The Centre was founded in 1993 within the Exodus Group (now Exodus Foundation). Poiesis is concerned with documentation, bibliographic research, information and counselling on health, HIV, AIDS and relationship ecology.

Poiesis is mainly acting in Milan, but many people are addressing to the Centre, practitioners, researchers and associations from all over Italy. All Centre's activities are public and free of charge.

During its first years of life (1993-1995) Poiesis mainly dealt with Unconventional Therapies (UT) since those therapies were less studied in our country and for which information was still controversial and problematic. In fact, while in foreign countries health institutions and associations of People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLwHA) are concerned with this topic, in Italy any structured and organic intervention was practically absent.

Nevertheless, the Centre's objective is to deal with all therapies and resources, both, conventional and unconventional which may be useful to seropositive and ill people.

Further, the Centre acts in the field of general training on HIV and AIDS, based on the firm belief that only integrated information and training can correctly introduce also the topic of therapies.

Following the pattern of many other experiences in the world, Poiesis' goal is to become an information service on treatments and on therapies for People with HIV or AIDS, therapists, practitioners, researchers, social workers and institutional ambits.

Official therapies (OT) are studied in various ambits and substained by a composite whole of resources, interests and research efforts. Thus, this part of research, experimentation and therapies is well covered. For this reason, Poiesis puts less time on OT, considering that on this topic there are many other and more authoritative sourcers of information.

Poiesis attends to OT - among other things for following reasons and with these goals:

 *to carry out more intelligible literature, also including different evaluations on various studies and treatments;

*attention and information for experimental treatments;

*attention for possible synergies or contraindications among conventional and unconventional therapies;

*attention on issues of informed consent, active participation on trial planning, the person's rights;

 The Centre intends to carry out these activities, as well as those inherent to unconventional therapies in collaboration with clinical centres, research centres, hospitals, associations and all whose intention is to deal with therapies as resources for people, without bias or interests to look after, aware that every medical school can provide people with resources.

Some years ago (1993) the Exodus Group had to face following situation: youth to whom AZT was not showing any results due to arise of resistant viral strains; others could not take AZT or other drugs still on trial (DDI) due to toxicity or severe side effects; some choosed individually not to use them; last, youth using Unconventional Therapies (Phytotherapy, Homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine...) and gaining benefit from it.

This situation becoming more standardized among the community guests, suggested to look at the issue without presumption and false certainties, arrogance and without taking for granted anything, but with the duty of leaving no stone unturned. Moreover, some results of trials as the Concorde, more and more problematic in therapy matters, put into perspective then some axioms and suggested more humility and responsibility, less conformism and to more carefully consider and evaluate real effectiveness and benefit of the therapies in use. Poiesis' commitment on unconventional therapies started from this kind of situation and conditions. It is an experience originated to document with the most possible scientific rigour the resources present in the diverse therapeutical areas of unconventional therapies and to inform PLwHA, not for a party or ideological trend.

The centre's goal is also to participate and to urge for researches and clinical trials which reduce information indeterminateness of UT for HIV and AIDS. ; which enable to acquire a broader scientific foundation regarding properties, real effectiveness and field of action of single therapies, thus contributing to sort out basic confusion, approximation and sometimes improvvisation on the topic.

Documentation

Documentation sector with 1.000 volumes inherent to health and medicine, 750 of which on HIV infection and AIDS. Further, it has over 4.000 articles concerning HIV infection, AIDS and therapies, catalogued and arranged by topic and therapeutical field. 80% of this documentation concerns Unconventional Therapies for HIV and AIDS and is of mainly scientific nature. The research centre is open to public.

 Information and Counselling

At the Centre a daily telephone information service is offered. During the week specific and defined moments are reserved to counseling through meetings and vis à vis (on demand) carried out by centre operators and a practitioner.

 Bibliographic Research and Literature Editing

The Centre carries out different bibliographic researches which are presented at conventions and placed at PLwHA's disposal. The Centre also carries out apposite publications.

