Every year, sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS, affect 250 million people worldwide, including 12 million Americans. Because it is easier for a sexually transmitted disease to be transferred from a man to a woman, women suffer more adverse consequences from sexually transmitted diseases than do men. A woman?s reproductive system can be severely and permanently damaged by sexually transmitted diseases, so it is important for everyone to know something about them. Sexually transmitted diseases are caused by three types of pathogens: bacteria, virus, and parasitic insects (scabies, body lice, etc.).

AIDS (acquired immune deficiency) is a generally fatal disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS patients suffer from flu-like illness characterized by fever, tiredness, swollen lymph nodes and muscle aches. Symptoms of AIDS might be experienced only after many years? infection. Both clearing toxins and enhancing immunity are incorporated in the traditional Chinese medicine treatment.

Conventional medicine treats sexually transmitted diseases by identifying the pathogens of the disease and attacking them with antibiotics and other drugs. Traditional Chinese medicine treats sexually transmitted diseases (and all disease) by differentiating patterns of disease and then treating the specific pattern. Symptoms presented by the patient are analyzed and then classified into an overall pattern of disease or imbalance. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are then used to treat the problem. Chinese medicine therapies were well-established before microscopes permitted researchers to "see" bacteria and virus, but many of the traditional herbal formulas have anti-bacterial or anti-viral properties, and are highly effective against what modern science calls infection, and what classical Chinese texts call "heat toxins." Other traditional herbal formulas "tonify" various Fundamental Substances of the body (such as Qi, Blood, Yin and Yang), and seem to have a positive effect on what modern science identifies as the immune system.

The following sections contain some historical background on sexually transmitted diseases in Chinese medicine, descriptions of the two most common patterns of sexually transmitted diseases, Chinese herbs used in the treatment of sexually transmitted disease patterns, and brief descriptions of common sexually transmitted diseases.

In Chinese medicine, the term "chancre" (Xia Gan) includes all diseases of the reproductive system which are sexually transmitted. This long legacy of Chinese medicine ? the painstaking observation and analysis that differentiates patterns ? is still valuable today in dealing with the increasing number of modern diseases.

Toxic Heat Pattern. Symptoms include: ruptured abscesses; itching and burning sensation in the genital area; fever; headache; nausea; vomiting; increased vaginal discharge; turbid/cloudy urine; a burning sensation during urination; painful urination; frequent urination; urgent urination; a red tongue body with a yellow tongue coating; and a rapid pulse. UT Clearing (Ba Zhen San), Damp Heat Clearing (Long Dan Xie Gan Tang), Toxin Cleansing (Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin), and Honeysuckle & Forsthia Decoction (Yin Chao Hong Jiang Jie Du Tang) are some widely used formulas for clearing Heat toxins.

Chronic Deficiency Pattern. Symptoms include: ruptured abscesses; low-grade fever; cough without sputum; dry throat; dizziness; back soreness; chest congestion; heart palpitations; insomnia; lassitude; irregular periods; dry bowel movements; weak pulse; and a red tongue body with a thin tongue coating. For this pattern, toxin-cleansing herbal formulas should be combined with tonic herbal formulas. Chi Yin Tonic (Sheng Mai Yin), Water Fire Balance (Zhi Bai Di Huang Tang), Chi Blood Tonic (Ba Zhen Tang), Chi Spleen Tonic (Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang), GI Strength (Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Wan), and Kidney Yang Tonic (Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan) are some time-tested formulas for tonifying the Qi and Blood, and nourishing and strengthening the Lung, Spleen and Kidneys.

Top Chinese Herbs for AIDS
From age-old sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis to modern sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS, enhancing immunity is fundamental to the sufferers. People with a lowered immune-system response are more vulnerable to infections, and to the abnormal cell changes that can lead to cancer and tumors. The leading Chinese herbs for enhancing immunity and combating infections and tumor formation are as follows:
1. Herbs for Enhancing Immunity: The leading Chinese herbs which boost the immune system include: ginseng (Ren Shen), astragalus (Huang Qi), atractylodis (Bai Zhu), licorice (Gan Cao), rehmannia (Shu Di Huang), angelica (Dan Gui), white peony root (Bai Shao), and buplerum (Chai Hu). These herbs are traditionally used for tonifying Qi and Blood and nourishing the Kidneys and Spleen. Modern research indicates they are natural immune system enhancers.
2. Herbs that are Anti-infection Agents: Leading anti-infectious herbs in Chinese medicine include: honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua), dandelion (Pu Gong Ying), woad leaf (Da Qing Ye), yedeon?s violet (Di Ding Cao), scabiosaefolia (Bai Jiang Cao), houttuynia (Yu Xing Cao), woad root (Ban Lan Gen), phellodendron (Huang Bai), and sophora (Ku Shen). Most of these herbs are traditionally used for clearing Heat and toxins. Modern pharmacological and clinical research focuses on their anti-microbial, anti-viral and anti-fungal effects.
3. Herbs that Counteract Tumors: Leading anti-tumor herbs in Chinese medicine include: bur-reed rhizome (San Ling), zedoary rhizome (E Zhu), edulis (Shan Ci Gu), nux-vomica (Ma Qian Cao), lobelia (Ban Zhi Lian), and odlenlandia (Bai Hua She She Cao). In traditional Chinese medicine, masses and tumors are diagnosed as Blood Stasis. The function of these herbs is to move and resolve Blood Stasis.