Holistic additives to your daily life… what's worked and not?

[BubbaPat]

Howdy,

I was wondering what other people have done by way of adding holistic ideas to their meds and exercise?  I've heard some good and bad about specific multivitamins and herbs, yoga and meditation and even aroma therapy.

So I was curious to find out what has worked and NOT worked for others?

Currently, on the advice of friend, I've been adding Turmeric to a lot of dishes.  The thought is that it helps with memory.  Don't know if it's working but my food does taste good.

Let me know.
Patrick

[zach]

Depends. In your query, what does "worked" mean exactly? Without knowing what you want to do, it is impossible to answer if something does it.

Worked to (insert goal).... and the answers will vary widely. Some goals will be unrealistic, some results will be completely unrelated to HIV.

Worked to suppress viral load? NOTHING but haart meds work to control HIV. Every day you don't take meds, is a day HIV is replicating. Period, full stop, end of discussion on viral load.

Worked to raise CD4 levels? NOTHING does that, not even haart meds. Time and patience AFTER reaching an undetectable viral load does that.

Worked to relieve stress? Yes, yoga works.

Worked to get a buzz? Yes, I highly recommend marijuana.

Worked to predict the weather and future? Some say tea leaves and chicken bones work great. Anecdotal at best, I'm skeptical however.

[Joe K]

When HIV was discovered, all types of "remedies" were offered with few, if any, that really helped in any measurable way.  My only advice would be, that if you choose to try some supplement that you will be putting into your body, that you review your choice with your doctor BEFORE you try anything, to be sure there are no contraindications to your use of it.

I love anything with wheels and I derive great pleasure from both rollerblading and cycling.  Montreal has miles of bike paths, away from the hustle of the city, which gives me time to enjoy nature and be alone with my thoughts.  I cherish these times as they let me work through whatever issues I may be experiencing, while also being surrounded by nature and getting some exercise as well.

Joe

[BT65]

When I was going through the wasting syndrome, I had a shoe box full of supplements...everything you could think of that was supposed to "fix" something.

None of them did a damn thing except cost me a lot of money.  Unfortunately, back then the meds were crap also.

HAART works.  I've heard exercise can help with mood.  I do that at times.  Work to relieve pain?  Morphine.  Memory?  I have no clue.  Mine is about shot.  What I do now is talk to other long term survivors and this year I'll be attending my first AMG in 8 years.  I can't wait!  I can meet these people I've interacted with all these years.  That helps my mood. 

Whatever works, do it. But be sure you're not throwing money in the shitter.

Betty

[DodgerDawg]

I've taken a very conservative approach to Alt Meds / Supplements.

In the last week, I've decided to add the following to my ARV's (and long list of meds prescribed)

Omega-3 - 690 mg
Vitamin D3 - 2000ui
Bayer Aspirin - 81mg

I started taking these daily in addition to my regular meds just this week.

Can I prove anything? No. However based on my reading, It's what I've settled on.

DD

[AT]

Six months since my diagnosis I have this approach. Step one, I take my daily Complera to suppress my HIV without question. Two, I remind myself that the first step is most important.

Third, I'v made dietary changes to support my immune system. I drink a homemade tea almost everyday of turmeric, ginger, cayenne pepper, cinnamon and green tea. I eat an avocado about five days a week using a variety of simple ways to flavor it. I drink hot water with fresh squeezed lemon juice every morning. I've cut out fast food and highly processed foods. I shop organic as rationally as I can afford and learned how to cook several tasty, affordable recipes. In six months my CD4 has risen from 315 to 708 and I'm 50 years old.

I also meditate several times a week to relax and try to exercise regularly. Exercise is my "Achilles heel" because studies show it's very important to mitigating the bodily damage caused by HIV, but many days I'm still on the couch with lingering remorse. My only supplement is a daily multi-vitamin. Step five, I remind myself of step one.

[emeraldize]

I've benefited from acupuncture for stress reduction. Anything to reduce stress --exercise/walking, meditation, pulling away from things that agitate.

