Defeat malaria with Aloe Vera and other herbs

Jun 15, 2015

Eight months ago, Lydia Nansubuga, who had for close to two years, been suffering from periodic bouts of malaria

By Gilbert Kidimu

Eight months ago, Lydia Nansubuga, who had for close to two years, been suffering from periodic bouts of malaria, decided to diversify her treatment.

She went traditional.

"I boiled fresh Aloe Vera leaves which I drank for two days,” Nansubuga narrates “One cup in morning and another in the evening," she adds. “In a few hours, I was feeling better than I did taking just the laboratory medicine.” She says she felt no side effects such as nausea or general weakness, usually related to mainstream malaria treatment.

“After a long battle with malaria that never seemed to completely go away, I felt complete wellness in two days. Nowadays I take aloe vera drink every two weeks and haven’t suffered from malaria again. Although it is bitter, the results are all so sweet.”

Traditional medicines have been used to treat malaria for thousands of years. With the problems of increasing levels of drug resistance and difficulties in poor areas of being able to afford and access effective antimalarial drugs, traditional medicines could be an important and sustainable source of treatment.

“Herbal has a lot to contribute to malaria treatment and the treatment of other diseases,” agrees Dr Grace Nambatya, director of research at the Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Laboratory

“Although we do not have a proven herbal treatment for malaria yet, herbal medicine is the ultimate complementary medicine for someone suffering from malaria,” she adds.

There is a draft bill tabled in Parliament, streamlining use of herbal medicine. She however clarifies that anything herbal cannot be regarded as an alternative to modern medicine such as Coartem yet. It is because herbal treatments have not yet been scientifically proven as effective lone treatments for malaria.

“The herbs Ugandans consider treatments for malaria actually are blood enhancers.  Since malaria parasites kill blood cells, blood enhancers help create more red blood cells.”

Examples of blood enhancers take in hibiscus, beetroot, leafy greens such as spinach and nakati. “Since malaria destroys blood cells, these blood enhancers do a good job restoring new ones,” explains Nambatya. The chlorophyll in the vegetables is converted into haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that ferries oxygen through the blood system. Haemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to your tissues.

She says, while it could be indeed accurate that some of these herbs have cured malaria, Ministry of Health is yet to prove it clinically.

“Make sure you are diagnosed before any form of treatment,” advises Nambatya “Malaria is a fast killer. You’re advised to take it seriously.”

According to Doctor Nambatya, herbs ought to be given more than a passing chance.

The herbs ought to be steamed not overcooked. You miss out on the vitamins when you overcook. “Steaming will kill microorganisms but retain micro minerals such as magnesium, calcium, very crucial for the body’s immunity.”

Blended juice works best as it is live with enzymes and gets into the blood stream faster but be sure that there were no pesticides sprayed on them. Alternatively, wash and steam before blending. Or you may grow it yourself and not spray any pesticides.

You may go for Ugandan organic products such as Nogumu, advises Nambatya.

Besides helping you recover fully from malaria, the micronutrients from these leafy greens slow ageing and enhance your energy levels.

The Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Laboratory has come up with Artavol, a formulation meant to space out episodes of malaria. If you get malaria every three months, it will probably reduce to once a year or less. It is formulated from avocado seed powder, lemon grass, and Artemesia  Anmma, a Chinese herb with Artemisinin the main ingredient in Coartem.

According to Nambatya, Artavol also improves CD4 count, as said by HIV positive people who have used it.

There are plants people have used in the past to successfully treat malaria; however these plants are highly toxic and affect the liver and kidney hence use cannot be promoted

There are three stages of malaria. The reason some of these remedies such as mululuza have worked is perhaps because malaria was in its initial stages.

Some people feel a fever and conclude it is malaria, so when the fever clears after the herb, their conclusion is the said herb worked. That is why a laboratory test is of utmost importance. “Malaria symptoms are changing with the mutating parasite. Some people nowadays don’t get a high temperature but just start throwing up.”

Using herbal medicine as complementary treatment is again encouraged because of the toxicity in modern medicine. It will help you clean out all the toxicity from the medication. A glass of chlorophyll from blended nakati will do the job perfectly. Seeing that some people become anaemic after a spell of malaria, you also restore the lost blood cells, reveals Nambatya.

Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Laboratory is also housing a programme targeting controlling the vector. “We are looking at herbal methods to kill the mosquito; Larvicid, a collection of herbs sprayed in stagnant water to kill larvae.”

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