TURMERIC / RESVERATROL / PANAX GINSENG / GINKGO BILOBA

[almar68]

Hallo everyone,

Pre-testing Poz ( a few months ago ) I was taking turmeric & resveratrol for their anti-inflammatory properties.  Also, Panax Ginseng for alertners and Ginkgo Biloba for my Tinittus.

Now I read a lot that these supplements (and a LOT of others) are inducers/inhibitors of CYP3A4 - the enzyme that is metablozing a lot of the HIV meds - I am currently on a Prezista, Truvada, Norvir regimen.

Any feedback on the above supplements?

Best Regards
Alex

[mecch]

My advice is to go gingerly - until you get the OK from a very knowledgeable expert. In my experience if you ask an HIV treating doctor you will get a flat-out "no" for most supplements, and this no is either based on science that it is counter-indicated, or based on a practitioner's wisdom that these are not helpful (to fight HIV) and might be harmful. 

So that leaves a consultation with a very experienced herbalist who is willing to understand the type of interactions in your particular combo, that you have already started to pick up such as - "now I read a lot that these supplements (and a LOT of others) are inducers/inhibitors of CYP3A4"

In the absence of expertise, this is why the answer is usually no.

Its a pity to get a flat no so I hope you find some expert guidance here.  I am sure there are ways to cut inflammation with diet and herbs and lifestyle but yeah we don't want to be sabotaging our anti-vitals. 

For alertness I avoided the whole issue and went to western pharma and got ADD drugs and it has been brilliant.   

Tinittus I had when I went on antivirals and then it calmed during the first year.  You had it before you were poz, or do you think its from the HIV infection, and or the antivirals??

[mecch]

 CATIE had an exhaustive guide to supplements and HIV but Im not sure how current it is:

http://www.catie.ca/en/practical-guides/herbal-therapies

[mecch]

What country?

Do you have ASO in your area? Might be a place for a referral to a very qualified "alternative" health practitioner who is up to date on HIV+ people...

Do you have certified herbalists?

http://www.catie.ca/en/practical-guides/herbal-therapies/4-decisions/4-1

[Jeff G]

Eat a well balanced diet and take a multivitamin if you want . If ever your doctor finds that you are deficient in a mineral then they can prescribe something for you in in the proper dose. Its pretty much been established that supplements for the most part give you an expensive pee in the least and at most do harm .     

[mecch]

I agree.  I think we are all on the same page for that and the OP knows these won't fight HIV and is anxious to avoid a conflict with anti-vitals.  But do we have to throw all "alternative" ways to address other issues away, because we take anti-vitals?  That is the question, I think.

[mecch]

I just received my quarterly shipment of green tea, and dandelion root, and some other stuff.  Lemon balm tea calms at night and might be active against herpes. But I've got a pharma anti-viral for the herpes if I need it, so there you go. Maybe the large quantities of dandelion root tea helped my liver through recent battles, maybe its just genetic. 

I do believe in very large cities one can find an ayurvedic practitioner and a traditional chinese medicine practitioner who will work with HIV+ people on antivirals, and knows what he/she is doing, but one would have to look hard and choose carefully.