Last Updated on September 20, 2023 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A social media post claims that eating herbs can cure HIV AIDS and cancer. We fact-checked and found the claim to be False.
The Claim
A product advertisement on Facebook promotes a herbal concoction, making bold claims of curing HIV/AIDS and cancer. According to the post, the product utilizes pure natural roots and herbs. The seller asserts that their herbal product has been thoroughly tested and trusted, guaranteeing a 100% cure for STDs, STIs, and viruses such as herpes, HIV, and even non-existent STDs like cancer, diabetes, and stroke. They claim that the cure is fully guaranteed through their herbs and the healing power of God.
Fact Check
Can herbs cure HIV AIDS and cancer?
No. Available published research does not confirm whether eating herbs can cure dangerous diseases like HIV AIDS and cancer. We found no evidence that shows herbs can cure HIV/AIDS or cancer. While herbal medicine is a type of complementary and alternative therapy that uses plants or plant extracts for treating illness and promoting health, there is insufficient scientific evidence to support its effectiveness as a treatment for HIV/AIDS and cancer.
Herbal medicine is a type of complementary and alternative therapy often considered by people with HIV AIDS and cancer. It can use plants, or mixtures of plant extracts, to treat illness and promote health.
It is believed that herbs are a natural way to deal with a disease as it has ‘no to less’ side effects. People might also use herbal medicine to feel better or more in control of their situation.
Do herbs have any medicinal properties?
We further researched and found that some herbs may have certain medicinal properties and can be used as complementary treatments to support conventional medical care. The FAO website has provided a list of herbs claimed to be beneficial for people suffering from HIV AIDS. The website clearly recommends people use all herbs and spices in moderate amounts. Excessive consumption may cause problems and have a toxic effect. Moreover, the function of the herbs and spices will not be increased. They cannot replace healthy eating and should not be used in place of a healthy and balanced diet.
The Cancer Research UK website has provided a list of herbs that are studied for their properties to fight against cancer. However, it is important to note that there is currently no scientific evidence to support the claim that herbs alone can cure HIV/AIDS or cancer.
We asked Dr Sumit Aggarwal, Scientist D and Program Officer, Division of Epidemiology & Communicable Diseases at the ICMR, Department of Health Research, MoHFW, GOI, to shed some light on the claim. He said, “Herbs in simple terms are raw plants. Unless their efficacy is proven, and validated in the lab and field, they can not be used as medication. Apart from this, any medication is regulated by CDSCo in India. So one needs to take a license on this. To the best of my knowledge, no herb or ayush medication is available that can cure HIV AIDS or cancer. They have some role in improving immunity. More validation studies and research is needed. To date, as of CDSCo, no AYUSH medicine has been given a license, that can cure HIV.”
Dr Sarthak Moharir, Chief Radiation Oncologist, Apollo Cancer Centre, Bilaspur, informs “AIDS is the acute immunodeficiency state caused by the HIV virus. The gift of modern evidence-based medicine has made HIV treatable. With the right drug cocktail, HIV patients can live long fulfilling lives without having to dread about landing in AIDS. There are carefully researched protocols in place that help doctors keep their patients healthy. As of 2023, no herb or herbal drug has been shown to do the same in any quality-controlled peer-reviewed study. Modern evidence-based medicine is based on solid irrefutable evidence, and unless we have evidence of any herb/herbal drug/herbal cocktail working, it’s not used in the disease management algorithm. Similarly, in the case of cancer medicine and Oncology, no drug has been proven to cure cancer. Hence no herb/herbal drug/herbal drug cocktail is used in any treatment algorithm for any kind of cancer. Cancer treatment protocols are made by clinicians and scientists after analyzing thousands of patients backed with robust data and evidence. The day a herb is proven beyond a reasonable doubt to help cure cancer, with acceptable side effects, it will become a part of the treatment protocol.”
What is the standard treatment for HIV AIDS and cancer?
HIV/AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, which attacks the immune system, and cancer refers to a group of diseases characterized by abnormal cell growth. The primary treatment for HIV/AIDS involves antiretroviral therapy (ART), which helps manage the virus and prevent its progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Other options are Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), Nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), Protease inhibitors (PIs), Integrase inhibitors, and Entry or fusion inhibitors. These options have significantly improved the quality of life and life expectancy for individuals with HIV/AIDS.
On the other hand, cancer treatment depends on various factors, including the type and stage of cancer. It often involves a combination of treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. These treatments have been extensively researched and proven effective in managing and sometimes curing certain types of cancer.
These treatments have been discussed below:
Chemotherapy: Strong chemicals targeted against the highly dividing malignant cells are injected into the blood.
Radiotherapy: Targeted radiations are used on the affected part. The high energy in the rays causes the death of the malignant cells.
Surgery: The affected part or organ seen under the imaging procedures is surgically cut out along with the nearby lymph nodes.
Immunotherapy: A part of biological therapy, the immune system’s functions are used against malignant cells
Bone marrow transplant: It is done in cases of blood cancers where the bone marrow cells are destroyed and have to be replaced with new ones for survival.
Hormone therapy: Medications are given in this treatment procedure, which alters the levels of hormones in the body that are important for the survival of some cancer cells in cases like breast cancer, prostate cancer, etc.
HIV AIDS and cancer are complicated diseases requiring more than herbs for treatment. Relying solely on herbs and not seeking proper medical treatment can worsen the condition making the condition incurable. HIV AIDS and cancer multiply quickly and spreads throughout the body in a short span. Any delay in the treatment will make the condition difficult to treat.
THIP Media has already done a factcheck on Can herbs cure diabetes.
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