Use of complementary therapies to treat patients with HIV/AIDS

This article investigates the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in people living with human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS pandemic people living with HIV/AIDS have turned to CAM, either to complement conventional treatment or as an alternative to treatment. Although the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy has prolonged life and increased the quality of life for those with HIV/AIDS, they continue to experience physical and emotional consequences of the infection and its treatments--leading them to seek relief through the use of CAM.