Alan Barnwell English 1102 2/5/14

God vs. Man In todays society we the public are largely advised to take prescription medicines to cure our sicknesses. I would say that the lesser half of our population know more than three different types of plants or herbs that can be consumed to help with minor pains, stomach aches or even a head ache. The one disease that everybody seems to be afraid of is HIV. Most people feel that it is a basically a living death sentence if you were to contract this disease. What would you do if you found out that you were carrying this virus? Who would it affect if you were to contract this disease? After some thought into this virus itself weighs heavy in the people infected and their counterparts in close contact with them. What if I told you that there was a cure through a natural process but your doctor told you that there was only a mixture of pills to help you live with the virus comfortably. Who would you listen to? I personally have a family member who has passed away due to this virus. He was an addict and was sharing needles out in the streets of Gainesville, Florida where encountered this virus. I had gone to see him a few times when he was in the hospital and the effects of this virus are something of the likes I would not wish on anyone. When I first found out he had HIV I didnt know what it was so I did research on it.

By the book HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, it affects your immune system to the point where it allows cancers, and other sicknesses to thrive inside your body. HIV attacks your immune system cells known as T-helper cells. These t-helper cells kill cells that have been infected by germs, which in return have an effect on your B-cells that make antibodies. When your number of T-cells drop to a certain amount thats when the HIV turns t aids and becomes deadly. The research on HIV is extensive to say the least. Scientist have been looking for cures in modern medicine by using mixtures of different pills. Most doctors prescribe ART.

(http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/just-diagnosed-with-hiv-aids/treatment-options/overview-ofhiv-treatments/index.html) ART is a mixture of the expensive antiretroviral pill and a healthy lifestyle to keep the virus at bay and keep you healthy. With rest, a regular schedule workout, and a balanced diet they say you can live next to a normal life. Although you will still be carrying the virus and some of its side effects, according to the doctor that is the best solution.

In recent reports there has been a baby of 9 months who has been said to have been cured of HIV. (Wilson 1) Doctors started treatment on this baby only hours after being born into this world. Dr. Persuad reported that the baby at 9 months was HIV negative now. (Wilson 1) Still to this day the child receives a three-drug cocktail of anti-Aids treatment even though the child has been HIV negative. The child is 3 years old. Another great example of this is Magic Johnson. He lives ART to the T and has been living 20 years since his diagnosis. He takes the same cocktail that is given to any Joe Blow that contracts HIV. This does go to show that what doctors prescribe can relatively help you live out a regular life if followed precisely. Magic has said from his own mouth though he feels great he still lives with HIV and has not slowed him down. Magic has also had children who are all HIV negative and his wife has been tested HIV negative. Which for me personally I am kind of skeptical about it but at the same time realize that it is a miracle that his family has not received HIV through him. Just recently there was another treatment found that the government doesnt really want the public to know about, and that is a natural cure. It is found in black seed extract. The actual plant is called Nigella Sativa. There was a case study published in African Journal of Traditional, Complimentary, and Alternative Medicine, where a patient with HIV went under treatment with the black seed extract and exhibited a complete recovery. (Sayer) There were no detectable HIV virus and antibodies against HIV in the patients blood. The experiment was done over several weeks and tested 2 years after treatment stopped. The patient was simply given a dose of the black seed extract every day for 8 weeks. As the patient continued on this treatment all the symptoms of HIV went away. (Sayer) Nigella Sativa also possess the ability to cure other illnesses. Thymoquinone, found in the seed oil extract of N. sativa, has been shown to have anti-neoplastic effects in rats and mice and in cultured human cells from several types of cancer, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. It has protective

antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and promotes apoptosis (cell death) of the cancer cells.(wiki) The actual plant is native to south and southwest Asia. It was and still used as and seasoning for food to this day. Crazy right? In conclusion there are many different options to go about handling a HIV case but its all on the carrier to decide how they would want to go about handling their own case. If you type in HIV cures on google over 3 million results pop up. There are a lot of ways that you can go about living with HIV. Choosing from the doctors way or choosing to go natural with it. From my research I believe that the natural is better only because my personal belief that god has a natural cure for everything in his garden. And his garden meaning from the earth that grows naturally.

Work Cited . Aids.gov. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services., 7 Aug 2009. Web. 25 Mar 2014. <http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/just-diagnosed-with-hiv-aids/treatment-options/overview-ofhiv-treatments/index.html>. N.p.. Web. 25 Mar 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV Sayer, Ji. "Black Seed Extract 'Cures' HIV Patient Naturally." Green Med Info Education Equals Empowerment. N.p., 13 Dec 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. <http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/black-seed-extract-'cures'-hiv-patient-naturally>. . Wikipedia. N.p., 22 march 2014. Web. 25 Mar 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigella_sativa>.. Wilson, Jacque. "Second baby possibly 'cured' of HIV." CNN. 6 march 2014: 1. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/06/health/hiv-baby-cured/>.