The Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or as it is called HIV, is a condition which attacks your white blood cells. These are integral in your body’s ability to fight infection.
When HIV enters your body, you are left vulnerable to infections like tuberculosis and other opportunistic diseases.
It is a fairly common virus with over 35 million people in the world living with it and through it. Since the 1980s, over 30 million people have died from this.
When HIV escalates, it becomes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Not all HIV patients contract AIDS. It is possible to manage exacerbation into AIDS with antiretroviral medications.
The problem with these is that they are expensive whereas a significant percentage of the HIV patients live below the poverty line. This is why more poor people die from AIDS than the privileged.
The antiretroviral medications have some very adverse side effects including bone loss and loss of cognitive function. In some cases, you will go into organ failure. Chronic diarrhea is a very dangerous side effect, as it could easily turn fatal.
You may also develop a form of diabetes and severe bleeding. The ARVs will effectively repress your virus but at a very high cost hence the need for an alternative or complementary therapy that is natural, far reaching and with way less side effects.
The initial symptoms are very general and can easily be assumed to be the common cold. They only last for a short period. The severe symptoms appear months or even years later.
There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, only efforts to manage symptoms and escalation in addition to lowering risk of affecting other people. There is also treatment for people who are at a higher risk of contracting the virus.
Eat More
As the virus grows and spreads through your body, you lose weight and appetite to a point where you are considered chronically underweight. Eating more means more nutrients for your body and a stronger immune system.
There are many factors that could bring on loss of appetite apart from the disease itself. It could be depression or mouth sores or even constant nausea. It is important that you get to the bottom of the underlying reason.
In 2005, a survey was conducted on 523 HIV positive patients. It was found that 27% of those were using cannabis to manage their symptoms. 97% of the users reported having an increased appetite.
Other studies have also shown that cannabis increases caloric intake. This creates a need for more frequent meals thus the well-needed weight gain.
No More Puke
Not only can vomiting turn you off food, it can leave your throat feeling raw. Too much vomiting will eventually make eating a painful experience.
The brain will also relate food to pain therefore causing anxiety and fear when mealtime rolls around. The health issues brought on by having a virus in your body could cause the vomiting or it could be the ARVs.
Studies have reported patients experience 20% less nausea with the use of CBD. 20% less nausea means a higher chance that the patient will eat more and retain more of the food for their metabolism.
It has also been found that the same patients are more likely to adhere to antiretroviral regimens.
Anti-Depressant
Imagine having to live with a condition that makes people judge regardless of their lack of knowledge about how the virus came about. The stigma is enough to send you over the edge. This added to the physiological and psychological stress are enough to lead to some very severe actions.
This calls up the need for the anti-depressant properties of CBD. It is known to work with the possible receptors for release of the bliss pill. The depression could bring you down harder than the virus itself if steps are not taken. Get your mind right and your body will follow.
Pain Relief
Pain comes in many excruciating forms for HIV patients. They experience joint, nerve and muscle pains among others. These can get so bad that regular daily routines are interrupted.
The therapy options for this type of pain have very serious side effects that you might think to remain in pain instead of risk. CBD has been found, through years of research, to be a great and effective analgesic.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Any nerve that is not in your brain or along your spinal cord is considered to be on the periphery. The virus will often damage your nerves making for very painful experiences, muscle loss, and uncoordination.
This can be difficult to manage, as it is deterrent to normal routine. In some cases, the patient will need supervision and help just moving around on a regular day.
In 2007, a survey was conducted on 450 HIV positive patients who also had peripheral neuropathy. It was found that 67 of those regularly used cannabis and swore to its efficacy.
In the same year, a trial was conducted to determine the exact effect of cannabis of HIV caused peripheral neuropathy. The pain reduced in 52% of the group by 30%.
Disable Spread
HIV replicates. One cell touches another, which in turn touches the next until there is a whole network of infected cells in the body. Monkeys were infected with HIV in a study, which aimed to prove the efficacy of cannabinoids in preventing spread of HIV.
Within 17 months, there was significant change in the immune system. The HIV slowed down gradually and the process to repair the immune system had begun.
Abate ARV Side Effects
ARVs are necessary in an effort to slow down progression but the afore mentioned side effects can make it a wearisome exercise. Take bone loss for example, this side effect would leave you prone to fractures and breaks which can be a whole other kind of extremely painful.
CBD interacts with receptors that can inhibit the weakening of bones. It is also capable of activating the elements responsible for strong healthy bones like collagen.
Organs like kidneys, liver, and pancreas are vital for your body to stay healthy. Sure, you can live with one kidney or with half a piece of liver but that is a completely different ball game from when they start to fail.
This means that there is no chance that your liver will regenerate or that your kidney will handle the work without the partner. CBD seeks to promote homeostasis through the large network of endocannabinoid receptors. With the herb’s intervention, these organs will be just fine.
ARVs can cause excessive bleeding during the menstrual cycle, clots, and other vassal issues. Clots and problems in the vessels could cause embolism and probably death.
CBD will activate the necessary elements that are meant to coagulate your blood. It can also stimulate the vessel walls so that they stay healthy and function thus reducing the chances of clotting.
Loss of cognition will be brought about by a malfunction of your neural system. Studies have shown that CBD is effective against neurodegeneration brought on by a variety of influences.
CBD Products for HIV Management
1) Suppositories
These are advisable due to the fact that HIV patients can barely keep anything down. Administered more commonly through your rectum, the CBD will only suffer the first metabolism partially leaving for a significant bioavailability to deal with.
The vessels lining your rectal wall will deliver the CBD directly into your blood stream thus affecting quick relief.
2) Pills and Capsules
These are administered orally. It can be difficult especially with symptoms like vomiting and nausea. They can be used after those symptoms have been abated.
This method of administration is good for establishment of a baseline say twice a day. It can be complemented with vaping or dabbing to combat breakthrough pain and symptoms.
The pills can be halved and used sublingually. Just break off then place the piece under your tongue and hold it for a little while until it dissolves.
This might bring on a wave of nausea but it will quickly pass as the method is fast acting.
3) CBD Oil and Tincture
These can be infused in edibles and beverages. They will go through metabolism but will remain in effect for a long while. Your body will have a solid supply of CBD until the net administration.
They can also be used on their own orally or sublingually. You must establish the least level dosage that works so that you do not go overboard.
Not that it would have a horrible effect if a little more slipped in. For HIV patients, it is advised that you use the CBD with a dash of THC.
Possible Cure?
Preliminary results from research into the potential of cannabis to cure HIV. Through activation of the CB2 receptors on the surface of immune system cells, two things will happen.
The first is that there will be increase in cellular activity. This leads to a stronger immune system. The second is that the signaling capacity of receptors will be reduced.
This signaling is required by the virus to spread thus spread is halted. Research is still underway on this front but things are looking up.
