Getting the needle
Acupuncture is one of the most popular complementary therapies among people
with HIV. Practitioner Gabriella Doran and her loyal patients explain why
Over
2,500 years ago the Chinese discovered numerous points in the body where energy,
or chi, could be adjusted. They found illness was caused by imbalances in
chi, but by introducing fine needles to these points they could restore its
flow. This enabled the body to heal itself, as it was designed to do.
Though frequently used to treat pain today, acupuncture’s effect on
HIV-related problems has yet to undergo extensive clinical trials. However
many people with HIV are strongly convinced of its benefits.
Five elements
I practise a type of acupuncture known as Classical Five Element Acupuncture.
It is based on wood, fire, earth, metal and water; the five elements present
in all living things and vital to good health.
This tradition works on the principle of finding the imbalance in the natural
flow of the energy of these elements. This imbalance can prevent someone reaching
an optimum level of health or recovering after injury or illness. My work
involves locating the imbalance in each individual and selecting the critical
points that will restore optimal health.
Considerable emphasis is placed on the rapport between patient and practitioner.
Treatment is not something I ‘do’ to my patient, it is a partnership.
As practitioner I do the needling and the patient contributes through what
they do outside the treatment room. We look at their life and health, and
together determine the cause of the symptoms; being unhappy in their work;
an unsatisfactory relationship; even simply not drinking enough water. As
the treatment builds up it helps people tackle uncomfortable issues and make
life-enhancing changes. At the same time the rebalanced energies work on the
physical symptoms and a feeling of well-being starts to return.
My patients (see below) nearly always notice an improvement in their spirits.
It is increasingly recognised that our emotional state has a direct effect
on physical well-being. Acupuncture often helps people feel better ‘inside’
even before they notice a change in their physical symptoms.
I have treated service-users at Positive East in Stepney Green one day a week
for two years. Treating an HIV positive person is no different from treating
someone negative. People are simply human.
Labels like HIV are useful to give us an idea of what may be going on within
a person’s body, however I find the only way to know is to ask and listen.
Only the patient can describe what it is like to be them with their own unique
set of circumstances.
I don’t have a fixed formula for a particular symptom or condition.
Every person receives a completely different course of treatment even if they
have the same set of symptoms. That is why acupuncture is so effective. It
is also what makes my work constantly exciting and rewarding: watching each
person’s path to good health unfold on our journey together.
I aim to put together a long-term project researching this treatment with
a larger group of people. In my experience, it is so beneficial it should
be part of standard HIV treatment, whether patients are on antiretroviral
therapy or not.
What’s the evidence?
Acupuncture is the complementary therapy with most hard evidence behind it.
Randomised control studies have shown it effective for post-operative pain,
nausea during pregnancy, nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and dental
pain. It also has very few side effects and can help with anxiety, panic attacks
and insomnia. The World Health Organisation lists more than 40 conditions
that may be helped by acupuncture. However, a recent study on acupuncture
to relieve the pain of neuropathy did not show any benefits over placebo.
Despite this, many people living with HIV undergoing acupuncture report significant
improvements in their health.
John: Acupuncture got me through shingles and hep C treatment
John, 52, was diagnosed with HIV in 2002. Since starting antiretroviral therapy
in 2003, he has had 62 acupuncture treatments. He believes it has boosted
his CD4 count and lowered his blood pressure.
“I have an overall general well-being that doesn’t seem to be
shared by many other Positive East service-users. I also barely have any side
effects from combination therapy. Before, I had diarrhoea and stomach problems
and was running to the loo all the time. I also had a speedy recovery from
a bad bout of shingles. Others can take months to recover.”
John is also nearing the end of a 48-week course of interferon and ribavirin
for hepatitis C. “I’ve had remarkable energy levels throughout
the course of interferon. The only side effect is a lack of concentration,
but the acupuncture even fixed that. During interferon treatment, the immune
system is normally greatly weakened, but both my CD4 count and CD4 percentage
continued to rise and only dropped a little a few weeks before the end of
the course.”
John says acupuncture helps him with his composing and writing and enabled
him to overcome the trauma of losing his father. “I’ve even had
a turnaround in my potential to build relationships. I would never consider
not having acupuncture; I always want to keep it as part of my health regime.”
Paul: No more drug side effects
Paul, 49, has had 55 treatments since starting acupuncture in 2004. Diagnosed
in 1989 he is now on his third HIV combo after stopping the previous two.
“I was an eternal pessimist but acupuncture changed my mind. It has
given me more energy, confidence and general well-being. HIV medication does
what it’s supposed to but also gives you a feeling of malaise and makes
you feel sick. This time around I had just three days of feeling sick - because
of the acupuncture, I am sure.
“Even when I was off medication and my CD4 was just 50 I had much more
energy than others with such a low count. Now it’s up to 220 and it
looks likely I’ll reach even higher within a few years.
“In the West we are made to feel only swallowing handfuls of pills can
help. This kind of treatment is shunned because there isn’t enough scientific
evidence. Side effects were the main reason I couldn’t stay on the HIV
drugs. But, thanks to acupuncture, this time they haven’t been worth
mentioning. My medicine cabinet used to be falling off the wall. Now you can
see the back.”
