"WE SUPPORT BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND"

UNANI is An ancient Graeco-Arab system of medicine. Like its counterparts, not much is known about Unani's efforts in developing an AIDS cure. Clinical trials of nigella sativa are, however, on amongst Unani medical researchers in Florida. They say the herb is effective in boosting the immune function and should help in the search for an AIDS antidote.

Traditional systems of medicine are no doubt prevalent in various countries of the world, but most of these are empirical. On the other hand, unani and its allied branches have rational and scientific basic principles. It is distinct from other branches of medicine, as the drugs it uses are natural in their sources and forms. It emphasizes on retaining natural compounds which belong to the human body, and hence prescribes only natural remedies. Unani medicine believes that diseases can be kept at bay by the use of clean and fresh water, breathing clean air and consuming fresh food. Likewise, a balance should be maintained between the mind and the body so that the metabolic process can take place easily and the body waste evacuated. Unani medicine also believes that all life forms have originated from the sea.

In Unani medicine, herbs are used in many different systems in different ways. However the ultimate objective of their use is that they should positively interact directly with our body chemistry. They may be used in various forms like food, medicine, cosmetics or perfumes. But in all cases their active herbal constituents must be observed into the body for deriving the required benefits. They circulate to influence our whole system. According to Hakeem Hashmi, a prominent Unani physician, the skill of the herbalist lies mainly in strengthening the body's own healing mechanism instead of suppressing or disturbing it, as modern medicine tends to do.

Herbs Supplements and HIV/AIDS
Vitamins, supplements and herbs have long been used by people with HIV to help manage the side effects of their therapies or improve their general health. In fact, studies suggest that almost 70% of people living with HIV and about half the general population use some form of complementary therapy. The most common ones are massage and acupuncture.

A number of herb-drug interactions that include the following herbs:
Betel Nut
Devil’s claw
Garlic
Ginseng
Kava
Psyllium
Shankhapushpi
St. John’s Wort
Xiao chai hu tang
Chili Pepper
Dong quai
Ginkgo
Guar gum
Papaya
Saiboku-to
Sho-saiko-to
Valerian
Yohimbine

The following is a list of herbs which is useful in HIV/AIDS
Akebia trifoliata caulis (Mu Tong)
Aloe Vera (Carrisyn)
Apple seeds
Apricot Seeds
Asarum sieboldii herba cum Radix (Xi Xin)
Astragalus (Huang-chi)
Atractylodes (Bai-zhu, Pai-chu)
Bitter almond seeds
Black Tree Fungus
Borage (Borago officinalis)
Buckthorn Bark (Rhamnus)
Burdock (Arctium lappa)
Calamus
Cassava beans
Chamomile
Chaparrel (Larrea divericata, Larrea tidentata, Creosote bush)
Cherry pits
Choke cherry pits
Coconoosis (Codonopsis pilosula, Tang-shen)
Coltsfoot
Comfrey [Symphytum officionale (common comfrey), S. asperum (prickley comfrey), and S. x uplandicum ]
Compound Q (Trichosanthes, Guaiougen, GLQ223, Chinese cucumber root)
Dandelion (Taraxacum)
Devil’s Claw Root (Hapagophytum procumbens)
Dock Roots
Echinacea
Ephedra
Ganoderma (Ling-zhi, reishi)
Garlic (Allium sativum, Dasuan)
Germander
Ginseng (Wuchaseng, Siberian, wjuia, ren-shen)
Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
Hypericin (St. John’s Wort)
Isatis (Pan-lan-ken, dyers’ wood root)
Iscador (Mistletoe)
Juniper Berry
Kava (Piper methysticum)
Kelp (Laminara japonica, Kombu)
Licorice
Life root (Senecio aureo)
Lobelia (Lobelia inflata)
Lycium Fruit (Kuo-chi-tzu, gouqizi, wolfberry, false jessamine)
Magnolia
Nutmeg
Pau d’Arco
Peach pits
Pear seeds
Pennyroyal Oil (Hedeoma pulegiodes, Mentha pulegium)
Peony (Paeonia, Moutan bark, chi-shao, bai-shoa, mudan-pi)
Plum pits
Poke Plant (pokeweed, inkberry)
Privet (Ligustrum, Nuzhenzi)Propolis
Prunella (Xia-ku-cao, woundwort, allheal)
Red Clover
Rehmennia (Sheng-ti-huang)
Salvia (Tan-shen)
Sassafras Root Bark
Schizandra (Gomishi)
Shave Grass
Senna leaves (Cassia angustafolia)
Shave Grass
Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinus edodes, Xiangling)
Stephania
Sweet wormwood (Artemisa, Quindhaosu, mugwort)
Tang-kuei (Angelica, Du-huo, bai-zhi)
Tremella (Auriculariaceae, Bai-mur, white tree ear)
Yarrow (Achillea millefoleum, Milfoil)
Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe)