Progress on Research for the Treatment of HIV/AIDS with Traditional Chinese Medicine in China

The mortality rate associated with HIV/AIDS has decreased dramatically after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, issues such as viral reservoirs, drug resistance and side effects have led to a significant crisis in the management of HIV/AIDS. It has become evident that HAART does not offer a complete solution to the problem. Therefore, additional and alternative therapeutic strategies urgently need to be explored. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the mainstays of complementary and alternative medicine, and its use has aroused increasing attention. This paper reviews the recent progress in the use of TCM, from single herbs, herbal ingredients, compound Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture and medical care, for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in China. We also review evaluation systems that assess the efficacy of TCM.