SANParks.org Forums

Has anyone ever used Artemisia products which is a natural way of preventing or treating malaria?

Artemisia afra is a highly aromatic indigenous shrub that has been used for centuries by the African/Chinese population for a variety of ailments in particular malaria.

I have browsed the web but did not find anything negative about this treatment.

I've not heard of that particular product, it does sound interesting though. There are some products on sale around the park, and in shops in neighbouring towns which also offer a natural repellent. I think one of the main ingredients of all of them is citronella. Some can even be added to clothes washes so that your clothes also repel mozzies. As the risk of contracting malaria is higher when pregnant I used some of these in December and found them pretty effective, combined with tucking my tracksuit pants into my socks in the evenings/mornings. I only got two bites in 3 weeks spent in the Lowveld, including time in Kruger and Pidwa (part of Makalali), so would definitely recommend giving them a try!

The product is actually consumed in capsule form or available as an injection. If you do a search in Google it shows quite a few websites with info on Artemisia.

Be careful of so called "natural" products - nicotene is "natural" but very harmful, and there are many other examples like this. As for me - I'd rather use something that has been scientifically tested over a long period and which has demonstrable efficacy - especially when it comes to malaria prevention !

I took Larium in 96 and had very few side effects so my husband and I wanted to take some for our trip to Kruger in march 03. We had to pay 120 euros per person (more or less 800 R) so we decided not to buy it.
We really thought about it last december as we were going to places like Kosi Bay and Kruger but we couldn't afford it. Just used lots and lots of Tabard, my husband had an excuse to drink a lot of gin and tonic, got the phone number of a specialised doctor in France for our return (just in case) and everything went fine. Not even a single mosquito bite in 2 weeks time. I hope going back to Kruger with my daughter next time and that will be another problem.
At what age can one give preventive tablets to a child ?

Had a quick look on internet at this stuff. Is this the 'plant' being used now in malaria prevention by medical science? I have heard somewhere that a plant used for ages by the locals in the area has now been found to be good in malaria prevention or treatment but can't remember facts.... and did not see reference to that on inet. Anyone who can clear this up for me?

On a related issue - if you have epilepsy, be careful about taking any malaria medication without first discussing this with your doctor. Certain medication may enhance your chances of having a fit, and this is certainly something you do not want to do.

Hello Elena!

There is a special medication of Malarone for kids.
Just ask your doctor.As Malarone has less side effects as Larium you might choose this for your daughter.

katy

A few years ago five members of my family went up to our timeshare outside Kruger for a week and we took malaria pills (think it was Malarone). Every day after taking the pills I felt slightly sick but it went away after a few hours. On our second day in the park (while driving around and far from the gate) I started feeling worse. I could not eat much lunch and my two o clock I was feeding the animals. I hurt all over and felt terrible. I tell you, I would have paid huge money for someone to airlift me out of the park that day. That evening my mother started feeling ill as well. We all stopped taking the pills but unfortunately my mother and I did not enjoy our trip. It took me over three weeks to recover. We do not take medication anymore but keep ourselves covered in insect repellents. We also burn candles etc and cover ourself in the evenings and mornings.
I think everyone must try the medication but for those that have reactions, it is easier and more pleasant just to be very careful.

What are your opinions on taking the tabs after April (the wet season). We are going in May (2nd week) and I really would like to give them a miss, but for some reason mozzies love to chomp me...so am I taking a risk?

We don't take any tablets because we are fortunate enough to visit the park every 6 weeks and we would be on them fulltime. We know the risk and we take every other precaution we can. We cover up in the evening, use sprays, burn candles, etc. etc.
If we developed flu symptoms we would be straight to the doctors and ask for a malaria test. My doctor know's I'm obsessed with the park (he is too ) and even told me that the tablets can hide the true symptoms.
I think it's up to the individual whether you are prepared to take the risk or not, I certainly wouldn't take the risk with children.

A little progress was made fighting this disease:

The whole article.

My wife had falciparum in 2003. She recovered well. Glad to c that scientists are working more and more on this illness that together with aids kills more people every day!

You are in: Health24 : News : Malaria, Cholera, Parasites

A herb that treats malaria
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
A drug derived from a Chinese herb has proven "strikingly" effective in treating drug-resistant malaria, according to The New York Times.
Artemisinin, which contains the active ingredient in the herb qinghaosu (sweet wormwood), is rapidly replacing quinine derivatives and other drugs to which the disease is becoming resistant, the newspaper said.


Advertisement
In use since the 60s
Chinese military researchers began studying and using the drug in the mid-1960s, and it cut the death rate by 97 percent during an early 1990s epidemic in Vietnam, according to the Times.

Until recently, world health authorities, charities like UNICEF, and big donors like the United States and Britain opposed the drug's use, saying its effects were unproven and it was too expensive. But all are now embracing the drug, the newspaper said.

The World Health Organisation and others are now moving to acquire supplies; WHO estimates 100 million doses will be needed by 2005, the Times reported.

It is important to note, however, that conventional treatment should not be abandoned. – (HealthDayNews)

Read more:
New drug combo battles malaria
Malaria Centre

I saw a little guy (8yrs or so) in the hospital yesterday with faciparum. It broke my heart. His parents were very concerned. Our dr. also told us a bit later that he had another young kid in another hospital with a serious bout of falciparum.

Falciparum is extremely dangerous!! If contracted in the brain, u r as good as a gonner. Very few people come out from that coma.

I plead to you to think twice before putting your young kids through an ordeal like that. As with my wife that little guy felt great for a couple of hours and as the parasites attack again felt absolutely miserable the next few hours. The quinine makes you extremely nausious and it is heartbreaking to try and help your kid to keep the medicine in.

A month after this ordeal you'll be left with a "swissshhhh" and no not the sound to try and call a gorgeous bush shrike, in your ears making you as good as deaf.

If you visit a malaria area once a year, take medicine. Contact your dr. He/She knows best. Don't risk it. I have seen many kids in hospital with malaria and I promise you that it is not that uncommon.