A Lizard can cure HIV/AIDS? Hoax or not?
Recently, there is a rumor in Indonesia that a lizard can cure HIV/AIDS. This rumor is spread from mouth to mouth. Is this just a hoax or not?
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), this virus will infect our immune system thus make our immunity become weaken, can't encounter infectious agents. Until now, scientists especially in developed countries haven't discovered the cure for AIDS. The Latest invention is Anti Retro Viral (ARV) to limit virus spread or replication in our body, but can't eradicate the virus. Also until know, there is no vaccine for HIV, because the virus is highly mutability.
Eventhough ARV drugs can't cure the disease, but for who has HIV/AIDS, ARV is needed to slow the disease progression. And make their life depend on ARV. Issues in AIDS also a sensitive thing. There is a group of people that don't want AIDS to have a cure. Because if AIDS has a cure, there will be an increase in free sex, drug abused. That will further breakdown human morality and spirituality. How about you?
It is up to you, everyone has own argument about that issue.
Because of clinical progression of the disease, person who has HIV usually depressed, stressed, and so being expelled from community. They are weaken not only immune but also mind and mental. So, they also need our supports.
Many rumors about cure for AIDS from having sex with teenagers, God's Crown fruit, and the latest one is a lizard ,especially Tokek. Just like other rumors about cure of terminal disease, it becomes phenomenal sensations and easy to spread.
We don't know from who or where this rumor began. Tokek is used to be a cure for skin diseases, asthma, typhus, and prevent aging. And the price for each tokek is around US$10-20.
When the rumor a tokek can cure AIDS occurs, the price increase significantly becomes US$250 each ons, and can reach US$ 10000 for bigger size. And people in my country begin to hunt tokek.
Tokek is believed can increase our immunity, whether it effective for AIDS is unknown.
Traditional Medicinel
Until know, there is no evidence that a tokek (lizard) can cure AIDS, and recently because of the rumor, tokek is under studied by WHO.
About God's Crown fruit (Mahkota Dewa) has been studied by scientist that this fruit contain high level of antioxidant that help to slow the progression and minimize symptoms in AIDS, but doesn't eradicate the disease itself.
Indonesian people are easier to believe traditional medicine that use plants, stones, and animals eventhough there is no evidence about its benefits, because of the cultural background of indonesian people.