[BT65]

I do take calcium with Vit D.  I used to take a multivitamin but don't any longer since there is no proven evidence of vitamins doing anything?

Betty

[Jim Allen]

I do take calcium with Vit D.  I used to take a multivitamin but don't any longer since there is no proven evidence of vitamins doing anything?

Betty

Same for me knocked the multivitamins on the head, I just did not see the point in taking them.
I do daily drink milk fortified milk extra Vit D and protein, not due to HIV but just due to lack of sunlight, and I eat Live yoghurt.

[Dachshund]

Having been well documented by, you know, science flat-earthers, supplements are a waste of time and money. I'm not only sure, I'm HIV positive.

[Wade]

I take a large dose of vitamin D ,
Also a regular 325 mg aspirin .
I like Joes answer !

[CalvinC]

1) Take HIV med daily.

2) See one.

A strong support system of family and friends is good. Meditation and gratitude are healthy attitudes to embrace. Eat well, sleep well, and exercise. Usually, the three will work in tandem, as I have long found. Cut out processed foods. Supplements, including vitamins, are largely a placebo if you are eating/drinking well. The evidence for the efficacy of many of them is still being debated. (And some supplements aren't even what they say they are: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/03/new-york-attorney-general-targets-supplements-at-major-retailers/?_r=0)

Great conversation over an herbal tea, warm baths, inspiring music, walks in the natural world, volunteering.... You really don't need supplements.

[BubbaPat]

Thanks for the positive feedback folks!!  I appreciate it.

I realize that one must take the meds.  Wasn't looking for alternative.  I was simply wondering how some of you have added natural helpers.  Wanted to get some feedback as to what/if any supplements people liked or didn't like.  I've got one friend who swears by his turmeric pills.  His input was that he buys one particular brand because he didn't like others.  Plus.. some of y'alls talk of teas is nice.  OOOHHH!!!  And the acupuncture.  I SOOO want to try that.  These are the type of inputs I was looking for.

For me… I also look at anything that I can do to fight my ADD.  All the articles I've read state that getting vitamins from actual food is the best.  I know.. getting rid of the processed crap is the best starter.  I do LIVE by me some Penzeys spices.  And yes, I add turmeric to dishes like rice and corn.  If it helps… GREAT!  If it simply makes my food tastier.. that's great too.
 
Thanks for all your input!!  Keep 'em coming!

Bubba hugs!

[buginme2]

Supplements are a great way to separate a fool from his money.  I've often times thought of starting my own supplement company so I can sell vitamins and herbs to the masses so I can retire in peace on the beach off the coast of France. 

Not to mention thanks to the New York attorney general it's been shown that supplement companies (including GNC) are peddling products that don't even contain the ingredient the purport to be selling. 

So basically I'll sell little capsules of yellow colored flour, call it turmeric, put a picture on the bottle of some guy jogging, say it will help with something obscure that can't be measured like say..it helps with memory (prove me wrong) or it will make your bones stronger (again, prove me wrong) and voila ..cha Ching

Now...I do drink an energy drink before I workout...that's kind of a supplement..but it's mostly just caffeine...so I'm guilty as well.

[BT65]

I should say I'm also on a prescribed medication for my osteoporosis.  But, since long-term HIV and certain meds are shown to age bones faster, that's why I take the calcium. 

I try to get my vitamins and other things from food.  I am guilty of drinking Coke, which I know I need to stop.  I had just read an article, in, oh, Money Magazine maybe, why soda is bad and I was surprised.  Of course everyone knows about the phosphorous in soda...it causes tooth decay faster.  If I can find the article now, I'll link to it later.

Of course the wisest thing is to have a conversation with your doctor.  Ask about any supplement you're thinking about taking.  Then do what I did with my doctor-ask for proof of scientific evidence they help.  I asked about vitamins, and he basically told me there is none, other than calcium and fish oil.

Betty