Abstract

ARTEMISIA ANNUA TEA AS A REJUVENATIVE THERAPY FOR HIV INFECTED NON ART AIDS PATIENTS

*Dr. Aruna Devaraj and Dr.Med Felicitas Roelofson

Abstract

More than a million people with HIV/AIDS express life-threatening opportunistic infections and suffer from immune deficiency syndromes. New traditional herbal sources are needed for complementary control efforts. A two year study was conducted to document the supplementary effect of Artemisia annua in 10 non- ART respondents below the age of 40 at the Jeevan Jyothi Hospice for all HIV infected patients at Theni district. which is a charitable Institution run by The presentation Sisters and supported by TANSAC Tamil Nadu and Anamed International. Antibacterial and antifungal properties of the said plant were studied and the absence of toxic heavy metals was confirmed. Allopathic medicine with a supportive herbal diet as Cure for Aids is under clinical research but women and children infected need support and Rejuvenation. Apart from the regular and continuous treatment, herbal nutraceuticals were found to play a significant role in improving the life style of the ART patients with CD4 count< 400. Artemisia annua, a herbal drug reported to have antimalarial activity, with artemisinin was found to improve the quality of life of NON ART patients. The rejuvenative effect of Artemisia annua tea as a daily dose of 5g. per patient for a period of 2 years and half yearly blood test reports are presented. The plant was also subjected to Acute, Chronic and Sub chronic toxicity animal studies. After 2 years there was considerate improvement in CD4 count with > 1000 and increase of 2 to 3.5 kg in weight and 1.5 g/dil Haemoglobin. The patients were able to take up physical work, college level education, run petty grocery shop and tailoring centre.

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