tag:blogs.poz.com,2009-03-02:/mikebarr//63 2013-03-27T14:49:47Z Traditional Chinese Medicine and HIV/AIDS Movable Type 4.34-en tag:blogs.poz.com,2013:/mikebarr//63.400475 2013-03-23T11:37:54Z 2013-03-27T14:49:47Z

If others out there have beat me to the punch in experimenting, successfully one hopes, with herbology--Chinese, Taiwanese, Tibetan, Ayurvedic or otherwise, please share your experiences.

Mike Barr If others out there have beat me to the punch in experimenting, successfully one hopes, with herbology--Chinese, Taiwanese, Tibetan, Ayurvedic or otherwise, please share your experiences. tag:blogs.poz.com,2013:/mikebarr//63.400399 2013-01-07T22:34:00Z 2013-04-17T00:36:18Z

Research paper reports that weekly ear acupuncture can ameliorate the side-effects of interferon therapy for the treatment of hepatitis C.

Mike Barr Research paper reports that weekly ear acupuncture can ameliorate the side-effects of interferon therapy for the treatment of hepatitis C. tag:blogs.poz.com,2011:/mikebarr//63.32950 2011-09-03T12:45:16Z 2011-09-03T13:06:44Z

Probiotic bacteria - those that benefit their host - are the subject of sweeping, hand-waving health claims. (And no one has yet convinced me that there is any reliable way of getting them other than regular intake of fermented foods.) But beneath the breathless marketing hype, there is some intriguing underlying science. For example, some trials have found that probiotics can help to alleviate the mood symptoms that accompany irritable bowel or chronic fatigue syndrome. Now, from researchers at University College York, evidence that mice fed with a probiotic bacterium called Lactobacillus rhamnosus, often found in yogurts and kefirs, changed the levels of signaling chemicals (mostly GABA receptor expression) in their brains, reducing behaviors associated with stress, anxiety and depression.

Mike Barr Probiotic bacteria - those that benefit their host - are the subject of sweeping, hand-waving health claims. (And no one has yet convinced me that there is any reliable way of getting them other than regular intake of fermented foods.) But beneath the breathless marketing hype, there is some intriguing underlying science. For example, some trials have found that probiotics can help to alleviate the mood symptoms that accompany irritable bowel or chronic fatigue syndrome. Now, from researchers at University College York, evidence that mice fed with a probiotic bacterium called Lactobacillus rhamnosus, often found in yogurts and kefirs, changed the levels of signaling chemicals (mostly GABA receptor expression) in their brains, reducing behaviors associated with stress, anxiety and depression. tag:blogs.poz.com,2011:/mikebarr//63.32904 2011-07-30T17:08:21Z 2013-01-08T20:49:35Z

After a brief introduction of definitions, criteria and clinical approach, Part II of the book is ingeniously broken down into 12 therapeutic categories: gastrointestinal health, cancer, asthma, women's health, men's health, depression, for example. Then the medical literature for the various CAM modalities is summarized, reviewed, and discussed within each chapter. Those likely to be of greatest interest to the Poz community are the ones on Women's Health, Men's Health, and HIV.

Mike Barr After a brief introduction of definitions, criteria and clinical approach, Part II of the book is ingeniously broken down into 12 therapeutic categories: gastrointestinal health, cancer, asthma, women's health, men's health, depression, for example. Then the medical literature for the various CAM modalities is summarized, reviewed, and discussed within each chapter. Those likely to be of greatest interest to the Poz community are the ones on Women's Health, Men's Health, and HIV. tag:blogs.poz.com,2011:/mikebarr//63.32903 2011-07-30T00:06:32Z 2011-07-30T04:07:45Z

One in five doctors actually refuse to let drug reps into their offices during office hours, and I am proud to count my (new) doc as one of them. What about yours?

Mike Barr One in five doctors actually refuse to let drug reps into their offices during office hours, and I am proud to count my (new) doc as one of them. What about yours? tag:blogs.poz.com,2011:/mikebarr//63.32892 2011-07-22T13:11:06Z 2011-07-25T02:38:28Z

Modern medicine was formed around success in fighting infections disease. And the system works very well for that original purpose, against even the most challenging of these agents, as the taming of the 'AIDS virus' attests. But we face an entirely different set of medical challenges today, and we haven't rethought the way we fight illness. The medical establishment still waits for us to develop some sign of one of these illnesses then seeks to treat us with drugs and surgery.

Mike Barr Modern medicine was formed around success in fighting infections disease. And the system works very well for that original purpose, against even the most challenging of these agents, as the taming of the 'AIDS virus' attests. But we face an entirely different set of medical challenges today, and we haven't rethought the way we fight illness. The medical establishment still waits for us to develop some sign of one of these illnesses then seeks to treat us with drugs and surgery. tag:blogs.poz.com,2011:/mikebarr//63.32835 2011-06-09T18:13:52Z 2011-06-09T18:50:20Z

Evergreen Herbs, one of the 3-4 top patent pill companies in the U.S., has this terrific formula often used to control hot flashes, nights sweats and irritability associated with menopause. I use it as a sort of mood enhancer, and have given it to friends when they are having emotional upset. Am I imagining these unreported secondary effects?

