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HIV & AIDS

HIV is a virus that weakens the immune system; AIDS is its most advanced stage. There is no cure yet, but daily treatment lets people with HIV live long, healthy lives and, once the virus is undetectable, prevents passing it to partners through sex.

What are HIV and AIDS?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks the cells that help the body fight infection, which leaves a person more open to other illnesses (HIV.gov). The body can’t clear HIV on its own and there is no cure yet, so HIV is lifelong — but medical care can control it (CDC).

AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV. It is diagnosed when the CD4 immune-cell count drops below 200, or when certain “opportunistic” infections develop. In the U.S., most people with HIV who take their medicine as prescribed never develop AIDS (HIV.gov). In 2022 about 1.2 million people in the U.S. had HIV, and roughly 13 in 100 didn’t know it (CDC).

How HIV is (and isn’t) passed on

  • Most often through anal or vaginal sex without a condom or HIV-prevention medicine, or by sharing needles and other drug-injection equipment. It can also pass from parent to baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding (CDC).
  • It is not passed through saliva, closed-mouth kissing or everyday touch, and it doesn’t survive long on surfaces (CDC).

Symptoms — and why testing matters

About two in three people get a flu-like illness (fever, rash, sore throat, swollen glands, tiredness) within 2–4 weeks of infection; others notice nothing for years. Symptoms can’t confirm HIV — only a test can (HIV.gov). CDC recommends everyone aged 13–64 be tested at least once, and more often for people at higher risk (CDC).

Free and low-cost testing. Find nearby free or low-cost testing at CDC’s GetTested or the HIV.gov Testing & Care Services Locator. You can also order free self-tests through Together TakeMeHome; a positive self-test needs a follow-up lab test (CDC).

Think you were exposed in the last 72 hours? Contact a provider or go to an emergency room or urgent care right away and ask about PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis). It works best the sooner it starts — ideally within 24 hours — and must be started within 72 hours (HIV.gov).

Side by side

Six approaches compared

For every condition we look at the same six approaches: what each involves, what it typically costs, and what a patient can realistically expect.

ApproachWhat it involves Estimated costWhat to expect
Conventional medicine (AMA) Testing, then antiretroviral therapy (ART) started as soon as possible after diagnosis, with regular viral-load checks. PrEP and PEP prevent HIV in people who don’t have it. List prices for brand-name regimens run about $2,900–$4,700 a month; fully generic regimens as little as about $100–$130 at pharmacy cost. Insurance, Medicaid, Ryan White/ADAP and manufacturer programs mean most people pay far less. Highly effective. Most people reach an undetectable viral load within six months, can live long, healthy lives and won’t pass HIV on through sex. Lifelong — not a cure.
Chiropractic Supportive care only — spinal manipulation and related care for back, neck and joint pain. It does not treat HIV. About $50–$150 an adjustment without insurance ($15–$50 with); first visits $100–$250. May ease some musculoskeletal pain. No reliable evidence it affects HIV, the immune system, CD4 count or viral load.
Acupuncture Used alongside ART for pain, stress and medicine side effects such as nerve pain — never instead of it. Averaged about $112 for a first visit and $80 for follow-ups without insurance; community clinics can be as low as about $25. Mixed evidence. A large U.S. trial found it no better than sham points for HIV nerve pain; smaller studies are more hopeful.
Herbal medicine No herb or supplement treats HIV. Some supplements may help specific symptoms — only with your HIV provider’s OK. Cost estimate being researched. Real risk: St. John’s wort and several other products can weaken HIV medicines. Always check before taking anything.
Massage therapy Relaxation massage for stress, mood, aches and quality of life, alongside ART. About $50–$90 for 45–60 minutes at clinics and spas; $60–$120 with a private therapist. Small studies suggest better quality of life and less anxiety and depression. It doesn’t replace HIV treatment.
MBHA Wellness Coach Daily habits that support treatment: taking medicine on schedule, nutrition and food safety, exercise, mental health, support and help finding programs. Cost estimate being researched. Supports adherence, energy, heart and bone health and emotional well-being alongside medical care.

