A: Yes, there are several herbs and herbal preparations that I've seen help people with HIV remain healthy. But before I get into them by name, I want to stress how important it is for you to find a doctor who will work with you to tailor a treatment program that's appropriate for your specific case. As HIV infection progresses, you can develop opportunistic diseases that require careful attention. Some popular herbs may be useless against them, while others that you may not have heard of might be very useful.

That said, I'd also like to make a point of warning you that there are a lot of unscrupulous " doctors" out there (especially on the Web) who take advantage of desperate patients by hawking " natural cures" for AIDS that have no basis in science and are simply fraudulent. Not only does this harm people with HIV, it can also discredit the work many are doing to promote bona fide alternatives to mainstream medicine. For example, scanning the Web I found practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine selling herbal " cures" for HIV infection that include ashwagandha. Watch out for these, because while ashwagandha in particular and Ayurvedic medicine in general are legitimate treatments, the claim that they are cures for AIDS is medically irresponsible and unethical.

Many people I know who have lived with HIV for years have relied, in part, on herbs, together with healthy diets and lifestyles, including positive mental states. Two herbal remedies I recommend to strengthen the immune system are astragalus, (Astragalus membranaceous) and the mushroom known as maitake or hen-of-the-woods (Grifola frondosa). You can find both of these tonics in health food stores. The National Institutes of Health Office of Alternative Medicine has funded research into the effectiveness of herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine as a treatment for people with HIV, with encouraging results. So you might want to ask your doctor to help you with research into this area as well.

The current research in herbal treatments for HIV is new and dynamic, but there has been a lot of interesting data to support it. That's why, again, it's important to have a physician who is comfortable with these varied modalities and understands how natural medicines can work to strengthen your immune system. Such a partnership will help you make the best decisions.

By the way, I'd like to remind you that today is World AIDS Day, a great occasion to learn about AIDS programs in your area and to consider volunteering with one, especially during the holiday season.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

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