Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. I was reading more about vitamins and how some of them can actually affect the anti-HIV drugs. Out of the examples they gave they never said anything about Ginseng or echinacea. Well, I was thinking of getting [my] Antie either the Korean Ginseng or the Echinacea, what do you think? Are they safe, which one is better?
Kind Regards
Ross Slotten, M.D.
Klein and Slotten Medical Associates
Private Practice in Family Medicine
With a special interest in HIV disease
The interaction of nutraceuticals, as drugs like echinacea and ginseng are sometimes called, with anti-HIV medications is unknown. Few studies have been done and are unlikely to be done (companies that make nutraceuticals don't seem interested in scientific studies). It is therefore difficult to give satisfying advice. There are two camps of people out there: those that believe in the efficacy of ginseng, echinacea, etc. and those that do not. Neither side has ever been able to convince the other of the "truth." Your reasons for wanting to give "antie" ginseng and echinacea are not clear from your question. If she is doing well on her anti-HIV medications, why give her these drugs? Why add more pills to an already burdensome regimen?
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