AIDS and Possible Ayurvedic Management
Introduction of AIDS:
- AIDS is the end stage of a progressive state of immune deficiency.
- Causative Organism: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- HIV was first discovered in 1983 by Barre-Sinoussi and Montagnier
- The first case of AIDS was detected in UK
- Confirmed HIV infection with CD4 T lymphocyte count is < 200000/L with symptoms
- AIDS is common in Africa and Asian countries
- HIV mainly harbours in semen, genital secretions, blood, pus, sputum, saliva and other body fluids
Clinical Classification of HIV infection:
- Acute infection
- Asymptomatic but positive HIV
- Persistent generalised lymphadenopathy
- AIDS (HIV related disease):
Constitutional diseases like weight loss, fever, diarrhoea;Neurological diseases, dementia, neuropathy, myelopathy;Opportunistic infections;Malignancies i.e. Kaposi’s sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, primary cerebral lymphomas;Other diseases attributable to HIV infection.
Mode of Transmission:
- Sexual intercourse- Vaginal or Anal
- Needle pricks- Using unsterilized needles for injections, in IV drug abusers, careless handling
- Mother to child- During birth through vaginal secretion, trans-placental, through breast milk
- Blood transfusions
- Organ transplantations
Investigations for HIV:
- ELISA test (screening test)
- Western blot test (diagnostic test)
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
- Anti-HIV antibody detection
- Viraemia quantification- To start treatment and to see the response of antiviral drugs
- CD4 T lymphocyte Count
Window period:After
HIV infection, there is a time gap for the patient to become reactive
to tests. This time gap is called as ‘Window period’. This period is
variable. But during this period, the individual is infective.
General Symptoms in HIV:
- Weight loss more than 10%
- Fever more than 1 month
- Diarrhoea more than 1 month
- Neuralgia, arthralgia, headache
- Lymphadenopathy
- Cutaneous rashed, dermatitis, fungal/ bacterial/ viral(herpes simplex 1 and 2) infection
- Dental infection, gingivitis, candidiasis of oral cavity and oesophagus
- Varicella zoster infection
- Opportunistic infections
- Poor healing after surgery, trauma, infection with more complications
Tumours in HIV infection:
- Kaposi’s sarcoma- 40% common
- Lymphomas- 3 to 4 %
- Cervical cancer
- CNS lymphomas
- Ano- genital squamous cell carcinoma
- Testicular tumours
- Lung cancer
- GIT lymphomas and adenocarcinomas
- Squamous cell carcinoma of anal canal and cervix
Respiratory problems in HIV infection:
- Pneumonia
- Tuberculosis
- Fungal infections
Gastro intestinal tract problems in HIV infection:
- GIT infections- bacterial, protozoal, viral
- Kaposis’s sarcoma, lymphomas, adenocarcinomas
- Hepatitis (‘C’ virus), cholestasis
- Anorectal disease
- Abdominal tuberculosis
Neurological problems in HIV infection:
- Encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, myelitis
- Neuropathies with demyelination
- Opportunistic infections like Toxoplasma, Cryptococcus causing severe meningitis
- Primary CNS lymphomas
- CNS tuberculosis
- Visual problems
Management in AIDS patients:Investigations:
- Tests for HIV
- Tests for specific and opportunistic infections
- Tests relevant for associated tumours
Treatment Principles:
- Antiviral therapy
- Treatment for opportunistic infections
- Treatment for tumours
- Immunotherapy
- Bone marrow transplantation
- HAART (Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy)
- Psychotherapy
- Counselling of HIV patients and their families
Prevention:
- Safe sex. Condom usage reduces the risk of transmission
- Health education
- Use of disposable needles to prevent infections
Prophylactic measures to be adopted by surgeons while treating AIDS Patients(Universal Precautions):
- Proper care should be taken to prevent transmission of the virus
- Care in handling sharp objects like needles, blades
- Disposal of needles through a sharp disposing container
- All cuts and abrasions in an HIV patient should be covered with a waterproof dressing
- Equipments and areas which are contaminated with secretions should be wiped with 2% glutaraldehyde solution
- Equipments should be disinfected with 2% glutaraldehyde solution
- Contaminated gloves, cotton should be burned
- Disposable equipments (drapes, scalpels etc.) should be used whenever possible
- Walls and floor should be cleaned properly with soap water
- Separate operation theatre and staff to do surgeries to HIV patients is justifiable
- Avoid shaving whenever possible before surgery in HIV patients
- All people inside the theatre should wear disposable gowns, plastic aprons, goggles, overshoes and gloves
- Surgeons, assistants and scrub nurse should wear in addition double gloves
- Suction bottle should be half filled with freshly prepared 2% glutaraldehyde solution
- Spilled body fluids should be diluted with 2% glutaraldehyde solution
- Accidental puncture area in surgeon or scrub nurse should be immediately washed with soap and water thoroughly
- Operation theatre should be fumigated after surgery to HIV patient
Possible Ayurvedic treatment for AIDS patients:
- As we all know that AIDS is one of the contagious and sexually transmitted diseases, so proper care should be taken to prevent transmission of the virus.