 Data Processing

It has an internet site (http://www.exodus.it/poiesis) where different documents are available on line. It offers to PLwHA the chance to access the Internet free for researches, communications, etc...

 Training

It organizes conferences, meetings and training courses.

 Network

The Centre's belief is that networking and informative and formative interaction can represent a main resource to face various and complex issues related to HIV infection.

For this reason, since its foundation it has stressed for the creation of NGO cartels, organisms, centres and other realities which cooperate with the goal of defining synergies and a common background.

 Studies Area

The Centre's team realizes bibliographic researches and studies on the major therapies. Further, in cooperating with other centres, it realizes epidemiological studies about the use of therapies, also collecting preliminary data on their efficacy.

 Hepatitis Area

Since 1997 the Centre started an research programme on the literature available with respect to therapies for hepatitis. Available documentation on unconventional therapies has been gathered and currently a series of monographs on medicinal plants used for the treatment of hepatitis are being accomplished.

Organization of Training Courses

["Prevention and Health"] plan of training on HIV, AIDS and other infectious diseases at the centres of the Exodus Group in Lombardy (throughout 1993).

["Meeting People with HIV/AIDS in the Streets of Milan"] (14 lessons, February-May 1994)

["HIV/AIDS: the Help Relationship"] (8 lessons, October-November 1994)

["Counselling on Complementary Therapies"] (10 lessons, March-May 1995)

Organization of Seminaries and Conferences (independently or in collaboration with other associations and centres)

• [OutAdali: National Meeting of People with HIV and AIDS on Unconventional Therapies" ] (16-19th October 1997, Morosini Centre, Venice)
• Conference on ["Traditional Chinese Medicine AIDS and Hepatitis"] M. Smith, J. Yearde, J. Tindall, B. McKenna (12th October 1997, Milan)
• Conference on ["Viscum album and HIV infection"] R. Gorter (26th November 1997, Milan)
• ["Solidarity and Therapeutic Alliance: Meeting on Unconventional Therapies between People's Rights and Society's Responsibility"] (2nd February 1995, Conference Room, ASA, Milan)
• Round Table ["Complementary Medicine for HIV and AIDS National Observatory. Scientific Validation Protocols and Parameters of Unconventional Medicines."] E. Rossi, A. Durante, V. Agnoletto, S. Vella, C. Bellavite, Carosi, R. Mazzi, G. Rotolo, G. Wolfstaedter ( 7th October 1995 Palazzo Congressi Milanofiori )
• Seminary on [ "For a Doctrine of Reasonable Safety: Work Hypothesis for the Use and Experimentation of Complementary Medicines for HIV and AIDS"] (12-14th May 1995 - Bocca di Magra - La Spezia)
• Conference on ["Homeopathy and AIDS"] E. Rossi (3 november 1994, Milan)
• Meeting on ["HIV/AIDS: Therapeutic Opportunity and Freedom of Choice "] M. Balderi, A. Mazzi, V. Agnoletto, A. Bianchi, R. Pascale, L. Ciotti, G. Marzachi, F. Giannelli, M. Grandi (30 October 1994, Torino)