Approach 1 of 6

Conventional medicine (AMA)

HIV is treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART): a combination of HIV medicines, often in a single daily pill, started as soon as possible after diagnosis (HIV.gov, CDC).

1. Testing

Lab blood tests can usually find HIV 18–45 days after exposure; rapid and self-tests may take longer to turn positive, and a nucleic acid test can find it sooner. Testing is advised during every pregnancy, at least yearly for people with ongoing risk, and every 3–6 months for some sexually active gay and bisexual men (CDC).

2. Treatment (ART)

  • Every day, as prescribed. Skipping doses, or stopping and starting, can let HIV become resistant and limit future options. ART isn’t a cure — if it stops, the viral load climbs back (HIV.gov).
  • Long-acting shots, given monthly or every two months, are an option for some adults (CDC).
  • Monitoring: viral load is checked every 4–6 months, and soon after starting or changing medicine (CDC).
  • Side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, headache, poor sleep or tiredness are often milder than in the past. Tell your provider — medicines can be adjusted — rather than stopping on your own (HIV.gov).

3. Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)

Almost everyone who takes ART as prescribed reaches an undetectable viral load, usually within six months. People who keep it undetectable will not transmit HIV to partners through sex. It doesn’t prevent other STIs; it greatly lowers but doesn’t remove the risk through breastfeeding; and needles should still never be shared (HIV.gov).

4. Prevention for people without HIV

  • PrEP (pills or shots) greatly lowers the chance of getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. It needs an HIV test first and regular follow-up, and doesn’t prevent other STIs. Under the Affordable Care Act, almost all health plans must cover PrEP, including related visits and lab tests, at no cost (CDC).
  • PEP is a 28-day course of medicine started within 72 hours of a possible exposure, for emergencies only (HIV.gov).
  • Condoms and never sharing injection equipment also prevent HIV (CDC).

What it costs

The federal HIV treatment guidelines publish benchmark monthly prices (list prices as of May 2026) (HHS Adult and Adolescent ARV Guidelines):

  • Brand-name regimens recommended for first treatment list at roughly $2,900–$4,700 a month (for example, Biktarvy about $4,216 and Dovato about $3,250).
  • Mixed brand-and-generic regimens are estimated at roughly $1,900–$2,500 a month, and fully generic multi-pill regimens at as little as about $100–$130 a month (a floor estimate based on what pharmacies pay) — though generics can mean more pills, and cost must never weaken how well treatment works.
  • Long-acting injections (Cabenuva) list at about $4,639 for each every-4-weeks dose or $6,959 for each every-8-weeks dose, plus clinic and administration costs.

Very few people pay these prices. Medicaid copays for preferred drugs are capped at $4; uninsured people in an AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) usually pay nothing; and Medicare Part D out-of-pocket drug costs are capped at $2,100 for 2026 (HHS guidelines).

Help paying for care

  • Insurance: most plans can’t refuse or drop you because you have HIV. In states that expanded Medicaid, you don’t have to wait for an AIDS diagnosis to qualify (HIV.gov).
  • Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program: medical care, medicines and support services for people with lower incomes — over half of people diagnosed with HIV in the U.S. use it each year. Its ADAP provides HIV medicines and can help with insurance costs (HIV.gov).
  • Manufacturer programs offer free or reduced-cost medicine to people who qualify, and copay help for people with private insurance. Free case managers and benefits counselors can find the programs you qualify for (HIV.gov).
  • Find a Ryan White clinic or other care near you with the HIV.gov Locator.

How well it works — what to expect

People who take ART as prescribed can live long, healthy lives, and starting soon after diagnosis brings the most benefit. Even after AIDS develops, HIV medicine can still help and can be lifesaving (HIV.gov). Treatment is lifelong and works best with steady care and coverage — changes or gaps in insurance can interrupt treatment and viral suppression, so plan ahead when coverage changes (HHS guidelines).

