Garlic daily

[nursepoz24]

Is taking garlic oil daily would help lower the viral load? need advce here pls. thanks.

[mecch]

No proof of that that I am aware of. 
Generally your genetics are determining your viral load.  I think its important to eat well, exercise, keep stress in check.  Otherwise its genetics and when your numbers say you need HAART, you take haart. 
I think supplements can help alot with feeling well but I don't think they have much of a role in avoiding HAART.  Is that your hope?

[Ann]

If garlic was any use in lowering viral load, don't you think everyone who is poz would be taking it? Well, we're not because it doesn't.

The only thing that has been proven to lower viral loads are antiretroviral (ARVs) medicines.

[spacebarsux]

Is taking garlic oil daily would help lower the viral load? need advce here pls. thanks.

No, no food substances are going to increase or decrease your VL or CD4. Thus far, Nothing has been conclusively proven to have such an effect.

That said, it isn't a bad idea to strive to eat a well-balanced diet with the objective of maintaining overall health (nothing related to HIV). <-- I should follow my own advice

PS- Garlic has a longstanding reputation of being an aphrodisiac, not to mention it's really delicious.

Best.

[Miss Philicia]

Back a dozen or so years ago, when more people were on saquinavir, there was caution by doctors about using any garlic supplement as (in a smallish study) it had been shown to decrease that meds levels by half.

Not sure what current recommendations are per each HIV med, but I'd personally not take the chance.

[buginme2]

Is taking garlic oil daily would help lower the viral load? need advce here pls. thanks.

As a nurse shouldn't you know this?  So far you have asked if garlic, USANA vitamins, and spirulina either lower viral loads  or increase cd4 counts.  I am all for living healthy and even taking supplements to compliment your medical treatment however, only HAART lowers viral load.  Please tell us you are on medication and not trying to treat your HIV using some herbal therapy route.

[newbie76]

A word of cautions. I am on Atripla and was told by the HIV clinic's pharmacist that I should NOT take garlic supplements (eating natural garlic is ok though), as this has been proven to interefe with Atripla. So if and when you will go on meds, do make sure you check all the supplements with your doctor of pharmacist.

[David in Toronto]

The only other substance that helps lower viral load and fight hiv other than arv's is marijuana. read this paper published, http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0033961 it is very interesting.

[jayson702]

 I wouldn't take it as oil. But it won't help with lowering your viral load or help with CD4's. It is a delicous food though, personally I love it.

Plus it keeps vampires away. Especially the angsty teenage ones.

[MarkB]

A word of cautions. I am on Atripla and was told by the HIV clinic's pharmacist that I should NOT take garlic supplements (eating natural garlic is ok though), as this has been proven to interefe with Atripla. So if and when you will go on meds, do make sure you check all the supplements with your doctor of pharmacist.

Thanks for the heads-up: I didn't know this - can you refer me to any studies on this point?

[Matty the Damned]

Thanks for the heads-up: I didn't know this - can you refer me to any studies on this point?

Garlic supplements and PIs are a no-no.

http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/1667_14733.shtml
http://www.poz.com/articles/garlic_pill_warning_2226_15131.shtml

MtD

[MarkB]

Thanks Matty - one of the many things I hadn't read!