Herbs can improve digestion, stimulate appetite, preserve foods.

Traditional African herbal medicines may help to treat many of the symptoms of opportunistic infections that are part of HIV AIDS.

Best Traditional African Herbal Medicines for People Living With HIV AIDS

Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture

9-27-2017

A list of herbs and the beneficial effects by people living with HIV AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa are given in the table below.

HIV AIDS is not a traditional African illness and so far, there is no hard evidence to believe that traditional African medicines can treat HIV and cure AIDS. The effects may not be the same for all people. People can try these herbs and spices in moderation and decide for themselves whether they are helpful.

Remember that all herbs should be used in moderate amounts. Exceeding these amounts may cause problems and have a toxic effect; moreover, the function of the herbs and spices will not be increased if you take more than required. 

Herb	Benefits found by some people living with HIV AIDS	How to use
Aloe	Helps to relieve constipation	Use as extract; boil and drink the concentrated water. To be used in limited amounts; stop immediately if it causes cramps or diarrhea
Basil	Helps to relieve nausea and aid digestion; has an antiseptic function for mouth sores	Add to food to treat nausea and digestive problems. Use as gargle for mouth sores
Calendula	Flower heads have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and healing function. Helps with infections of the upper digestive tract	Use as a compress to treat infected wounds. Prepare as tea to help digestion
Cardamom	Helps with digestive problems, pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite	Add to food during cooking or prepare as tea
Cayenne	Stimulates appetite, helps fight infection, heals ulcers and intestinal inflammation	Add a pinch to cooked or raw foods. For an energizing drink add to fruit juice or water
Chamomile	Helps digestion and provides relief for nausea	Prepare tea from the leaves and flowers and drink several cups throughout the day
Cinnamon	Good for colds and for weakness after colds or flu. Also used when feeling cold, for diarrhea and nausea. Stimulates appetite. Gently stimulates digestive juices, encouraging bowel movements	Either add to meals or in tea, particularly ginger cinnamon tea for chesty colds or tuberculosis
Cloves	Stimulate appetite, help weak digestion, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting	Use in soups, stews, warmed fruit juice and tea
Coriander	Helps to increase appetite and reduce flatulence. Controls bacteria and fungi	Add herb to meals
Eucalyptus	Has an antibacterial function, particularly for lungs and during bronchitis. Eucalyptus oil from leaves increases the blood flow and reduces the symptoms of inflammation	Prepare tea from the leaves or extract
Fennel	Helps to increase appetite, combat flatulence and expel gas	Add as spice to foods or prepare tea from the seeds. Use in limited amounts
Garlic	Has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal function, particularly in the gut, intestines, lungs and vagina. Helps digestion and feeling of weakness. Also good for thrush, throat infections, herpes and diarrhea	Prepare tea or energy drink , or use in food
Ginger	Improves digestion, energizes, relieves diarrhea and stimulates appetite. Used for treating common colds, flu and nausea	Use either as a spice in meals or prepare a ginger tea
Lemon	Is antibacterial and helps digestion	Add lemon juice to food or drinks
Lemon grass	Has a calming effect as well as soothing digestion and alleviating stress	Use as tea
Mint	Has an anti-inflammatory effect and helps digestion	Use as tea or gargle for mouth sores. Chew mint leaves to aid digestion
Neem	Brings down fever	Cut a fresh twig, remove the leaves and boil the bark in water; drink as tea. The bark can also be chewed
Parsley	Reduces intestinal colic. Stimulates stomach secretions and activities and produces a feeling of hunger. The seed is used to remove excess water from the body	Add raw or cooked to food
Peppermint	May help nausea. Reduces colic (abdominal pain and cramps), helps to control diarrhea and stop vomiting. Used for relieving tension and sleeplessness	Prepare as tea, by boiling the leaves for about ten minutes. Add to food. (Peppermint can easily be grown in the garden and or in a pot near the house)
Thyme	Has antiseptic and antifungal function. Relaxes nervous coughing and increases mucosal secretions. (particularly effective in the gut) Stimulates digestion and the growth of the good intestinal flora in the gut	Use as gargle or mouthwash,  or as tea
Turmeric	Digestive aid, antiseptic and antioxidant	Use powdered in rice, cereals, etc.

Aloe is cultivated for medicinal uses by African herbalists.

Did you know?
In Africa, 25.6 million people were living with HIV in 2016 and Africa also accounted for almost two thirds of the global total of new HIV infections.