One of the most common side effects of the HIV “drug cocktail” is diarrhea, and is there any routine health occurrence for which most people have more distaste? An extract from the sap of a tree in the Amazon rain forest may offer some relief. Last week, we noted some experimental compounds from Bolivia’s native healers which are under early investigation, but this anti-diarrheal is actually on the (over-counter) market.
Shaman Botanicals’ Normal Stool Formula is reported to be effective in treating the watery diarrhea which often accompanies use of protease inhibitor drugs. The product isn’t indicated for all types of diarrhea, because it only addresses the symptom, not the cause, and exactly how it works is not fully understood. This should not be taken for diarrhea caused by a GI infection, so a physician should be consulted about any persistant diarrhea.
Getting the compound FDA-approved as a medication was beyond the company’s financial capacity, so Shaman’s formula is marketed as a nutritional supplement, available at health and nutrition stores or over the Web.
For more information, see the Sept/Oct Test Positive Aware Network treatment journal at www.tpan.com.
This article appears in October 15 • 1999.