Malaria

Most tropical and subtropical areas in the world have mosquitoes that can carry the single-celled Plasmodium parasite that causes Malaria. It is one of the most common and deadly diseases for mankind. There are between 300 and 500 million people infected with this disease and 1-2 million deaths annually as a result of Malaria.

The cycle of Malarial infection begins when a female mosquito bites a person with Malaria. The mosquito ingests the blood that contains the Malarial parasite. Once inside the mosquito the parasite reproduces and multiplies. When the mosquito bites another person the parasite is injected into the body. Once inside the parasite migrates to the liver where it multiplies again. Typically the parasite reaches maturity in 1 to 3 weeks where it migrates to the red blood cells, eventually causing the red blood cells to rupture.

Once the cells rupture the parasites are released and suddenly the person develops chiil and fever. The reproduction cycle and rupture are specific for each form of the parasite. Plasmodium Vivas has a 48 hour interval of fever. Plasmosium Ovale has a 72 hour interval of fever. Plasmodium Falciparum also has a 48 hour cycle but is less periodic. If the persons immune system is strong there may be no noticeable symptoms. Sometimes it may take up to a year after infection before the symptoms develop.

The most common symptoms are intermittent fever often as high as 104 deg. fahr. The fever usually lasts 2-4 hours and then abates. Only to come back in 48 or 72 hours later. Chills, headache, drowsiness, delirium, confusion and convulsions can occur. If left untreated coma and death may occur.

Blood samples may be used for positive diagnosis but must be drawn when the fever is active and the parasite is in the blood stream. Often simple observation and a history of tropical exposure are the defining clues to diagnosis.

Prevention of the spread of Malaria is by spraying infected areas with DEET to kill the mosquito population. Protecting the skin and using DEET on the skin and Permethrin on clothing as a repellant is useful. There are some drugs used to prevent malaria when a person is known to enter an infected area, but vaccination is not available at this time.

Chloroquine is the drug used to prevent and treat most Malarial infections. The active ingredient is Quinine a derivative of the Chinquona bark. In drug resistant strains of Malaria Doxyclycline is often added to the drug regimine.

Because symptoms of Malaria are fairly easy to identify we have a number of Homeopathic medicines that can help. Naturally China Officinalis would be a leader because of its source being the Chinquona bark. China is specific in intermittent fever. Fevers that are paroxysmal and have definite cycles of chill, heat, sweat or chill thirst, heat, thirst are indicative of China. Profuse sweating and sweating from least exertion are keynote symptoms as well. Weakness and worse from least motion are typical. Anemia and loss of vital fluids. China affects the blood. The liver and spleen may be enlarged and tender. Mentally very sensitive. Disposition to hurt others feelings. Ideas crowd the mind at night, building "castles in the air". Sensitive to light, noise, odors, pain. Indifferent and sad. Does not want to live but lacks courage for suicide.

Rubrics that are useful from the Complete 2010 Repertory are listed below;

