 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Dana Ullman, MPH, Homeopathic Educational Services, 2124 Kittredge St., Berkeley, CA 94704, 301-792-1021, dullman@igc.org
Findings: A total of five controlled clinical trials were identified. A double-blind, placebo controlled study was conducted on 50 asymptomatic HIV+ subjects (stage II) and 50 subjects with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (stage III) in which individualized single-remedy homeopathic treatment was provided. A separate body of preliminary research was conducted using homeopathic doses of growth factors. Two randomized double-blind, placebo controlled studies were conducted with a total of 77 people with AIDS who used only natural therapies over a 8-16 week period. Two other studies were conducted over a 2.5 year period with 27 subjects in an open-label format.
Results: The first study found no statistically significant improvement in CD4 t-lymphocytes, but did find statistically significant pre- and post-test results in subjects with stage III AIDS, in CD4 (p=.008) and in CD8 (p=.04) counts. The second group of studies found specific physical, immunological, neurological, metabolic, and quality of life benefits, including improvements in lymphocyte counts and functions and reductions in HIV viral loads.
Conclusions: As a result of the growing number of people with drug-resistant HIV infection taking Structured Treatment Interruptions, homeopathic medicine may play a useful role as an adjunctive and/or alternative therapy.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.