Literature

• Leaflet "Unconventional Therapies as resources for people living with HIV in the Protease Inhibitors era" (February 1998)
• Booklet "Protease Inhibitors". Informations for people with HIV using Protease Inhibitors treatment (January 1998)
• 8 informative leaflets on opportunistic infections: Cytomegalovirus, Cryptococcus, Herpes, Pneumocystis, Toxoplasmosis, TBC, Candida, MAC (Spring 1997)
• 3 informative leaflets on Indinavir, Saquinavir, Ritonavir (May 1997)
• Guide to Protease Inhibitor drugs (September 1996)
• XIth International Conference on AIDS: abstract on Complementary Therapies (July 1996)
• XIth International Conference on AIDS: combinations and Protease Inhibitors (July 1996)
• XIth International Conference on AIDS: Community Forum conclusions (July 1996)
• Selection of materials on "Nutrition and HIV" (March 1996)
• Informative booklet [It is Possible to Go Against HIV] (in collaboration with the Sociomedical Unit No. 40 Milan, Autumn 1995)
• HIV, AIDS and trial. New molecules and natural remedies: same evaluation and trial criteria? (May 1995)
• Uncaria tomentosa fact sheet (February 1995)
• Viscum album fact sheet (August 1994)
• Hypericum perforatum fact sheet (August 1994)
• Pao pereira 2 fact sheet (May 1995)
• Homeopathy and AIDS fact sheet (April 1995)
• Glycyrrhizine fact sheet (March 1995)
• Candida fact sheet (March 1995)
• Bitter Melon fact sheet (February 1995)
• Pao pereira fact sheet (January 1995)
• Monograph for a training course on HIV and AIDS for operators and volunteers (September 1994)

Researches and presentations at conferences

The Centre's coordinators and other collaborators have presented results of works and researches on the occasion of:

• [Natural Medicine Convention] (Milan, 21-22nd February 1998)
• Convention ["AIDS, Needs and Answers: the Experience of Associations"] Milan, 29th November 1997
• [XIth National Convention on AIDS and Related Syndromes] (Pisa, 13-15th November 1997)
• 3rd Int Conf on Home and Community Care for PLwHA. 21-24th May 1997. Amsterdam, The Netherland.
• 2nd International Conference on Nutrition in HIV infection. April 1997, Cannes, France.
• [Xth National Convention on AIDS and Related Syndromes] (21-23rd November 1996, Milan)
• National Congress ["AIDS: which Therapy?"] 4-5th October 1996, Cagliari.
• [3rd European Meeting on Ethnopharmacology] (March 1996, Genova)
• [IXth National Convention on AIDS and Related Syndromes] (30 November - 4 december 1995, Rome)
• Seminary ["For a Doctrine of Reasonnable Safety"] (12-14th May 1995, Bocca Di Magra)
• 6th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm. 26-30st March 1995, Florence.

Bibliographic references of the works presented are listed further on.

Particularly, the PC has carried out a research on the use of complementary therapies (CT) by people living with HIV and AIDS in collaboration with the A.L.A. association and the Ward of Infectious Diseases of Niguarda Hospital, Milan.

Consideration

During its first phase of activities, efforts of the PC have been focussing on documentation, bibliographic research and services to PLwHA, in particular concerning information on CT and their traceableness. The lack of conventional drugs, outcomes of the Concorde trial and the news by preliminary notices on CT activities had caused great information and availability demands of those therapies. We have then attended to a widespread use and to a basic research and unorganized research on CT.

A preliminary consideration concerning this phase brought the Centre's team to take note of the need to promote more information on these topics and more planning attention to be given by Health Institutions on a CT trials level.

This was the starting point for PC's second phase (1995-96), during which the Centre is concerned in trainings and promotion of conferences and meetings. A field of particular commitment has been the promotion of a network of associations to be concerned with CTs and to promote interventions by Health Institutions in this area. During this time PC co-promoted the creation of the ["Group of Attention on Alternative Therapies and Treatments (G.A.T.T.A.)"]; the group for the ["Observatory on Complementary Therapies"] and NATC (Natural Alternative Traditional Complementary) Caucus Italian Network . These networks would promote a variety of initiatives and appeals to address to Health Institutions. Unfortunately, the great difficulties italian associations have of working in terms of plans and collective investment, have made fruitless many of the possible objectives set by the network. In particular, there have been no results on an institutional intervention level.

Currently (1997-etc) the PC is in its third phase. There is a major focuss on the implementation of clearly-defined projects, planned in collaboration with hospitals, centres and other situations. PC currently puts a more specific attention on CT and focusses some defined projects, as the setting up of a Consensus Conference.

