HIV causing AIDS is a disease of 21st century with heavy toll of life & morbidity all over the world more so in developed & developing countries. The latest statistics on the world epidemic of AIDS & HIV published by UNAIDS / WHO in May 2006 states that, the number of people living all over the world with HIV rose from around 8 million in 1990 to 38.6 million in 2005 & is still growing. The Indian National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) estimates that 5.21 million people were living with HIV in 2005. The highest HIV prevalence rates are found in Maharashtra in the West; Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka in the South & Manipur & Nagaland in the North-East.
Globally all efforts are made for prevention & control of AIDS by community awareness, safely sex methods, anti retroviral treatment & development of vaccines. Uptill now there is no major break through. Ayurved, an ancient Indian Medical Science, has described the disease Aupsargik (Contagious) Rajayakshma - Shosha, whose signs & symptoms are similar to that of HIV / AIDS. One of the causes of Aupsargic Rajayakshma is mentioned as Prasangat - Sexual intercourse.
Keeping this view in mind, Prof. Dr. S. P. Sardeshmukh as Director - Ayurved Hospital & Research Centre of Bharatiya Sanskriti Darshan Trust has started treating HIV / AIDS patients since 1998. Patient with confirmed Elisa / Westernblot + ve tests are registered in the project.
Aim of our Ayurvedic treatment is to treat opportunistic infections, to increase immunity with the help of Rasayana dravya (Rejuvenating medicines) mentioned in Ayurvedic text.
When the patient is registered in the project, information about their socio-economical status, marital status, mode of transmission of the disease, addiction, general examination, disease history, present symptoms with gradation is noted. CD4 count which is a parameter of measuring immunity is noted & assessed before & after treatment. Patients are graded before & after treatment according to WHO grading of HIV / AIDS to evaluate the results of treatment.
Statistical analysis based on WHO grading HIV / AIDS shows remarkable improvement in disease status after treatment. Clinically & statistically the Ayurvedic treatment is found to be effective mainly in lymphadenopathy, cough, cold, hoarseness of voice, loss of taste, loss of appetite, fever, weakness, skin disease, herpes zoster, vaginal ulcers, pain in joints, leucorrhoea. General condition of most of the patients is improved with these medicines. Weight gain & maintenance of weight was found in most of the patients. Most of the patients could follow their daily routine & profession after the treatment. CD4 count of 62.50 % patients was maintained and increased after treatment. Statistically also significant improvement was observed in CD4 count.
HIV / AIDS being medical as well as social problem epidemiological study was also carried out. The high incidence of the disease was observed in male, young people in low socio-economical status.
Ayurved, which is a part & parcel of Indian science & culture has described Brahmacharya (Celibacy) as one of the tripods of human life. Community awareness about following rules of Brahmacharya is an important tool in AIDS prevention & control.