Malaria

Malaria is one of the most common diseases that occurs especially in the tropical and subtropical regions. It is caused by protozoan parasites that are transferred via a bite from an infected female mosquito. The 3 types of malaria are tertian fever, quartan fever, and malignant tertian malaria.

Symptoms
Most common symptoms for all types of malaria is high fever. It may occur everyday, every other day, or on every fourth day of contracting the disease. It is also accompanied by headache, chills, limb pain, and shivering. The temperature may drop after excessive perspiration.

Further complications leads to anemia, dysentery and kidney malfunctions.

Causes
Malaria is caused a certain breed of mosquito that inhabits in stagnant and contaminated water. When a female anopheles mosquito bit a person, a small quantity of blood was drawn containing plasmodium parasites. These parasites underwent through several stages of growth inside the female mosquito’s body before finding their way to its salivary glands. The plasmodium parasite propagates is then transferred and propagates in the liver of an infected person that is bitten by the infected mosquito for a few days. It then enters the bloodstream where it infects and invades the red blood cells.

Naturopathy however, points that real cause of malaria to faulty lifestyle and dietary errors that results in the accumulation of toxic matter in the system.

Liberal consumption of flesh, denatured and tinned foods, and drinking alcoholic beverages lowers one’s vitality and makes the patient prone to contracting malaria.

Home Remedies
Grapefruits: Grapefruit contains quinine-like substance that is vital to the treatment of malaria. Boil a quarter of grapefruit then strain its pulp. Drink the extracted grapefruit juice daily.

Fever nut: Take 6 gm of fever nut seeds with 1 cup of water 2 hours before feeling spasms because of fever. Give a second dose 1 hour after the attack. Fever nut seeds can be obtained from a herbal store. Store unused seeds in a phial for future use.
Datura: Rub 2 ½ freshly sprouted datura leaves in a jaggery to make a pill. Take it 2 hours after the onset of paroxysm.

Cinnamon: Powder 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and boil it in a glass of water. Add a pinch of pepper powder and honey.

Chirayata: Soak 15 gm of chirayata in 250 ml of hot water. Add cloves and cinnamon for fragrance. Take 15-30 ml of this infusion to lower the temperature and cure sporadic fevers.

Lime and lemon: Dissolve 3 gm of lime in 60 ml water. Add lemon juice. Take before the onset of fever.

Alum: Roast a handful of alum and powder it. Take ½ teaspoon 4 hours before the estimated attack and ½ teaspoon more every 2 hours after it.

Holy basil: Mix 11 gm of juice extracted from holy basil leaves, and 3 gm of black pepper powder. Take during the cold stage of the malarial fever everyday to check the severity of the condition.

Diets
Take an exclusive orange juice and water diet for a few days depending on the severity of the condition. Follow with an exclusive fresh fruit diet. Milk can be added if preferred.

Afterwards, eat plenty of natural foods especially fresh fruits and raw vegetables.

Other Suggestions
Administer a warm water enema daily while undergoing the juice and water diet.

Apply a cold pack all over the body to naturally reduce the temperature during the course of fever. Soak a large piece of linen cloth in cold water. Squeeze the remaining water and wrap around 2 layers of it tightly around the body and legs of the patient. Cover completely with a small blanket or anything that could keep them warm. Leave for 1 hour and re-apply every 3 hours. Place hot water bottles on the feet and against the body.

Protect oneself from malaria and mosquito bites by cleaning the environment and making sure there is no stagnant water around.