title: Effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine in treating acquired immune deficiency syndrome: 2004-2014.
abstract: Substantial progress has been made in China in using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Our objective was to review the latest developments in TCM treatment of AIDS in China between 2004 and 2014. We reviewed the content of original articles investigating the efficacy and safety of TCM for treating AIDS published in Chinese and English language journals. Relevant references from 2004 to 2014 were found using PubMed and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database. We found that TCM has been widely used for treating AIDS and its complications in China. The number of TCM studies has increased, which indicates efficacy and safety. Measures of efficacy in the reviewed articles included the alleviation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related signs and symptoms, improvements in quality of life, improvements in long-term survival, counteraction of the adverse side effects of antiviral drugs, promotion of immune reconstitution, and improvement of laboratory results. In sum, the literature indicates that TCM is safe. TCM plays an important role in the treatment of AIDS. Some studies have attempted to measure the efficacy and safety of TCM for treating AIDS, but more evidence is needed. Therefore, more research on this topic is required in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Treatment and Research Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 19 Ren Min Road, Zhengzhou, 450000, Henan, China. drlzbcn@163.com.|Discipline of Internal Chinese Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China. drlzbcn@163.com.|Department of Cellular Immunology Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Viral Diseases Prevention and Treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450000, Henan, China. drlzbcn@163.com.
authors.forename: Zhi-Bin
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Internal Chinese Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China. yangjiping666@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ji-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Treatment and Research Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 19 Ren Min Road, Zhengzhou, 450000, Henan, China. xuliran666@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Li-Ran
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000266:history / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal