HIV and AIDS – Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment
Posted by admin in HIV and AIDS on January 15, 2012
Infection with the HIV virus causes a state of compromised immunity in the body, which makes an affected individual susceptible to a host of acute and chronic infections. The more commonly seen opportunistic infections include herpes simplex, herpes zoster, tuberculosis, skin infections, gastro-intestinal infections like diarrhea, and different types of cancer. Full-blown AIDS is usually the culmination of an HIV positive status, when the body can no longer effectively cope up with infections.
Ayurvedic medicines can be effectively used to control the HIV infection and prevent a rapid deterioration in immunity. Ayurvedic medicines which can prevent multiplication of the HIV virus include herbs like Bhumyamalaki (Phyllanthus niruri), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Nimba (Azadirachta indica), Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Chitrak (Plumbago zeylanica), and Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa).
Infection can be treated and controlled with medicines like Triphala Guggulu, Sukshma Triphala, Kutaj Parpati, Panchamrut-Parpati and Gandhak Rasayan. Purifcation of the “Blood” tissue can be done with the use of medicines like Maha-Manjishthadi-Qwath, Saarivadi-Churna, Chandrakala-Ras and herbs like Manjishtha, Saariva, Nimba, Haridra (Curcuma longa) and Daruharidra(Berberis aristata). This helps in controlling infection as well as preventing tumor formation and malignancies.
Tuberculosis is a major opportunistic infection in HIV positive individuals, and can prove to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Modern anti-tuberculosis drugs have traditionally served well to control this infection, even in HIV positive individuals. However, the rapid emergence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis has drastically changed the picture for the worse. In this scenario, Ayurvedic medicines can be given as additional therapy in order to bring about a good therapeutic response. Such medicines include Suvarna-Bhasma, Heerak-Bhasma, Abhrak-Bhasma, Trivang-Bhasma, Shrung-Bhasma, Ras-Sindur, Sameerpannag-Ras, Suvarna-Malini-Vasant, and Vasant-Kusumakar-Ras.
Opportunistic infections and diseases of the nervous system also prove to be fatal in HIV. Such infections and diseases can be controlled well with Ayurvedic medicines like Bruhat-Vat-Chintamani, Maha-Vat-Vidhvans-Ras, Ekang-Veer-Ras, Tapyadi-Loh, Vish-Tinduk-Vati, Agnitundi-Vati, and herbs like Ashwagandha, Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata), Nirgundi (Vitex negundo) and Haridra.
HIV and AIDS Synopsis
Posted by admin in HIV and AIDS on January 15, 2012
HIV/AIDS
Acquired Immune Deficiency (Aids) is a chronic and life threatening disease of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that damages the immune system by killing off vital CD4+T cells. Genetic Research states that the disease originated in West Central Africa during the late 19th or early 20th century but was not recognized by the U.S. Center for Disease Control Prevention until 1981. HIV is spread through sexual contact, contaminated shared needles, pregnant women spread it to their unborn child and contact with infected blood. Knowledge of the disease can potentially save lives.
HIV is a lent virus which is a member of the retrovirus family that causes AIDS. When first infected with the virus, mild symptoms occur. These symptoms may or may not be recognizable but includes fever, headaches, sore throat, rash and swollen lymph glands. Swollen lymph glands/nodes are often the first sign of HIV infection but the best way to know if the virus has infected the bloodstream is to get tested. These symptoms usually last about two to four weeks at the initial stage of the virus into the bloodstream and typically go away until years later as the virus multiplies and begin to destroy the immune cells further if treatment is not sought after. That’s the significant reason of being tested regularly because early detection can help a person live a healthier life with the medication that’s on the market oppose to a person who has no knowledge that their living with the disease. If no treatment for the HIV infection is received, the disease will develop into AIDS in about ten years. This is solely due to the HIV process of eating away or destroying the CD4+T cells which are specific types of white blood cells that plays an important role in helping the body fight diseases. The more CD4+T cells that are killed, the weaker the immune system becomes. The normal CD4 cell count for a healthy immune is between 500 and 1000. Once the CD4+T cells drop below a life-threatening 200 per microliter, the diagnosis of HIV becomes a diagnosis of AIDS which then is the final stage of the virus and soon becomes the fatal state of the virus.
In the AIDS status of the virus, the immune system is severely damaged making the body vulnerable to what are called opportunistic diseases and certain types of cancers. Opportunistic diseases are diseases that wouldn’t normally affect a person with a healthy immune system only that of a compromised immune system presents an opportunity for the pathogen to infect. These diseases include but are not limited to Tuberculosis, fungal infections, CMV, Salmonellosis, Toxoplasmosis, Pneumonia and Candidiasis just to name a few, seeing that each case is different. As the AIDS virus begins, the symptoms are considerably noticeable ranging from chronic night sweats, severe diarrhea, persistent unexplained fatigue, skin rashes and rapid weight loss. Pneumonia is said to be the fatal stage of the AIDS virus and is when life expectancy is right around the corner.
Although there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, there are a variety of drugs that can be used in combination to help keep the virus at bay. Each of the classes of the anti-HIV drugs blocks the virus in different ways reducing the viral load to the point that it is undetectable. Preventative measures are essential to avoid being a victim of this terrible disease.
Gallbladder Disease and Medical Malpractice
Posted by admin in Gallbladder Disease on January 14, 2012
Gallbladder disease encompasses a wide range of clinical conditions including cholelithiasis (gallstones in the gallbladder), choledocholithiasis (gallstones in the common bile duct), cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder from obstruction of the biliary tree), and ascending cholangitis (infection of the biliary tree). The most common admittable presenting problem related to the gallbladder is cholecystitis. Patients present with biliary colic and fever. Cholecystitis is caused mostly by stones obstruction the cystic duct (90%) which is the duct attaching the gallbladder to the common bile duct. The other 10% are due to stones obstructing the common bile duct. The common bile duct leads to the small intestine, and is also fed by the hepatic duct coming from the liver (see anatomical picture below). Risk factors for cholecystitis mirror those for cholelithiasis (simple biliary colic) and include increasing age, female sex, certain ethnic groups, obesity or rapid weight loss, drugs, and pregnancy.
Pathophysiology:
Acute calculous (stones) cholecystitis is caused by obstruction of the cystic duct, leading to distention of the gallbladder. As the gallbladder becomes distended, blood flow and lymphatic drainage are compromised, leading to mucosal ischemia and necrosis.
Acalculous cholecystitis is less common and far more dangerous than calculous cholecystitis with a much higher mortality rate. It is caused by conditions associated with biliary stasis including critical illnesses (many), major surgery, severe trauma and burns, sepsis, long term TPN (total parenteral nutrition), prolonged fasting, and diabetes. Read the rest of this entry »