Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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The San Francisco Examiner - Saturday, Aug. 23, 1997
Julie Chao of the Examiner Staff
"When I first started doing this (about 14 years ago), the only time I ever got a referral from a Western doctor was two weeks before the person was going to die," said Cohen, research director at the Quan Yin Healing Arts Center in San Francisco.
But during the last three or four years there has been a radical shift in attitude, she said. Now, about 30 percent of the HIV and AIDS patients at Quan Yin are referrals from Western doctors.
Speaking at the annual symposium of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association in San Francisco, Cohen's talk was one of several Friday on AIDS treatment and research. The three-day conference concludes Saturday with discussions on breast cancer, anal cancer and gay and lesbian family issues.
Traditional Chinese medicine - including acupuncture, herbs, massage and food therapy - has proven highly effective in stimulating appetite, improving the digestive system, increasing energy and strengthening the immune system.
Cohen recommends a combination of Eastern and Western medicine as the best treatment. Some patients stopped their Chinese medicine treatments when the protease inhibitors came out, Cohen said. But now they're starting to come back because of the drugs' side effects.
"(A combination) not only treats the virus but takes care of side effects and enhances the quality of life," said Mark Frost, a licensed acupuncturist at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco who was not at the symposium.
"The acupuncture has been a tremendous help," said Art Soto, a San Francisco resident with AIDS. "It's one of the reasons I'm still alive."
Soto said his weekly treatment in the past five years has eased his headaches, reduced numbing in his legs and helped him sleep better.
While many large cities around the country now have Chinese medicine clinics devoted to treating AIDS patients, it's still not widely accepted. About 20 states don't even license acupuncturists, Cohen said.
"It's still held that Western medicine is the only way," said Dr. Tom Ziering of New Jersey, who attended Cohen's workshop in hopes of learning more about herbal treatments.
Frost said San Francisco doctors have noticed the difference between AIDS patients who get Chinese medicine and those who don't.
"When I started, my doctor didn't believe in it. He told me I should quit because I was wasting my time," said Erick Arguello, a San Francisco resident who's been getting acupuncture for about two years to help with AIDS-related symptoms.
ow, Arguello said, his doctor is a big supporter.
Cohen said more studies should be performed to document the benefits of Chinese medicine on AIDS patients. The first peer-reviewed journal article didn't appear until last year.
With wider acceptance will come better insurance coverage, Cohen hopes. The Quan Yin center has just been chosen by Davies Medical Center as the acupuncture provider for its managed care patients.
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