) cells. DHEA also improves the ability of CD8+ (T-killer) cells to destroy infected cells. DHEA may help normalize the immune system.


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HOW IS DHEA USED?
DHEA is available in "regular" form or as DHEA-S (DHEA sulfate). The body can convert DHEA into DHEA-S and back again.

A doctor in San Francisco who uses DHEA with his HIV-positive patients tries to maintain blood levels that are typical for young adults. This usually means taking 200 milligrams of DHEA either once or twice a day.

A blood or saliva test can measure the amount of DHEA in your blood. This can help determine how much DHEA to take and whether your level is where you want it to be. DHEA levels vary during the day, so you should do each test at the same time of day.

We do not know the best doses of DHEA for women, and it has not been studied in children or adolescents with HIV.


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WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
There are no documented side effects of DHEA at doses up to 2,500 mg per day, except for an increase in acne, especially in women.

Some studies suggest that people with HIV and Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) have very high levels of DHEA. Taking more DHEA might be harmful for these people. Check your blood or urine levels before you take DHEA.


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HOW DOES DHEA INTERACT WITH OTHER THERAPIES?
There are no documented interactions of DHEA with other therapies. Because DHEA occurs naturally in the body, interactions are unlikely. It is possible that DHEA could affect the processing of drugs by the liver, but this has not been studied.


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HOW DO WE KNOW IT WORKS?
There is increasing scientific interest in DHEA, with well over 100 scientific articles written in each of the last four years. However, there have not been many studies that document health benefits in humans, and some initial good results have not been confirmed in follow-up studies. There is not good scientific support for taking DHEA supplements (that is, getting more than normal amounts in your body). However, some doctors recommend DHEA replacement, which means taking enough DHEA to bring your levels back into the normal range.


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THE BOTTOM LINE
DHEA is a steroid hormone produced by the body. DHEA levels go down with age, and go down even faster with some illnesses including HIV. DHEA may help with immune function or with patients' energy levels.

It may be helpful to take enough DHEA to bring levels up to the normal range. This is called "replacement" therapy. Before you take DHEA, check your blood or saliva levels.

At this point, there are no research studies that support taking DHEA supplements (amounts that would give you higher than normal levels).



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Note: This Fact Sheet is based on the work of Direct AIDS Alternative Information Resources (DAAIR). For more details, contact DAAIR at 1-888-951-5433 or http://www.daair.org.



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Revised March 30, 2001



WHAT IS DNCB?
Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) is a chemical used in color photography processing. DNCB is a "contact sensitizer", which means that it causes an itchy red rash similar to poison oak or poison ivy. Some doctors have used DNCB to measure the strength of the immune system: the greater the skin reaction to DNCB, and the faster it shows up, the stronger the immune response.


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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DNCB?
Some researchers and community activists believe that when DNCB is applied to the skin once a week, it stimulates the immune system to control HIV replication and delay opportunistic infections. Some research shows that DNCB leads to increases in T-killer (T-8 or CD8+) cells. These cells are an important part of the immune system.

There is almost no good research on DNCB. Some studies suggest that DNCB decreases the number of T-helper (CD4+ or T4) cells.


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WHY DO PEOPLE WITH HIV USE DNCB?
Research on DNCB shows that it stimulates the immune system. It has been used to treat skin lesions caused by Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS).

Advocates of DNCB claim that it can clear up all symptoms of HIV disease, except for pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). A small group of activists formerly known as DNCB Now! Is the main supporter of this therapy. The group is also known as ACT UP San Francisco, but it is not connected with any other ACT UP groups around the world.

DNCB's supporters claim that antiviral drugs are bad for the immune system. Despite dropping death rates from AIDS and many research reports, they argue that antiviral drugs do not lead to longer life or a better quality of life for people with HIV disease. They have used civil disobedience to promote their point of view that AIDS medications are poison and should not be used.


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HOW IS DNCB USED?
DNCB is available as a liquid solution in four strengths: 10%, 2%, 0.2%, and 0.02%. The solution is applied on the skin once a week to a 2-inch square area. Then the area is bandaged and should be kept dry for 10 hours. After the first skin response (a red, itchy rash), the strength of the DNCB solution is lowered.

Instructions for using DNCB originally provided by DNCB Now! say that most other therapies could prevent it from working. This includes long-term acupuncture, most herbs if used for more than a few days, high doses of vitamins, and antiviral medications.

These controversial instructions have made it difficult for most people to try to use DNCB, especially since there is almost no research to support its use.


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WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
The first application of DNCB may produce a chemical "burn" in addition to the normal itchy rash. The rash occurs each time DNCB is applied and lasts for a few days. Some people have persistent scarring or rashes where they apply DNCB. It may also cause sensitivity to other chemicals.