Find a medical doctor in our directory

Approach 2 of 6

Chiropractic

Chiropractic is a licensed health profession that mostly treats problems of the muscles, bones and joints; most people who use it do so for pain (NCCIH, U.S. National Institutes of Health). Spinal manipulation may give small improvements in low-back pain and can help acute neck pain (NCCIH). For someone living with HIV, that may mean some relief from everyday aches and pains.

About the evidence. We found no reliable research showing that chiropractic care affects HIV, immune function, CD4 count or viral load. Claims that adjustments “boost immunity” in HIV are not supported by controlled studies. Complementary care is never a substitute for HIV medicine (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).

Using chiropractic care safely

  • Keep taking your HIV medicine exactly as prescribed.
  • Tell your chiropractor about your health and medicines, and tell your HIV provider about any supplements a chiropractor suggests — some interact with HIV medicines (HIVinfo, NIH).
  • Short-lived soreness, stiffness or headache are the most common side effects; serious problems are very rare (NCCIH).

What it costs

A standard adjustment is about $50–$150 without insurance and $15–$50 with it; a first consultation $100–$250 without insurance. Many plans limit visits, often to 20–30 a year (MedicalCostInfo).

Find a chiropractor in our directory

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Acupuncture

Some people with HIV use complementary therapies such as acupuncture to help with symptoms of the illness or side effects of their medicines; the VA offers acupuncture to veterans with HIV alongside standard care (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).

What the research shows

  • Nerve pain (neuropathy): a large U.S. trial of 250 people found a standard acupuncture program worked no better than needling non-acupuncture points for HIV-related nerve pain in the feet and legs (JAMA, 1998). A later review found only a marginal benefit for acupuncture with moxibustion in one study, which had methodological weaknesses (Medicina, 2019).
  • Chronic pain more broadly: a 2025 review of non-drug approaches — including acupuncture, yoga and stress management — found they generally reduced pain, but many studies were small pilots (Current HIV/AIDS Reports, 2025).

Staying safe

  • Acupuncture has relatively few reported complications when done properly; problems such as infections have come from non-sterile needles or poor technique. Choose a licensed practitioner who uses sterile, single-use needles (NCCIH).
  • Acupuncturists sometimes recommend Chinese herbs. Tell your HIV provider about any herb or supplement before you start it, because some interact with HIV medicines (VA, HIVinfo, NIH).
  • Use it alongside ART — never as a reason to stop or delay treatment.

What it costs

One study found sessions without insurance averaged about $112 for a first visit and $80 for follow-ups. Community acupuncture clinics, which treat people in a shared room, can cost about $25 a session, and some use sliding-scale fees (GoodRx).

Find an acupuncturist in our directory

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Herbal medicine

Read this first. No herb or supplement can treat or cure HIV, and some can make HIV medicines stop working. Be wary of any product claiming to cure HIV (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs). Talk to your HIV provider before taking any herb, vitamin or supplement (HIVinfo, NIH).

Known interactions with HIV medicines

Where supplements may have a place

NIH notes some supplements studied in people with HIV — for example, curcumin may ease diarrhea, while vitamin D and N-acetylcysteine are unlikely to change HIV outcomes much. Others may help common concerns, such as calcium and vitamin D for bone health or probiotics for stomach upset. Whether you need any is decided case by case with your provider (HIVinfo, NIH).

Choosing products

The FDA doesn’t review supplements for safety or effectiveness before they’re sold, so look for a third-party seal such as NSF or USP (HIVinfo, NIH), and show the full label to your HIV provider or pharmacist. We don’t list doses here — that is a decision for your HIV care team.

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Massage therapy

Massage can help people living with HIV feel better day to day. It does not treat HIV — ART is still essential.

What the research shows

  • Mood: there is some evidence that massage helps anxiety and depression in people with HIV, though the studies are few and small (NCCIH).
  • Quality of life: a Cochrane review of four small trials found some evidence that massage improves quality of life, especially combined with stress-management methods such as meditation. Results on immune measures were mixed, and the authors called for larger, better studies before massage can be strongly recommended (Cochrane review, 2010).

