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Subhuti
Dharmananda, PhD is the Director and founder of the Institute for Traditional
Medicine (ITM) in Portland, Oregon. Subhuti got his PhD in Biology from
the University of California. The ITM is a non-profit educational organization
that operates two clinics in Portland. The clinics offer Traditional Chinese
Medicine (TCM) and other natural health care methods in support of modern
medical care. Dr. Dharmananda is the author of numerous articles describing
the practice of TCM and commonly used medicinal materials. Most of the
articles are posted for free viewing on the ITM
web site.
Since the initial
reports of HIV infection in the U.S. in the early 1980s, a large number
of people with this disease have considered herbal remedies. Prior to the
development of highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART), thousands
of HIV-positive people tried a variety of herbs. People took herbal remedies
to boost their immune systems, inhibit opportunistic infections, alleviate
symptoms, and inhibit HIV itself. Due to the deadliness of the disease,
preliminary studies (many of them done in test tubes) were grasped at as
hope for a cure or decreased disease progression. People tried a variety
of natural substances including roots of leguminous plants, such as licorice
and astragalus, Oriental medicinal mushrooms, and ordinary garlic. From
about 1983, when the viral nature of the disease was established, until
1995, when HAART became available, a culture of using herbs for people
with HIV had developed. Use of these remedies, emphasizing Chinese herbs
prescribed by Acupuncturists, was especially prominent in large cities.
None of the herbs during that time had been shown to be substantially effective
for inhibiting HIV. Yet, many people remained convinced that herbal remedies
helped. Some people even considered herbal supplements to be life-saving.
Acupuncturists are now the main licensed U.S. health professionals that
prescribe herbal remedies. Licensing is also granted in a few states for
Naturopaths, who also prescribe herbs.
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