Strategies for improving your immune health: The different approaches to improving your immune system

January 2007     View PDF     En español

What about complementary
or alternative medicine (CAMs)?

The most commonly used CAMs are called non-pharmacologic therapies. These include energy healing, Reiki, acupuncture, acupressure, meditation, prayer, massage and hypnotherapy. These types of CAMs are likely not harmful and may help reduce or manage stress and improve your overall well being.

Pharmacologic therapies, like vitamins, herbs and other nutritional health products, are less well understood. Some may interact with anti-HIV drugs. Some may even cause unwanted side effects. Many nutritional health products claim to boost the immune system, but it’s unclear how they do it and if it benefits or harms people living with HIV. There is not a lot of research on the use of nutritional health products in HIV infection. For more information, read Project Inform’s publication, Herbs, Supplements and HIV.