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Q#1: Kombucha
Can you tell me if you know anything about Kombucha and its benefits for HIV? (December, 1999)
A: Barbara J. Scott, MPH, RD responds:
The Kombucha mushroom, as it is called, is not really a mushroom. It is derived from the fermentation of yeasts and bacteria with black tea and sugar. There is no evidence to date to support claims that Kombucha tea will strengthen the immune system or increase CD4 counts in persons with HIV or AIDS. In fact, use of this tea may actually be dangerous for persons with compromised immune systems. Home preparation of the tea requires fermentation over 10 days at room temperature making it a good medium for bacterial contamination. Transmission of both aspergillius and anthrax through this tea have already been documented. Some people feel that use of the tea gives increased energy, but this may simply be an effect of the black tea and sugar in the preparation. Other reasons to use caution against use of Kombucha tea include its alcohol content (for persons in recovery and/or taking Antabuse), possible interactions with acid-sensitive drugs, and reactions that have been observed (toxic reaction in the stomach, allergies, increased liver function test, nausea, and others.)
Q#2: Algae
I would like to know if you have known of anyone who has had a medically verifiable, incredibly positive effect by using 5-10 grams or more of blue-green algae for a period of two to three months or more? (February, 2000)
A: Diana Peabody, RD responds:
I have not seen evidence of blue green algae by itself having such an effect. Most people are on a combination of therapies at any given time, both allopathic and complementary. It is difficult to separate one specific treatment such as blue green algae having a measurable effect. Usually, a blinded placebo controlled study is required to determine this type of effect.
A: Ken Stringer, Website Administrator responds:
Well, I happen to know Jennifer would want to be heard on this one. So, to quote from her article Traveling with HIV: "I often tell people to think of their water and ice cubes. Picture a fresh-water pond with lilies floating, crickets cricketing and birds singing. And algae. While some nutritionists encourage eating algae, I think that after you look at it live and in person, you won’t want to. Also, some nutritionists recommend taking algae in pill form. This is just a nice way of making algae appear to be healthy -- but -- pond or pill, it’s the same from either source: Slimy Scum. In a glass of water, even if it all looks crystal-clear, the water can be rife with hundreds of bacterial species. They’re small and don’t "show"; so what if that clear-looking, cooling sip of clear water turns out to be really clean-looking pond scum and you get diarrhea, often of the embarrassing volume and incontinence kind? As with everything else, looks aren’t everything; beauty can be deceptive. Don’t gamble unless you can afford to lose."
Jennifer was not against trying things, as long as she was convinced it couldn't hurt you. Or your pocketbook. There're a lot of scams out there, and she was acutely aware of the financial cost of HIV disease and advised her clients not to squander what they could not afford. Of course, that went even more so for their physical health. She was all for trying something that "can't hurt, might help", but it bears repeating, "don’t gamble unless you can afford to lose."
