natural supplements & HIV

[justfoundout]

I just tested positive and my numbers are still good and now i am trying to educate myself on the treatment of HIV and how to stay healty.
i work at a natural foods co-op and i am looking into taking a daily mutivitamin- and another natural supplement that is mushroom based- i read some good things online about these supplements- has anyone else tried them?  i want to do the natural supplements for as long as i can before i need the doctor prescribed meds.  If anyone has experience and would like to share i would greatly appreciate it.
:-)

[allopathicholistic]

i want to do the natural supplements for as long as i can before i need the doctor prescribed meds. 

hi just -

so glad you used the word 'need' because by and large most people will need antiretroviral meds at some point; the general rule of thumb exceptions being the LTNP's and viremic controllers..  .....  You sound like you have a good head on your shoulders unlike myself a few years back when i only wanted to do the natural route i.e. without proper meds nor a ID doctor (when my name was psychopathicholistic  )

and another natural supplement that is mushroom based

COMMUNICATE whatever natural items strike your fancy with your DOCTOR. ALWAYS. .... okay, back to the item you're researching --would that be cordyceps sinensis? i take that. can i prove that it has helped me? No - i can only hypothesize; however, feel free to take a look at my overall labs as part of your own research. i'm sure you've heard this before: what works for one person might be a total waste for another person http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=5177.msg58220#msg58220

In this forum family, we've got at least 3 go-to people in terms of natural information - hopefully they'll advise

Love,
A

[frenchpat]

Hi Just,

back in the days when I did not want to go the allopathic route, I tried a few things that were advertised as "good for your immune system". They might be good for people without HIV but some are not recommended when positive.

My doc, an immunologist, oncologue and a specialist in phytotherapy, advised me to renounce stuff like Echinaccea and mushrooms like Maitake, because they stimulate the immune system, thereby encouraging replication of the unwanted host.

I also use essential oils and believe they do make a difference, but there you should not self medicate and find yourself an aromatherapist. I don't use them to fight HIV per se but they help me stay balanced and get rid of the occasional cold, mouth sore, bronchitis or athlete's foot caught in the gym's showers. This way I keep allopathic medications to the minimum I now need - antiretrovirals.

Hope this helps

Pat (who may have qualified once as psychopathicholistic )

[poet]

Borrowing from my medication administration classes for the mentally challenged, prescribed and non-prescribed/over-the-counter medications as well as wholistic and other supplements and vitamins have to work together without causing interactions with each other which is why, in my field, a hcp has to prescribe/order each of them.  As noted above, you know what your long term goal is: controling he replication of hiv.  So do make sure that you read up/ask questions/consult with a hcp before venturing out.  Win