HIV/AIDS and Homoeopathic Management

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Ever since the condition of HIV / AIDS was reported I had an unusual interest in it. It was a challenge for medicine and especially for homoeopaths, who claim treatment for new diseases as it is based on symptoms syndrome and not on diagnostic labels or the causative factors, bacteria or viruses. I was inspired by the fact that Hahnemann without seeing a single case of Cholera predicted very effective remedies for it. I, therefore, made an in depth study from all sources and got actual descriptions from doctors who had seen cases in USA. On this basis I ventured to write an article "Homoeopathy: A Promising Refuge from the Scourge of AIDS". This was in 1983 and the presentation was made at an International Congress in Singapore in January 1984, before any case was reported in India. The second presentation was at an International Congress of LMHI [Liga Medicorum Homoeopathica Internationalis) held at Washington, D. C., USA in 1987. The updated 3rd presentation at the International Homoeopathic Congress also of LMHI held at Athens (Greece) in 1988. The proceedings of this congress happened to have been seen by the Additional Secretary Health, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Mr. M.S. Dayal. He wrote a letter to me on 12th December 1988 showing much interest and desire to discuss his proposal. A presentation was made where he along with senior officials of the ministry and Dr. S.P. Tripathy, Addl. Director General, ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) was present. When a projection of a comparative study between Allopathy and Homoeopathy was made at the top under Allopathy there were no treatment, no preventive vaccine and 100% mortality. On the Homoeopathic side good potential and underneath the reasons for my opinion and suggestion for some possible important remedies. Mr. Dayal looked at the officer from the ICMR and asked him if that was true. When he agreed Mr. Dayal spontaneously remarked, that the ministry is wasting the funds given to the ICMR and decided there and then that Homoeopaths will do the treatment and ICMR will do the monitoring. Thereafter it was decided that this work be given to Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH). Since 1989 CCRH has been working on HIV infected cases to find out the alternative means in controlling the progression of disease and to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV / AIDS (PLHA ).1 have been observing this research study since then very closely. They have based their diagnosis and management not only on a fine understanding of the immunopathogenesis of the disease but on man as a whole and relied upon the available diagnostic / prognostic parameters as well and treating them for several years based on the homoeopathic principles.

Over the past two decades or more HIV / AIDS epidemic in India has grown from a handful of HIV infected persons to a major public health problem with tremendously growing medical, psychosocial and economic consequences for the country. The Government of India initiated various programmes for the prevention and raising awareness among the people for some time and also to increase India's capacity to respond to HIV / AIDS on a long-term basis. Current National AIDS Control Program - NACP - III is aiming to halt and reverse the epidemic in India during 2006-2011 by integrating programmes for prevention, care, support and treatment; and to create an enabling environment wherein the HIV infected people could lead a life of dignity.

India has recognized the Homoeopathic system of medicine as an integral part of its health care delivery system. In many areas the communities prefer to use homoeopathic medicine as their choice. In many states the health system allows the simultaneous presence of all the systems of medicine in an iritegrated fashion and allowing the citizens to opt for their choice of systems for their health care. The latest regulation by NACO required that all HIV infected patients receive free ARV therapy (Anti Retro Viral Therapy). Therefore, a clinical study was advocated to compare the efficacy of treatment between the groups of ARV therapy + Homoeopathic treatment and to ARV therapy alone. This work is being undertaken in an allopathic hospital where all the tests and assessments are done by their technicians / consultants. I have been informed that the group under ARV therapy + Homoeopathic treatment responded better than ARV alone.

We are at the end of 3rd decade of AIDS epidemic; the evidence of its impact is palpable throughout the world. Though the efforts are continuing, still a cure is not in sight. So it remains a major global health priority. Since more than 99% of people are HIV negative, obviously the focus is given more on prevention rather than treatment. The access to the treatment and care is essential to those infected people. A well-coordinated communication strategy among the government and non-government organizations with community participation is being encouraged to create a non-stigmatizing environment where people living with HIV / AIDS (PLHA) may not face any discrimination in society.

Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy has contemplated to publish a monograph on HIV / AIDS with an objective to improve the knowledge of the homoeopathic practitioners as well as the students about HIV infection and its effect on individual's health. Usually the HIV infected persons survive a long period and they require home based care and support from their family members. Here, the homoeopathic practitioners may playa vital role in community as an educator or care provider to those infected carriers and hence contribute substantially in achieving the national objective for prevention HIV / AIDS in rural and urban set-up.

The aim of preparing this monograph is twofold: first, to acquaint the readers with the latest developments in medical research in respect to HlV / AIDS and secondly, to present the research updates in homoeopathyin the field along with its philosophical concept.

A group Of eminent allopathy experts who have profound experience in the field of HIV / AIDS infection and a group of homoeopathy experts engaged in homoeopathy teaching have contributed in preparation of this monograph. The writing committee has collected various information from books, journals, periodicals, websites, etc. and the experts involved in the compilation of this monograph have checked with the sources to provide reliable information. Despite efforts made to avoid errors while making this monograph, if any mistake has been crept in, inadvertently, I 'do regret for the same.

I would like to thank all the experts for their valuable contributions and kind co-operation in shaping this monograph. I put on record my appreciation for the tireless efforts of Writing Committee too. Our endeavour will be fruitful if the monograph is optimally used by the research workers, clinicians, teachers, students and the lovers of Homoeopathy.