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| Africa: North |
| Zambia tests HIV 'herbal remedy' |
| 2005-10-19 |
| Zambia tests HIV 'herbal remedy' Zambia has begun trials of three herbal medicines to see if they can be used to treat HIV/Aids, it says. Patchouli Oil , Patchouli Oil getzyoor Patchouli Oil Twenty-five people with HIV will take part in the three-month trial, which the health minister said conforms to World Health Organization guidelines. The United Nations estimates that one in six Zambians has HIV/Aids. An Aids charity spokesperson was sceptical about the trials, saying the only known effective treatment was anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs. At a press conference in the Zambian capital Lusaka, Health Minister Sylvia Masebo said: "It is a momentous occasion for Zambia which establishes a partnership between conventional medicine and traditional medicine." Dr Patrick Chikusu, principal investigator of clinical trials of traditional herbal remedies, said 14 natural remedies had been narrowed down to three to be submitted to the final stage of clinical trials. One of the three drugs is a formulation mixed by a former government minister and constitutional lawyer, Ludwig Sondashi. Its hard to work out which is the most highly developed parasite african leaders or Immunodeficiency viral serotypes The cost of ARV drugs, which have been shown to be effective in suppressing the effects of the virus in the West, are too expensive for most people in developing countries to afford. Genevieve Clark, of the British charity Terence Higgins Trust, said: "I can understand why people are desperate to find anything that helps." "Anything that boosts the immune system helps... Anything you can do in terms of eating healthily and being healthy is to be welcomed." But she added: "Herbal remedies have not been proven to help... The only thing proven is anti-retroviral treatments." She also expressed concern that the test sample of 25 people was not large enough to be a "proper clinical trial". 25 .... 24 ... 23 .. shit find some more Dr Chikusu Mengele quick |
| Posted by:Jeagum Ebborong1508 |
| #6 Lol, Darrell. Truth. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-10-19 21:20 |
| #5 Two words: natural selection. |
| Posted by: Darrell 2005-10-19 20:59 |
| #4 It may be a good idea. The Zambian health ministry announces the herbal remedy for AIDS actually works. Zambia then decides to sell the special herbal formula to every other country in the world. Lots of western herbal companies would jump at the chance to distribute for them. To many, it is just another type of snake oil to sell. With the money, the Zambian government goes out and buys the latest and greatest AIDS medicines to keep their people healthy. Any money left over? Balance the budget. Come on, it's a slam dunk. The Zambians aren't idiots! Oh wait. Nevermind. |
| Posted by: Penguin 2005-10-19 18:45 |
| #3 At least they are submitting the traditional meds for clinical testing, even if very small scale. I don't think that's ever happened before. And even here in the smug West, it's only been in the last few years that even a small fraction of the traditional herbarium has been tested for actual efficacy. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-10-19 18:29 |
| #2 It's all part of the regression. |
| Posted by: Hupoque Thetle8400 2005-10-19 17:45 |
| #1 Errr ... at some point the dancing witch doctor enters the picture here, right? |
| Posted by: The Happy Fliergerabwehrkannon 2005-10-19 17:17 |