- As per Sushruta Samhita (School of Ayurvedic Surgery),
प्रसंगात् गात्रसंस्पर्शात् नि:श्वासात् सहभोजनात् |सहशैयासनाश्चापि वस्त्रमाल्यानुलेपनात् ||कुष्ठं ज्वरश्च शोषश्च नेत्राभिस्यंद एव च |औपसर्गिकरोगाश्च संक्रामन्ति नरात् नरम् ||Means, if a person adopts following behaviour with patient having contagious diseases, then it leads to manifestation of that same disease in that individual. - Constant close intimacy with the patient
- Often touching the patient
- Inhaling the exhale air of the AIDS patient
- Eating together repeatedly
- Sleeping and sitting together repeatedly
- Wearing dress, garlands and unguents use by patient who is suffering from contagious disease like skin disease, viral fever, tuberculosis etc.
- Diseases such as AIDS are difficult to treat because of the nature of the diseases, and also particularly when it is associated with the complications or secondary diseases. As per Sushruta Samhita(Ref: Su. Su.33/3), it can be curable by some extent with the use of ‘Rasayana Dravyas’ (Ayurvedic Rejuvenation Drugs/ Ayurvedic Anti Ageing Drugs).
- When AIDS patient is suffering from fever, diarrhoea or weight loss, he should have to consume boiled water mixed with dry ginger and coriander seeds powder every time, which will help to improve the digestive power as well reduced the inflammation of intestinal wall. It also restores the fluid loss and saves the patient from dehydration.
- AIDS patient should never suppress the natural physical urges as hunger, thrust, sleep, sneezing, yawning, vomiting, defecation (bowel evacuation), urine, flatus and semen ejaculation.
- When AIDS patient is affected with respiratory problems, he should have to take ‘Sunthyadi Yoga’(Contains of Dry ginger+ Piper longum+ Pomegranate+ Gooseberry+ Barley+ Kulathth+ Clarified butter (Ghee) and Goat meat juice). This remedy will completely eradicate the respiratory problems of the AIDS patient.
- As per Ayurveda, room of the AIDS patient should be daily fumigate with the Ayurvedic herbal mixture of Guggulu, Aguru, Sarjaras, Sarsap, Vacha, Nimb patra and Ghee (Clarified butter). (Ref: Sushrut Samhita Su. 5/11- Rakshogna Vidhan)
- AIDS patient should practise Ayurvedic oil massage regularly with ‘Mahanarayan Oil’. It makes the skin supple; it controls Vata Dosh(body humor) by the opposite properties; it enhances peripheral blood circulation and encourages quicker removal of metabolic waste; relaxing the body. He/she become resistant to exhaustions and exertions; the body, even if subjected to injuries or heavy and stressful work is not much injured. One’s physique becomes smooth, flabby, strong and charming. By applying the oil massage regularly the onslaught of aging is slackened. Follow the normal direction of hair growth; use a little extra oil over the body’s vital parts. Do massage whole over the body, but in case of short of time, at least do massage of Ayurvedic oils on scalp/head, ears & soles of both feet daily.
- After having Ayurvedic oil massage, he/she should go for ‘Udavartana’ (massage by Ayurvedic herbal powder mixture of Jivanti, Durva, Manjishtha, Ashwagandha, Apamarg, Agnimanth, Yashtimadhu, Bala mool, Sarshap, Atasi fal, Kushtha, Rice, Mash, Til, Barley flour and the liquids of wine, curd and Honey) whole over the body, through which the body eliminates bad smell, excessive sweating, and feeling of heaviness in the body, drowsiness, itching and even removes undesirable dirt.
- After that, he/she should go for Bathing. It is purifying; improves vigour, vitality and life-span; removes fatigue, sweating and dirt of the body. It brings about strength in the body and is an excellence for the enhancement of Ojas (lustre).
- One should use of perfumes or aftershaves which stimulate vigour and vitality, produces good smell in the body and enhances longevity and charm; it gives corpulence and strength to the body; it is pleasing to the mind and it prevents inauspiciousness.
- Wearing of gems and ornaments adds to the prosperity, auspiciousness, longevity, grace; prevents dangers from snakes, evil spirits, etc. It is pleasant and charming. It is also enhancing the Ojas (lustre).
- For become relax, one should go for a walk, spend time in nature, make company with good friends, listen to music, watch a comedy, play with a pet or work in your garden.
- All events in this universe are under the
control of scientific circumstantial evidence. There is no independent
doer. Lack of this knowledge creates worries. So attend the self realisation programme which will make you free from all the worldly attachments and worries.
- Brahmacharya (Celibacy) is the essence of the living body. With Celibacy your worldly aims will be accomplished. You will be able to follow your vows and commitments. There is ease of further progress in all directions. The world, which is immersed in the illusion of false enjoyment of sex, is awakened to the reality of the poison that it truly is. It explains what the right approach to bliss is and how to attain it. For those who want to understand and practice Celibacy, this unique new vision of the ‘Gnani Purush’ becomes the exclusive and guaranteed key to total liberation.
