HIV/AIDS

Cannabis has one of the longest histories of any medical application here. Physicians in the United States began using it with HIV patients in the early 1980s, at a point when AIDS was killing large numbers of people every year, existing medications were failing and there was very little left to try. Treatment has advanced enormously since then, but the symptom burden patients carry has not disappeared, and that is where cannabinoid therapy still earns its place.

What HIV Does

Human immunodeficiency virus attacks the immune system. The longer it goes untreated, the weaker that system becomes, until it can no longer fight off infection.

Specifically, HIV depletes a class of white blood cells called CD4 cells. These are the cells that detect infection and initiate the body's response, so their loss is what leaves patients vulnerable.

HIV and AIDS Are Not the Same Thing

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is caused by HIV, and it develops when the immune system has been severely damaged. Untreated, it is life-threatening. When HIV is treated promptly, progression to AIDS is unlikely, which is the single strongest argument for early testing.

How HIV Is Transmitted

HIV is not transmitted through saliva. It is present in blood, semen, breast milk and vaginal fluid, and it is passed through unprotected sex, shared needles, transmission in the womb and breastfeeding.

Early Symptoms

Many people experience a flu-like illness within a month or two of infection. If you are sexually active or have had unprotected sex, these symptoms are a reason to test:

- Fever

- Fatigue

- Muscle aches

- Swollen lymph nodes

- Nausea

- Sore throat

- Night sweats

If you are sexually active or use injected drugs, regular testing matters whether or not you have symptoms. Knowing early gives you the best chance of preventing progression.

How Cannabinoid Therapy Helps

There are two distinct benefits worth separating.

The first concerns the immune system itself. Regular ingestion of medical cannabis may help maintain CD4 cells at healthier levels and block receptors involved in immune infection.

The second, and the one patients feel day to day, concerns symptoms. People living with HIV commonly experience weight loss, appetite loss, depression, anxiety and nausea. Many over-the-counter and pharmaceutical medications make this worse rather than better, particularly regarding fatigue, energy and appetite. Cannabinoid therapy improves sleep and appetite, supports mood in depression and anxiety, and raises energy levels. THC in particular has been shown to promote appetite and reduce wasting in AIDS patients.

For a condition managed across a lifetime, holding onto weight, energy and mood is not a secondary concern. It is most of what quality of life consists of.

Your Treatment Plan at Cura Vida

HIV patients receive a full assessment including a careful review of interactions with antiretroviral therapy, and a cannabinoid plan developed in coordination with their treating physician. Consultations are private and confidential. Medical cannabis treatment should always be supervised by a qualified physician.