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With no antiretrovirals, Venezuela HIV patients rely on leaf remedy
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS DECEMBER 13, 2018 / 8:04 AM / UPDATED 4 HOURS AGO
With no antiretrovirals, Venezuela HIV patients rely on leaf remedy
Liamar Ramos, Vivian Sequera
3 MIN READ
CARACAS (Reuters) - As Venezuela’s hyperinflation and chronic medicine shortages leave HIV patients with little hope of obtaining antiretroviral drugs, many are now relying on the leaves of a tropical tree known as the guasimo.
For each dose, patients use around 50 leaves from the tree, which is often used for lumber and is also known as the West Indian elm, and run them through a blender with water. They then strain and drink the green liquid.
Doctors and patients alike have questioned the effectiveness of the remedy, which has for years been used in Venezuela and Brazil as a complement to pharmaceutical treatment.
But HIV patients hoping to ward off AIDS increasingly see it as better than nothing.
-snip-
With no antiretrovirals, Venezuela HIV patients rely on leaf remedy
Liamar Ramos, Vivian Sequera
3 MIN READ
CARACAS (Reuters) - As Venezuela’s hyperinflation and chronic medicine shortages leave HIV patients with little hope of obtaining antiretroviral drugs, many are now relying on the leaves of a tropical tree known as the guasimo.
For each dose, patients use around 50 leaves from the tree, which is often used for lumber and is also known as the West Indian elm, and run them through a blender with water. They then strain and drink the green liquid.
Doctors and patients alike have questioned the effectiveness of the remedy, which has for years been used in Venezuela and Brazil as a complement to pharmaceutical treatment.
But HIV patients hoping to ward off AIDS increasingly see it as better than nothing.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-health/with-no-antiretrovirals-venezuela-hiv-patients-rely-on-leaf-remedy-idUSKBN1OC1NK
An HIV-positive man adds water to a blender with leaves of the tropical tree guasimo in Caracas, Venezuela, December 10, 2018. REUTERS/Marco Bello