Safety

  • The risk of harm from massage appears low. Rare serious problems have mostly been linked to vigorous methods such as deep-tissue massage (NCCIH).
  • Don’t use massage to put off seeing a provider about a new health problem (NCCIH).
  • Tell your therapist about your health, and reschedule if you have a fever or feel unwell.

What it costs

About $50–$90 for a 45–60 minute session at gyms, clinics and spas; $60–$120 with a private therapist; and $30–$40 an hour with students at massage schools (CostHelper).

Find a massage therapist in our directory

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MBHA Wellness Coach

An MBHA Wellness Coach works alongside your HIV care team on the everyday habits that help treatment succeed.

Taking medicine on schedule

Taking ART every day as prescribed keeps the virus undetectable and helps prevent drug resistance (HIV.gov). A coach can help you build routines, plan for travel and refills, and prepare questions about side effects for your provider.

Nutrition and food safety

  • Good nutrition supports the immune system, a healthy weight and how the body uses HIV medicines. The basics are the same as for anyone: a variety of foods, the right amount, and less saturated fat, salt and added sugar (HIVinfo, NIH).
  • Food poisoning can be more serious with HIV. Avoid raw eggs, undercooked meat, poultry and seafood, and unpasteurized milk and juice; follow “clean, separate, cook, chill” (HIVinfo, NIH).

Staying active

Regular activity lifts mood, eases stress, improves sleep and lowers the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes — which is higher in people with HIV. Your provider can help you choose activities that fit your energy and health (HIV.gov).

Mental health and support

  • People with HIV are about two to three times as likely to experience depression; stigma, isolation and the stress of disclosure all play a part. Mental health conditions are treatable (HIVinfo, NIH).
  • Helpful steps include joining a support group, meditation, yoga or deep breathing, good sleep, staying connected, and getting help with basic needs such as medicine costs, housing or food (HIVinfo, NIH).
  • If an HIV medicine seems to be affecting your mood or sleep, tell your provider — switching medicines often helps (HIVinfo, NIH).

Finding help

Your coach can help you connect with case managers, Ryan White services and assistance programs (HIV.gov).

In their own words

Wellness and lifestyle testimonials

Please read first. These are personal experiences, not medical advice. MBHA makes no medical claims and does not claim any product heals or cures. HIV medicines (antiretroviral therapy) are what keep people with HIV healthy and let them live long lives — never stop, skip or change your HIV medicines without your HIV care provider.

When I was diagnosed with full-blown AIDS eight years ago, I found I have a lot of nerve damage in my feet, legs, arms and hands — numbness and tingling, like hitting your funny bone. It got so bad I had to use a wheelchair, which I really fought. I started using some of the products and noticed right away that with the energy insoles my feet and legs felt better. I was able to drop from 32 pills a day to 28 — that may sound like a lot, but I’m on medicines for my illness and medicines for their side effects, every 2, 4 or 8 hours, some with food and some without, to keep me alive. The sleep system lets me fall asleep; when the beeper goes off at night I take my pills, lie back down and go right back to sleep, and that’s made a big difference. My doctors are watching how the products work for me. I run fevers, and the comforter helps so I don’t have to be packed in ice as often. I have more energy — for two weeks I’ve been out doing things every day from 10:30 in the morning to 10 at night. It’s not about how much time I have left; I know the reality of that. It’s that I have a better quality of life, I’m a happier person, and I don’t suffer as much.

— Bruce

Shared with first names only. Lightly edited for length and spelling.

Member stories

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Sources

This page is for education only and is not medical advice. Costs are typical U.S. ranges and estimates; yours will depend on your provider, location and insurance. Talk with your doctor before starting, stopping or combining any treatment. In an emergency, call 911. See our disclaimer.

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The Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance is a charitable, independent registered nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and does not endorse any particular products or practices. Claims and statements herein are for informational purposes only and have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. We strongly recommend that you seek out your trusted medical doctor or practitioner for diagnosis and treatment of any existing health condition. MBHA provides administrative support, education and navigation — not medical, legal or tax advice — and cannot guarantee claim, billing or fundraising outcomes. MBHA is not an emergency service: in an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.