Taking A Stab At Aids More And More, Hiv Patients Pin Hopes On Acupuncture For Relief

A Bonner County man, who tested HIV positive five years ago, was skeptical about his first visit to Berta Kuhnel’s office.

But he was willing to try almost anything to preserve his health - even acupuncture.

“I’m a dyed-in-the-wool skeptic about new things, but I was feeling weak and wanted to try something,” said the 40-year-old, whose gay partner died from AIDS.

“Acupuncture seems to be making a difference for me. It’s subtle things, but I’m seeing good results.”

Kuhnel joined an acupuncture practice in Sandpoint six months ago. She’s one of a few specialists in Spokane and North Idaho who treat AIDS and HIV patients.

She started treating AIDS patients while being certified in acupuncture techniques at a Chinese medicine clinic in Denver.

“I don’t know of many acupuncturists here that work with these people, but it’s nothing new,” Kuhnel said. “One of the common questions people with AIDS ask each other now is, ‘Who is your acupuncturist?”’

Clinics in Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland have used acupuncture on AIDS patients for years. The treatments don’t replace modern medicine, but ease pain and the side-effects of anti-viral drugs like AZT.

It’s also successful for people whose bodies and immune systems are under a great deal of stress, said George Kitchie, president of the Colorado School of Chinese Medicine.

The school has a contract with Denver General Hospital to use acupuncture therapy on patients with AIDS and HIV.

“It’s nothing far out. We are just trying to help improve the quality of life for these people,” Kitchie said.

Kuhnel doesn’t advertise her specialty. She gets referrals from the North Idaho AIDS Coalition based in Coeur d’Alene. She may start traveling there several times a week because people in the AIDS support group requested her service.

“I don’t want to be known as the AIDS doctor, but I do make a special effort for these people,” Kuhnel said. “I see it helping them and think these people deserve other options.”

Kuhnel is a nationally certified acupuncturist and has a license to practice in Montana and Colorado. Idaho does not license acupuncturists, but Kuhnel supported a bill in the Idaho Legislature this year to do just that.

A typical acupuncture session for Kuhnel lasts 1 to 1-1/2 hours. She uses six to 12 disposable needles inserted lightly into the skin along different areas of the body.

The needles rarely draw blood and she wears surgical gloves during the treatments.

“AIDS is a scary topic for some people and some are worried because we use needles,” she said. “But the risk is extremely low.”

The goal of the treatments, she said, is to build the immune system so infected people don’t succumb to other diseases and infections.

“The idea is to help them not get sick,” she said. “I have not seen anyone turn from HIV positive to HIV negative but it’s very effective in easing the symptoms.”

A spokesman at the Spokane AIDS Network said the network regularly refers people with AIDS and the AIDS virus to acupuncturists and naturopaths.

Paul B. Lu, at the Chinese Acupuncture & Herb Clinic in Spokane, is one who offers the treatments. He started in Seattle but saw only a handful of AIDS patients when he moved his practice to Spokane in 1992.

He expects to see more since many insurance companies agreed this year to pay for acupuncture treatments.

The Bonner County man with HIV said he has a limited income, but received financial help for his acupuncture from the AIDS Coalition.

“Otherwise I would not be able to do this,” he said. “I’m not giving up on modern medicine, but as long as I keep seeing results with acupuncture, I’m going to stick with it.”

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