Healing HIV: How to Rebuild Your Immune System

This book got me on track to caring for my own health. My recent lab work show improvement as a result. I refer to this often. It is a definite keeper!

Dr. Kaiser's perspective on micronutrients and their importance in building a solid immune foundation for people living with HIV was way ahead of its time. And, while a reviewer complains Dr. Kaiser has a limited view as a "medical doctor," that's sort of like complaining that your apple isn't satisfying because you can't peel it like an orange. While it is true that psychology plays a role in people's well-being, so does being plagued with painful opportunistic infections and cancers due to weak immunity or a faulty hormonal balance. Jon's contribution was to make sure people had the best physical health possible, which is (most would agree) a big chunk of your overall well-being. The proof that Jon was right has been demonstrated in the most practical way: He went on to create a multivitamin for HIV+ people called K-pax, which in a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial presented at the 2004 CROI meeting was found to increase T-cell counts 26%--in people ALREADY taking anti-HIV medicines. As an internist specializing in HIV care, I routinely recommend K-PAX to patients who can afford it. If you want more information on Dr. Kaiser's work, see his website. Knowledge in the HIV medical field turns over about every 18 months; therefore, it is important to get the latest information possible. Non-electronic media such as books thus are usually not the best way to get information on living with HIV. Try The Body website for a good first place to start.

With so many books written for advanced HIV and AIDS, this one stands alone. It is the perfect resource for someone who is recently infected. It also is a great resource for others, but this is the only book I re-read and refer to time and time again. I even met Dr. Kaiser for a consultation, and he offered pratical advice that focuses on overall health. I see a difference already, and I'm still med free and doing great! If you have or know someone with HIV - this is a MUST have. If you know someone who recently discovered their HIV status or who recently became infected, read this book ASAP and bring it to your HIV specialist right away.

The book has many specific practical suggestions. And readers will appreciate the effort that has gone into making them easy to understand and apply.The book also has: over 20 case histories (sometimes of patients who are difficult to treat, due to poor CD4 and viral load numbers, and intolerance or apparent resistance to many antiretrovirals); outcomes comparisons of patients treated in Dr. Kaiser's program, vs. others who received mainstream HIV treatment without the natural-therapy component; information about certain major herbs from both Western and Chinese medical traditions (although Dr. Kaiser usually refers patients to herbalists experienced with HIV for specific prescriptions); a discussion of approved and experimental antiretrovirals; and an appendix explaining common laboratory tests.

As a person who has been HIV+ for 15 years, I can vouch for the program Dr. Jon Kaiser recommends. It is a holistic program and so encompasses vitamins, minerals, herbs, spiritual/emotional work, exercise, supplements and nutrition as well as conventional medication. His book specifically recommends affordable, high-quality vitamins, minerals, supplements and suppliers for verifiable high-quality herbal combinations with high bio-availability. Wisely, he also encourages patients to avoid or greatly decrease the use of immune-suppressing substances such as which tobacco, alcohol, and white sugar and flour. I found his program to be reinforcing of my own experience in dealing with this disease, particularly of his emphasis on taking responsibility for one's own health, utilizing a holistic approach which uses all components of the body's immune response to combat this disease. The most remarkable part of the book is the presentation of results for patients in this program compared to patients only taking conventional medication. His program can verify, with double-blind studies, that over 90% of their patients, over a five-year period, either retain the same level of CD4 cells or increase their CD4 results with no opportunistic infections or with a healing of those infections if ongoing when entering the program. And these are results PRIOR TO the availability of Protease Inhibitors. If his program had been patentable by pharmaceutical firms, it would be advertised everywhere. A holistic approach involves more than popping pills and so requires responsibility and commitment from patients and physicians. It is a worthwhile pathway to follow, but it is not an easy one.