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- Title
An Acupuncture Approach to Treating HIV+ male with wasting syndrome.
- Authors
Langowski, Larry; Suh, Timothy I.
- Abstract
One of the symptoms associated with AIDS is "Wasting Syndrome," characterized by extreme weight loss, specifically lean muscle mass, which is commonly treated with testosterone supplementation. One of the most common complaints in HIV+ men is Erectile Dysfunction (ED). There is documented connection between ED and testosterone deficiency. We present a simple, standardized acupuncture treatment for Wasting Syndrome that appears to impact ED via systemic stimulation of testosterone in this population without side effects, such as breast enlargement, liver toxicity and polycethemia, accompanying testosterone supplementation. While we were unable to assess testosterone levels via medical tests due to scope of practice limitations, we were able to examine the first link of the chain, the connection between our treatment and erectile dysfunction. We examine a single case study of a 54 year-old HIV+ male seeking help with both ED and Wasting Syndrome at a free acupuncture clinic for the HIV+. Acupuncture was performed every other week for a total of 6 treatments that resulted in the patient achieving erection for the first time in five years. This suggests that acupuncture should be studied, not only as a treatment for ED generally, but as a possible treatment for Wasting Syndrome in the HIV+ population.
- Publication
American Acupuncturist, 2012, Vol 60, p27
- ISSN
1520-7714
- Publication type
Academic Journal