Mark:
Feeling fantastic
Mark, 34, was diagnosed in September 2004 and has had 29 treatments since
starting acupuncture in May 2005.
“At diagnosis my viral load was 75,000 and my CD4 count 250. My doctor
suspected I may be a fast progressor since my infection was fairly recent.
Rather than start treatment immediately I spent nine months trying to live
well and stay healthy. But my viral load rose to one million at which point
I began antiretroviral therapy.
“Eight weeks before starting I began a weekly course of acupuncture
with three specific objectives: to alleviate headaches, to address my ten
year old back problem and to overcome an allergy to my cats. Even before starting
the drugs, I noticed improvements in my energy following acupuncture. The
headaches continued after I started meds; once I had a migraine for three
days. I told Gabriella who treated me with a needle in my right temple - the
headache disappeared straight away.
“My response to antiretroviral therapy has been great. I’ve had
few side effects and my CD4 count is now over 900. I’ve continued with
the acupuncture as I believe it has played a key role in my recovery. I get
far fewer headaches, the back pain is much improved and my cat allergy has
all but disappeared. It is impossible to prove my recovery is due to the acupuncture
so I can only say how I feel following each session: fantastic.”
Terry: Spring in my step
Terry, 52, diagnosed in 1984, has been on treatment since they became available.
He has had 65 treatments since starting acupuncture in March 2004.
“Before I was only managing to sleep around an hour each night. This
led to a crippling lack of energy; even getting out of bed was difficult.
Now sleep isn’t an issue and there is a definite improvement in my energy
levels. I can walk more than I used to, I’m more active around the house
and have bursts of energy when I get quite a lot done. I used to only eat
microwave food out of packets, now I can cook meals again.
“I suffered from peripheral neuropathy starting in my toes, through
my ankles to my knee-caps; it was numb all the way up. I’d fall if I
didn’t hold the banister on the stairs. It took a while after beginning
acupuncture for it to disappear, but now, once I have treatment, it goes away
and feels perfect, like there’s nothing wrong, no neuropathy at all.
When I walk I have a spring in my step. If it returns between treatments it
only goes about halfway up my foot, and that’s normally just before
I’m due my next session.
“The year before I began acupuncture my CD4 count was 226, and it never
rose above 250; now it fluctuates between 600 and 700. I find acupuncture
relaxes me and relieves stress, and generally helps all round. I wouldn’t
stop having treatment because I think my old symptoms would creep back.”
Charlie: Physical and spiritual healing
Charlie, 32, started acupuncture in January this year and has had 22 treatments
to date. Diagnosed HIV positive in July 1997, he has never taken antiretroviral
therapy.
“Acupuncture has given me hope, my outlook is more positive and I’ve
put on weight. I no longer need to sleep in the afternoon.
“I’m starting to heal physically, spiritually and emotionally.
It’s an ongoing journey and has made me realise I’ve still got
a lot of work to do. There are things I’m not happy with in myself,
and my energy levels are not yet where I’d like them to be, but I don’t
know what I would have been like without acupuncture. My chronic back problems
are much better too.
“My CD4 count has increased, and viral load decreased. Prior to having
acupuncture, my CD4 had steadily declined. When I started my CD4 was 204 and
viral load 18,000. Bloods taken after eight treatments showed a CD4 count
of 472 and a viral load of 11,000. The next bloods showed the CD4 was down
to 340 but the viral load was also down to 8,000.
“I’ve never wanted to go on antiretroviral medication; I don’t
like being a statistic. I don’t want to take medications because it’s
against my values. As a fitness instructor I believe in an alternative type
of combination therapy; care over my diet, keeping my body in shape with exercise
and now acupuncture.”
Sam: The sessions are a relief
Sam, 24, diagnosed August 2004, has never been on antiretroviral therapy.
He has had 25 treatments since he started in October 2005.
“I don’t like the thought of being dependent forever on medications.
I’d rather keep off the drugs as long as I can. From my CD4 count and
the way I’m feeling with acupuncture, it looks like I won’t need
them in the near future. Acupuncture has helped my confidence; I was unhappy
in myself when I came for treatment. Now I am much happier and more confident
with others. My energy levels are better and I’m more stable in my life,
particularly emotionally.
“My general health is much better. I haven’t had severe colds,
coughs or ‘flu like before. In the two years before treatment with Gabriella
I felt generally unwell. Because I felt low, I tended to pick up things easily.
Now if I get a cold I will only get a bit of a runny nose and within a few
days it’s completely cleared. Even the eczema I’ve had from childhood
on my head and neck has cleared up.
“I will continue with the acupuncture because I don’t want to
go back to how I was. The sessions are a relief; I can come and talk through
my problems and get advice. It feels like a sanctuary.”
• Patients’ names have been changed
• For information about acupuncture and the Five Elements visit Gabrielle’s
website, www.spiritpath.co.uk
• If you have questions on acupuncture please call her on 020 7289 4189,
or email gabriella@spiritpath.co.uk