PUBLICATIONS and COMMUNICATIONS

[Publications with titles within square brackets are available only in italian]

Adamoli R (1998)

[Unconventional Therapies as Resources for People Living with HIV
and AIDS at the Times of Protease Inhibitors.]
Natural Medicine Convention (Milan, 21-22nd February 1998)

Adamoli R (1997)

[Accessibility and Quality of Unconventional Therapies]
Convention "AIDS, Needs and Answers: the Experience of Associations" Milan,
29th November 1997. Abstract book page 66

Adamoli R, Bianchi A, Durante A, Saibene A (1997)

[In Vitro Activities and Clinical Trials on Medicinal Plants studied for HIV infection.]
XIth National Convention on AIDS and Related Syndromes (Pisa, 13-15th
November 1997) Abstract book page 276

Durante A, Adamoli R (1997)

[Role of Micronutrients in Nourishment of People Living with HIV and AIDS]
XIth National Convention on AIDS and Related Syndromes (Pisa, 13-15th
November 1997) Abstract book page 276

Bianchi A, Adamoli R, Durante A, Saibene A (1997)

[Medicinal Plants and AIDS. Antiviral and Immunomodulant Plants used in HIV
Infection and Related Syndromes] Publisher Tecniche Nuove, Milan - Italy.
 

Adamoli R, Durante A, Hagl D, Rossi F, Giannelli V (1997)

The Use of Unconventional Therapies and Health Right
3rd International Conference on Home and Community Care for Persons
Living with HIV/AIDS. 21-24 May 1997. Amsterdam, The Nederland. Abstract no. P9

Durante A, Rava L, Rigon D (1997)

"Cavoli a Merenda": a practical guide to healthy nutrition for people living with HIV
and AIDS and an important instrument of work for NATC Italian Network"
2nd International Conference on nutrition in HIV infection. April 1997, Cannes.
Abstract page 290

Adamoli R, Durante A (1996)

[Eleventh International Conference on AIDS and UnConventional Therapies]
Medicina Naturale, (5): 95-96

Adamoli R, Durante A (1996)

[Research on Use and Testability of Traditional Medicine in Italy]
3rd European Meeting on Ethnopharmacology (March 1996, Genova)

Hagl D (1996)

[The Community Forum Asks for Equal Access to Treatments for 90% of PLwHA in
the World]
Conference proceedings National Congress "AIDS: which Therapy?" 4-5th October
1996, Cagliari.

Adamoli R, Moioli MC, Poletto M, Caggese L, Giannelli F, Durante A, Hagl D, Rossi F, Breglia M, Cremonesi F (1996)

[Pilot Study on the Use of Complementary Therapies by 223 Persons with HIV
Atteding an Outpatients' Station of Infectious Diseases]
Xth Natl Conv on AIDS and Related Syndromes (21-23rd November 1996, Milan) :
418 (Abs O-70)

Adamoli R, Rovedo Granada V, Di Pierdomenico L, Codini G, Grassotti R, Palumbo G, Durante A, Granelli M, Giani A, Foà D, De Marco MT (1995)

[Juridical and Social Problems for Persons with HIV]
Documentation Book no. 7. AIDS Operative Centre of Milan. October 1995
(the book includes a chapter related to CT in prison)

Durante A, Adamoli R (1995)

A possible Contribution of Complementary Therapies in the Reduction of Drug
Related Harm Strategies.

Adamoli R (1995)

Opening Report. Seminary "For a Doctrine of Reasonnable Safety" (12-14th May
1995, Bocca Di Magra). Volume of Reports, Interventions, Summaries and Communications. Abstract pages 1-12

Adamoli R, Andreoni L, Bocceda G, Cappelletti P, Confetti C, D'Orio F, Durante A, Giannelli V, Hagl D, Petrotta C, Tinelli P, Ziliani N. (1995)

[It is Possible to Go Against HIV] Informative material for seropositive people.
Realized by the Milan Sociomedical Unit No. 40 in collaboration with the Poiesis
Centre of Exodus Foundation.

Please note that the most of this literature is available in italian.