• Fever, heat; INTERMITTENT, chronic, ague, malarial (294) : abies-n., 2absin., 4ACON., 2acor-c., aesc., agar., agki-p., ail., alst-c., alst-s., 4ALUM., am-c., 3Am-m., 3Am-pic., anac., ander., androg-p., 4ANG., 2ant-c., ant-o., 4ANT-T., anth., 4APIS, apoc., 4ARAN., 3Arg-n., arist-cl., 4ARN., 4ARS., ars-br., 3Ars-i., ars-s-f., ars-s-r., arum-t., asaf., asar., 2asc-t., aur., aza., baj., bapt., bar-c., 4BELL., benz-ac., blum-o., 3Bol., bol-lu., 3Bov., bruc., 3Bry., bufo, 3Buni-o., buth-aust., 3Cact., caesal., calad., 4CALC., 3Calc-ar., 3Calc-p., calc-s., calli., calo., camph., camph-br., canch., cann-s., 3Canth., 4CAPS., 3Carb-ac., carb-an., 3Carb-v., 2card-b., caust., 3Cean., 3Cedr., cent., ceph., 2cham., chel., chelo., chim., 4CHIN., 3Chin-ar., chin-b., 3Chin-m., 4CHIN-S., 4CHININ., chion., cic., 3Cimic., 3Cimx., 3Cina, cist., citl-l., clem., coc-c., 3Cocc., coff., colch., coloc., 4CON., corn., 3Corn-f., croc., crot-h., cupr., cur., 3Cycl., desm-g., 2dict., 3Dig., dor., dros., dulc., 3Echi., elaps, 3Elat., 3Eucal., euon-a., 2eup-c., 3Eup-per., 3Eup-pur., euphr., fago., 4FERR., ferr-ar., 3Ferr-i., ferr-m., ferr-p., fl-ac., 2fum., gamb., gels., 3Gent-l., gent-q., 2geum, gins., 2glech., 3Graph., 2grin., guare., 4HELIA., hell., helo., 3Hep., 2hydr., 3Hyos., 3Ign., ilx-a., 3Iod., 4IP., 3Iris, kali-ar., kali-bi., 3Kali-c., kali-i., kali-m., kali-n., kali-p., 4KALI-S., lac-c., 2lac-d., 4LACH., lachn., lap-gr-m., laur., led., 3Lepro., lept., leuc-a., lil-t., lob., lsd, luf-b., 4LYC., lyss., mag-c., mag-m., mag-p., maland., malar., mangi., 3Meny., merc., merc-s., merc-v., methyl., 2mez., 2mill., morph., mosch., mur-ac., naja, nat-c., 4NAT-M., nat-p., 4NAT-S., nicc., 4NIT-AC., 3Nux-m., 4NUX-V., 3Nyct., oci., oci-s., ol-j., old-h., 3Op., ost., par., 4PARTH., 3Petr., 4PETROS., 3Ph-ac., phel., phlor., 3Phos., phyll-a., phyt., 4PLAN., plat., plb., plect., podo., polyg-a., polyp-p., 3Pop., prun-c., 4PSOR., ptel., 3Puls., 2pyre-p., 4PYROG., quas., querc., querc-r., ran-b., ran-s., rham-p., rheum, rhod., 4RHUS-T., 3Sabad., sabin., 2sac-alb., 3Samb., sang., sanic., 3Sars., sec., sed-ac., sel., senec., 4SEP., 3Sil., sin-a., 3Sin-n., sol-n., 3Spig., spong., 3Stann., 3Staph., still., stram., sul-ac., 4SULPH., swer-ch., 2sym-r., 3Tarax., 4TARENT., 3Tarent-c., 3Tela, tell., teucr., thal., ther., 3Thuj., tinos., trib., trich-d., 4TUB., 2ulm., urine, 4URT-U., ust., vacc-m., valer., 4VERAT., 3Verat-v., verb., verbe-h., 3Vichy-g., vip., xanth., zinc.

• Fever, heat; INTERMITTENT, chronic, ague, malarial; inveterate, long continued cases (23) : abies-n., am-m., apis, aran., 3Ars., ars-br., calc-ar., canch., carb-v., corn., corn-f., 3Helia., ign., ip., lyc., 3Nat-m., nux-v., 3Puls., pyrog., querc., sep., sulph., tela

• Fever, heat; INTERMITTENT, chronic, ague, malarial; quinine, after abuse of (27) : alst-s., am-m., apis, aran., arn., 4ARS., ars-i., 3Calc-ar., carb-ac., carb-v., cean., chelo., chin., 3Chin-ar., eucal., eup-per., ferr., 3Hydr., 3Ip., 3Lach., maland., malar., 3Nat-m., puls., sep., sulph., verat.

• Fever, heat; INTERMITTENT, chronic, ague, malarial; pernicious cases, dangerous (12) : ant-t., apis, arn., 3Ars., camph., chin-b., 3Chin-s., crot-h., cur., nux-v., op., 4VERAT.

• Fever, heat; INTERMITTENT, chronic, ague, malarial; prolonged (12) : 4ANT-T., aran., cact., canth., carb-v., colch., 3Ferr., hep., ip., sec., sil., 3Tarent.

