Traditional, complementary, and alternative medical cures for HIV: rationale and implications for HIV cure research

ABSTRACT

Traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine (TCAM) has been used by some people living with HIV (PLHIV) in an attempt to cure HIV. This article reviews the main factors influencing their decision to choose TCAM to cure HIV and discusses implications for HIV cure research. Those who decide to pursue traditional, complementary, and alternative medical cures may be influenced by the health system, cultural, and social dynamics, and their own individual beliefs and preferences. These same factors may impact participation in HIV cure research. People who search for traditional, complementary, and alternative medical cures may face special challenges as they are recruited, consented, and retained within HIV cure research studies. To address these potential challenges, we have suggested solutions focusing on culturally tailored communication and education, formative social science research, and community partnerships with key stakeholders. The social conditions that have promoted traditional, complementary and alternative medical cures will likely impact how PLHIV participate and experience HIV remission trials. Despite the potential challenges, it will be crucial to involve those who have previously sought out traditional cures for HIV in HIV cure research.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV/AIDS
• traditional medicine
• complementary and alternative medicine
• cure
• HIV cure research

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Guangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital and UNC Project-China for their administrative support. They would also like to thank Zachary C. Rich and Liz Kelly for their research assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Health NIAID under Grant #1R01A108366-01 and by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation through a grant supporting the Doris Duke International Clinical Research Fellows Program at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.