Mike Barr Evergreen Herbs, one of the 3-4 top patent pill companies in the U.S., has this terrific formula often used to control hot flashes, nights sweats and irritability associated with menopause. I use it as a sort of mood enhancer, and have given it to friends when they are having emotional upset. Am I imagining these unreported secondary effects? tag:blogs.poz.com,2011:/mikebarr//63.32821 2011-06-03T17:41:58Z 2011-06-09T20:18:32Z

After only 3 days of a twice daily (once a day doesn't seem to work as well) carrot/ginger/celery/beet fresh made beverage, I could read the fine print again--without extra light or squinting. This seems almost too good to be true.

Mike Barr After only 3 days of a twice daily (once a day doesn't seem to work as well) carrot/ginger/celery/beet fresh made beverage, I could read the fine print again--without extra light or squinting. This seems almost too good to be true. tag:blogs.poz.com,2011:/mikebarr//63.32819 2011-06-03T15:15:11Z 2013-05-17T20:43:04Z

Of the three friends who volunteered to serve as TCM study guinea pigs with me, the first got his 4-month blood results yesterday. The verdict: his CD4 cell count rose from 350 to 482. That is, it must be noted, still within the 150 cell margin of error I typically like to factor in as laboratory inexactness for this kind of test, but said guinea pig is quite happy. Could this sh%# really be working? Go Gui Pi Tang! Go Huang Qi (Astragalus root)!

Mike Barr Of the three friends who volunteered to serve as TCM study guinea pigs with me, the first got his 4-month blood results yesterday. The verdict: his CD4 cell count rose from 350 to 482. That is, it must be noted, still within the 150 cell margin of error I typically like to factor in as laboratory inexactness for this kind of test, but said guinea pig is quite happy. Could this sh%# really be working? Go Gui Pi Tang! Go Huang Qi (Astragalus root)! tag:blogs.poz.com,2011:/mikebarr//63.32811 2011-05-29T09:46:00Z 2011-06-02T14:32:47Z

Don't allergies typically subside as we age, rather than getting worse or appearing anew out of the blue? Do all parts of the U.S. have this tree pollen problem in late April & May--or just cities with mostly male (said to be 'cleaner' than fruit/pod producing females) trees and polluted air? I will do a little sleuthing today but also welcome other peoples' experiences, knowledge and survival tactics.

Mike Barr Don't allergies typically subside as we age, rather than getting worse or appearing anew out of the blue? Do all parts of the U.S. have this tree pollen problem in late April & May--or just cities with mostly male (said to be 'cleaner' than fruit/pod producing females) trees and polluted air? I will do a little sleuthing today but also welcome other peoples' experiences, knowledge and survival tactics. tag:blogs.poz.com,2011:/mikebarr//63.32762 2011-04-11T04:33:11Z 2011-04-11T16:33:38Z

For folks co-infected, with HIV and either HBV or HCV, and on treatment that is suppressing both viral infections, I suspect the TCM formula choice might be a bit trickier or even non-existent entirely.

Mike Barr For folks co-infected, with HIV and either HBV or HCV, and on treatment that is suppressing both viral infections, I suspect the TCM formula choice might be a bit trickier or even non-existent entirely. tag:blogs.poz.com,2011:/mikebarr//63.32752 2011-04-04T17:22:27Z 2011-04-07T12:08:50Z

I also have rethunk my initial hesitancy to help readers of this blog act on their own accord to try these qi tonifying formulas. So if you are reading this and have no idea where to start--whether you want to find a licensed herbalist in your area or if, if so, where/how to obtain it--please let me know and I will do my best to guide you.

Mike Barr I also have rethunk my initial hesitancy to help readers of this blog act on their own accord to try these qi tonifying formulas. So if you are reading this and have no idea where to start--whether you want to find a licensed herbalist in your area or if, if so, where/how to obtain it--please let me know and I will do my best to guide you. tag:blogs.poz.com,2011:/mikebarr//63.32695 2011-03-05T19:10:29Z 2011-03-05T20:59:03Z

I may be completely mistaken, but I suspect there are still amazing, undiscovered things this herbal medicine can do that have either not yet been fully appreciated or that are only haphazardly available to that rare patient who has the good fortune (or tenacity and ambition) to seek out and hook up with a knowledgable and experienced herbalist.

Mike Barr I may be completely mistaken, but I suspect there are still amazing, undiscovered things this herbal medicine can do that have either not yet been fully appreciated or that are only haphazardly available to that rare patient who has the good fortune (or tenacity and ambition) to seek out and hook up with a knowledgable and experienced herbalist. tag:blogs.poz.com,2011:/mikebarr//63.32691 2011-03-03T18:03:50Z 2011-03-04T07:08:20Z

The professional, responsible, kind of boilerplate answer is, of course, to find an acupuncturist trained in herbs or an herbalist, and work with her or him. And that is, generally, the way to get the best results and minimize the chances of taking the wrong thing--or too much of a good thing.

Mike Barr The professional, responsible, kind of boilerplate answer is, of course, to find an acupuncturist trained in herbs or an herbalist, and work with her or him. And that is, generally, the way to get the best results and minimize the chances of taking the wrong thing--or too much of a good thing. tag:blogs.poz.com,2011:/mikebarr//63.32670 2011-02-25T15:45:51Z 2011-02-25T19:46:06Z

Two friends have generously agreed to test pilot Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tong (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) and Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen) with me. Let the (pilot) studies begin!

Mike Barr Two friends have generously agreed to test pilot Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tong (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) and Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen) with me. Let the (pilot) studies begin!