No other side effects have been reported. However, DNCB has not been carefully studied in any large clinical trials. Long-term side effects are unknown, although one study suggested that DNCB might cause cancer.


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HOW DOES DNCB INTERACT WITH OTHER THERAPIES?
DNCB advocates believe that almost every other HIV therapy reduces the action of DNCB. They do not recommend the use of any antiviral medications, of high-dose vitamins, or more than short-term use of most herbs or of acupuncture.


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HOW DO WE KNOW IT WORKS?
There is very little research to support the benefits of DNCB. No research study on DNCB has started with more than 24 patients, and many patients dropped out of the studies. However, some studies have continued for over two years. DNCB seems to restore immune responses in the skin that are lost as AIDS develops. However, we don't know if the skin response is a good indicator of overall immune health. Because DNCB is very inexpensive and can not be patented, it is very difficult to find a sponsor to pay for clinical trials.


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THE BOTTOM LINE
DNCB is a "contact sensitizer" that stimulates one part of the immune system. There is almost no research to support its use. However, a small group of AIDS activists called ACT UP San Francisco strongly supports the use of DNCB.



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Revised March 30, 2001



WHAT IS ECHINACEA?
Echinacea is a flowering plant. It is sometimes called Purple Coneflower. It grows mainly in Europe and the North America. There are several closely related species: Echinacea purpurea, angustifolia, and pallida. They have slightly different medicinal properties. Echinacea purpurea seems more active in the test tube. Echinacea angustifolia appears more effective in people.

Echinacea was the main medicinal herb used by Native Americans in the Great Plains region. Since the late 1930s, German researchers have studied echinacea and its effects on the immune system. Echinacea is one of the most frequently sold herbs in the United States.

The German government has approved Echinacea pallida root and Echinacea purpurea leaf for use against colds, flu, and chronic respiratory or urinary infections.


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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ECHINACEA?
The major use of echinacea is to treat colds and flu. It is also used for urinary tract infections, skin wounds that aren't healing well, and skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.

Echinacea stimulates the immune system. It promotes T-cell activation and increases the activity of the immune system. It helps white blood cells attack germs. These effects may decrease if people take echinacea for more than a few weeks.

Echinacea is generally not recommended for use by people with diseases of the immune system such as HIV, multiple sclerosis, or tuberculosis. The German government recommends against using echinacea if you have these conditions. Some researchers believe that echinacea could actually worsen these immune system problems.


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WHY DO PEOPLE WITH HIV USE ECHINACEA?
Many people with HIV have used echinacea because it stimulates the immune system, or for short-term treatment of colds and the flu. The use of echinacea for people with HIV is controversial.


Some doctors believe that it is not a good idea to stimulate the immune system in people who have some type of immune disorder. Increasing the activation of T-cells could give HIV more "target cells" to infect. Other doctors believe that some parts of the immune system are already overactive, causing damage to healthy cells and tissues.

They are also concerned about an animal study showing that echinacea increased levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a substance produced by the immune system to kill unhealthy cells. High levels of TNF-alpha have been linked to the progression of HIV disease.

Unfortunately, as with most herbal products, there is no careful research in people with HIV. There is no published research to document any dangerous results from the use of echinacea by people with HIV. Some researchers believe that short-term use of echinacea (up to two weeks) to treat colds or flu does not present any serious risks to people with HIV.


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HOW IS ECHINACEA USED?
Echinacea is available in capsules containing a powder of the dried plant or root, and also as a tincture (an alcohol-based preparation). In some cases, people drink pressed juice from fresh plants. For treating skin conditions, special preparations containing pressed juice are used.

The suggested dosage of echinacea depends on which species and which parts of the plant were used. In general, it should not be used for more than 1-2 weeks.


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WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
There are no known side effects from internal or external use of echinacea. The warnings about negative effects of echinacea use in people with immune disorders are based on laboratory studies. There are no human studies that document these side effects.


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HOW DOES IT INTERACT WITH OTHER THERAPIES?
There are no known interactions between echinacea and medications or other herbs. However, most interactions between herbs and medications have not been studied. Tell your doctor if you are using herbal supplements.


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THE BOTTOM LINE
Echinacea (purple coneflower) is a flowering plant used for respiratory problems and to stimulate the immune system. It is a very popular herb in the United States. There are hundreds of published research studies on echinacea, mostly done in Europe. These studies document echinacea's effects on the immune system and its benefits for treating colds and flu.

Some researchers believe that echinacea's effects on the immune system might cause problems for people with HIV. However, there are no published studies showing any harmful effects from echinacea. There may be no risk from using echinacea for less than two weeks.



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Reviewed July 30, 2001

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