A Real Answer for HIV

HIV/AIDs drugs, while effective, tend to be very costly and its effectiveness varies from patient to patient. Researchers at the UCLA AIDs Institute made a major breakthrough in what can possibly become both a cost effective and natural treatment option for HIV/AIDs: the astragalus root. Recent research has shown that the chemicals in astragalus root, among others, were effective in stopping or slowing the progression of telomere, "a region at the end of every cell chromosome that contains repeated DNA sequences but no genes; telomeres act to protect the ends of the chromosomes and prevent them from fusing together....," which was quoted in this article. Astragalus is a significant root in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Often boiled in water or dropped in to soups, astragalus is known for boosting the immune system and treating heart disease and diarrhea. The researchers are very optimistic about these findings, saying, "The ability to enhance telomerase activity and antiviral functions of CD8 T-lymphocytes suggests that this strategy could be useful in treating HIV disease, as well as immunodeficiency and increased susceptibility to other viral infections associated with chronic diseases or aging." How exciting!