Many people with HIV/AIDS have used complementary therapies and practices to assist them in dealing with HIV/AIDS.

Complementary (or alternative) therapies are those therapies and practices which are not generally associated with Western medicine or provided through the Western medical system.

Why do people use complementary therapies?

For many years, people have supplemented the care they receive from doctors and the medical system with care and support from other practitioners who provide alternative or complementary therapies.

These therapies cover a very wide range of approaches and practices. Some, like massage, float-tanking, use of guided visualisation audiotapes and hypnotherapy, are aimed at increasing relaxation and diminishing stress.

Others take a more intrusive approach and are aimed at treating problems or symptoms. These include such therapies as acupuncture, Bach flower remedies, homeopathy, herbalism, naturopathy and so on.

Just like in Western medicine, there are currently no complementary therapies that can cure HIV illness.

Choosing therapies

The range of available therapies is enormous and within each discipline, each therapist has his or her own particular style or approach.

If you are shopping around for complementary therapies you might want to think about some of these things:

• What am I trying to fix or achieve?
• Who is practising complementary therapies in my area?
• What are other people with HIV/AIDS using?
• Are they happy with the results?
• What evidence exists for the therapy?
• How effective is it?
• How much will it cost me?
• Can I get it more cheaply somewhere else?

Finding out about complementary therapies

There are plenty of ways to research complementary therapies. You can ask your local AIDS Council or PLWHA organisation about therapies and look at the publications they have which explain therapies. You can surf the net and check out what each therapy does, or says it does. You can talk to other people with HIV/AIDS in peer support groups or through PLWHA organisations to see what they are using. You can go to your local library and see what they have on different therapies. You can look at some of the complementary therapy magazines available at newsagents. You can check your local paper to see who is advertising.

Choosing your therapists

Decisions about who to use as a therapist are similar to the decision you make about selecting a GP or other health provider. It’s obviously better to find someone who you can feel comfortable with and trust.

Again, don’t be afraid to shop around and to interview prospective therapists. You could ask:

• How do you work?
• Have you worked with other people with HIV/AIDS?
• What therapies do you use?
• What qualifications do you have to administer these therapies?
• Do you belong to a professional or industry group or association?
• What evidence do you have for their effectiveness?
• How long will the therapies take?
• How much will it cost?
• How will you protect my privacy?

There are plenty of therapists out there. If you are feeling pressured or you don’t like the approach your prospective therapist is taking, have a look around for another one. One good rule of thumb to use might be to see how the therapist seems to reflect the therapies they promote: do they look healthy, happy, stress free? You might also want to use this in choosing your other care providers!

It is important to know what training your potential therapist has had and whether they have treated people with HIV/AIDS before.

How to work with your complementary therapist

In the same way as you are able to take control over the decision made about your medical care, you can have a relationship with your complementary therapist which is based on them presenting you with options and you making decisions about what to use.

You can take your time to decide what therapies to use and ask for some written materials to take away and read to help you to make a decision.

You can negotiate the therapy in stages so that there are clear times when you can reflect on how the therapy is going and decide whether to proceed with the next stage or not. This also means that you are in control of the cost as you are buying the therapy in stages. This also gives you an opportunity to evaluate your progress under the therapy.

It’s important to discuss your medical treatments with your complementary therapists so that they know what you are taking and can let you know about any interactions between therapies. For the same reason, it is also important to discuss your complementary therapies with your GP or specialist.

If you are not happy with the service you are receiving from your complementary therapist you could:

• discuss your concerns with them;
• stop going to them;
• find another practitioner and seek a second opinion;
• talk to your local AIDS council or PLWHA group;
• talk to a consumer group like Consumers’ Health Forum of Australia or the Australian Consumers’ Association;
• find out if their work is covered by a professional body and talk to them about your concerns.