• Fever, heat; INTERMITTENT, chronic, ague, malarial; suppressed (32) : apoc., 3Arn., 3Ars., 3Bell., 4CALC., 3Carb-v., chim., chin., 3Chin-s., 3Cina, dulc., elat., eup-per., 3Ferr., ferr-m., hell., 3Hep., 3Ip., kali-c., 3Lac-d., 3Lach., lyc., 3Merc., nat-m., 3Nux-v., phos., 4PULS., rhus-t., sac-alb., sep., sol-n., 3Sulph.

• Fever, heat; INTERMITTENT, chronic, ague, malarial; stages; partial, irregular (12) : aran., 3Ars., cact., 3Carb-v., eup-per., eup-pur., 3Ip., nat-m., nux-v., psor., puls., sep.

• Fever, heat; INTERMITTENT, chronic, ague, malarial; stages; regular, well defined (2) : chin., 3Chin-s.

• Generalities; MALARIA, ague, ailments from (58) : alst-s., am-c., apoc., 2arn., 3Ars., bell., 3Calc., carb-ac., carb-v., 2cean., cedr., chim., 3Chin., 3Chin-s., 2chion., 3Cina, 3Con., 2cory., dulc., elat., eup-a., 2eup-per., 3Ferr., ferr-m., gels., hell., 2hep., 3Hyos., ign., ip., kali-c., kali-i., 3Lac-d., 2lach., lyc., malar., 2merc., nat-c., 3Nat-m., 2nux-v., ost., phos., plan., polyp-p., psor., 3Puls., rhus-t., rob., sac-alb., 3Sang., 2sep., sol-n., 3Sulph., tarax., ter., 3Tub., verbe-h., vichy-g.

There are many more rubrics that may help find a remedy; too numerous to list here. It is imperative to receive the case and look for what makes this case of Malaria unique. All of the guidelines for proper case understanding apply still. Remedies in addition to China that may be useful include:

• Arsenicum Album - Restlessness and Thirst for small quatities often. High fever and chills. Old cases that fail to resolve. Morning aggravation between 1 and 2am.
• China Sulphuricum - "Black water fever" the worst variant of Malaria. After abuse of quinine or Malarial fever that has been suppressed. Great debility. Rash on body followed by great itching, stinging and desquamation. Extreme periodicity. Attacks return at the same time each day. Sinking sensation. Felt like he was going to die. Sleepless and over sensitive to external stimulation. Ringing , buzzing or roaring in the ears.
• Arnica - General bodily aches and pains from fever. Can not get comfortable. The bed feels too hard. After traveling.
• Belladonna - After suppressed Malaria. High fever with delirium. Desires lemonade when thirsty but generally not thirsty during the heat. Hot head and cold limbs. Acuteness of all senses. Photo-phobia during fever.
• Ipecacuanha - Irregular cases of Malaria after suppression by quinine.Nausea with fever. Chill alternating with heat. Short chill and long heat. Heat without thirst.
• Carbo Vegetablis - Desires fresh air during the fever. Wants to be fanned. Chills begin in the arms. Icy coldness. Coldness with thirst. Warm head and cold limbs. Hectic fever and exhausting sweats.
• Nux vomica - Chilly at every stage of the fever. Must be covered. Burning hot, especially the face, when covered but chilly as soon as uncovered. Chill with thirst and heat without thirst. Paroxysm of fever in the morning. Irritable, sensitive. Impatient and angry. Can not bear odors, noise or light. Nausea with fever. Angry when consoled.
• Aranea Diadema - Coldness with pain in the long bones. Chronic Malaria. Chilly day and night. Worse during rain. No sweat. Symptoms return at the same hour.
• Eupatorium Perfoliatum - Pain in the bones as if broken with fever. Pain before the commencement of the chill. Sweat relieves all symptoms except the headache. Thirst precedes the fever. Fever commences in the morning. Great weakness and prostration.

These are only a few of the more common remedies. As with any case of disease the case must be received and symptoms evaluated. Always look for what is unusual. This will be the best guide to the remedy. When treating Malaria it is always good to give the remedy more often during the paroxysm. The 30C and 200C potencies often work best. In old or very acute cases it may be necessary to go to an even higher potency. With so many people in the world infected with Malaria homeopathy can come to the rescue.

Please share your experiences and any tips you may have regarding Malaria. Others may benefit greatly.