Herbal tonic helps AIDS patients

By Guy Rogers

A NEW tonic made from an indigenous bush is being produced that is dramatically improving the condition of AIDS patients.

The exciting news was announced yesterday by botanist Professor Ben-Eric van Wyk, who was addressing the 7th World Wilderness Congress (WWC) in Port Elizabeth.

Although the tonic has been under preparation for some time and letters have been written to the authorities about it, this is the first time news of the product has been publicly announced.

Prof Van Wyk’s speech was loudly applauded by the around 600 local and foreign delegates attending the congress, who comprise some of the most influential figures in global environmental conservation.

The tonic is being produced under the auspices of the Phyto Nova Wildland Plants group, of which Prof Van Wyk is a key member. It is being developed in the form of tablets, and the source element is the plant Sutherlandia frutescens, commonly known as the cancer bush.

Prof Van Wyk said “strong convergent anecdotal evidence” of the tonic’s efficacy was emerging from doctors, traditional African healers, nurses, homeopaths and the lay public.

In patients with full-blown AIDS, it “dramatically improves the mood and appetite and energy levels of patients”.

Records showed about 50 per cent of patients suffering from advanced AIDS had gained typically 5 to 10kg in weight over three to six months, with the condition of the remaining 50 per cent stabilising.

“Numerous reports exist of decreases in viral loads after treatment, amounting typically to a 50 per cent improvement.”

Prof Van Wyk said no claim was being made that Sutherlandia was a cure for AIDS but there was “growing and compelling evidence that it can enhance the quality and possibly the duration of life of AIDS patients, mainly by counteracting the muscle-wasting effect of the disease”.

Sutherlandia is also being used as an ingredient of a gel being produced by Prof Van Wyk’s team to treat a wide range of skin conditions.

These products are further supplemented by and marketed in conjunction with two other wild plant remedies. One is an antibiotic made from the pepperbark tree, to be used against oral and oesophageal thrush – both typical conditions of AIDS patients. The other is a multi-purpose anti-inflammatory made from African ginger.

Safety and efficacy trials, under the auspices of the Medical Research Council of South Africa, are due to start today.