But I'd not dismiss it out of hand.
I would, based on the history of crackpot HIV "cures" claimed by various Africans, and based on the lack of any indication that they've done any trials to conclude that these herbs actually work.
I'm not saying these herbs are bad. I'm saying it's a near certainty they do nothing against HIV in particular. And if these herbs are going to discourage people from taking anti-retrovirals, that's most definitely bad.
"It's amazing," Fatuma says. "Two weeks ago, I was very ill, weak and couldn't eat without vomiting."
Jammeh, 41, is a former army colonel who has no formal medical training. He wears white robes and carries a copy of the Quran with him in this mostly Muslim nation.
His degree is a high school diploma. But he claims his family has a history of healing people through traditional African medicine.
At the hospital in the capital, patients claim the president's concoction is making a difference to them.
Ousman Sow, 54, said he's been HIV-positive since 1996 and had been taking anti-retrovirals for the past fours years until he volunteered for this program.
Four weeks later, he said he's gained 30 pounds and feels like a new person.
"I am cured at this moment," he said.
Asked if he had any HIV symptoms, he responded, "No, I don't. As I stand before you I can honestly tell you I have ceased to have any HIV symptoms."
Patient after patient gave similar statements to CNN. But it was difficult to verify the authenticity of their testimony. The government claims to have scientific evidence, but it did not provide any to CNN.
Jammeh refused to speak to CNN for this report.
CNN also sought medical reports of the HIV/AIDS patients to see whether they are indeed on the mend. The material was not provided. The government would also not release the concoction to CNN for testing.
Gambian Health Minister Tamsim Mbowe, a trained physician with multiple medical degrees, defended the so-called herbal cure.
"I can swear, 100 percent, that this herbal medication His Excellency is using is working. It has the potency to treat and cure patients infected with the HIV-virus," he told CNN.
This clown has multiple medical degrees, but he won't provide any data he has showing this stuff works?
The problem with patient's claims that they're cured is that HIV has no direct symptoms. You can eliminate "symptoms" by treating secondary problems --complications -- of AIDS. I suspect that these "herbs and spices" are nothing more than mild antibiotics and maybe some mild energy boosters like caffeine. Maybe even proscribed drugs. Who knows. They won't say what's in it. It could be coca, marijuana, ginseng, garlic, bilberry, cranberry, and turmeric. If we could eat all that stuff without throwing up, I'm sure it would do wonders for us, too.
