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Malaria is a common diseases mainly found in the tropical and subtropical parts. It is mostly caused because of protozoan parasites of the species
Plasmodium. Common symptoms of malaria are high fever come with chills,
headache and trembling. Malaria can also result in other problems, like kidney
failure, anaemia and dysentery.
History of Malaria is as old as Mankind. Over time, malaria spread from
Africa along travel/shipping routes to Europe, India, China and Indonesia 1. It is
an amazing fact that Malaria was considered as a Deity, in Greek mythology,
who lives in marshes. Around 500 BC , the father of medicine in Greece ,
Hippocrates throw light on the root cause of Malaria that the stagnant water is
the very reason for the birth of mosquito . He wrote "Those who drink [stagnant
water] have always large, stiff spleens and hard, thin, hot stomachs, while their
shoulders, collarbones, and faces are emaciated; the fact is that their flesh
dissolves to feed the spleen..." 2
In Hinduism, God of Death is Lord Shiva; Malaria might be his weapon
for apocalypto. Vedic literature and Brahmanical Literatures describe many
fevers akin to Malaria. Dhanvantari, the Doctor of Deities in Hindu mythology
mentions Malaria fever and its symptoms. He wrote, "Their bite is as painful
as that of the serpents, and causes diseases... [The wound] as if burnt with
1 Cheston B. Cunhaa & Burke A. Cunhab , (2008) , Brief History of the Clinical Diagnosis of
2 Lehrer , (1979), Steven Explorer of the body, New York: I Universe.inc, page
232
caustic or fire, is red, yellow, white, and pink colour, accompanied by fever,
pain of limbs, hair standing on end, pains, vomiting, diarrhoea, thirst, heat,
giddiness, yawning, shivering, hiccups, burning sensation, intense cold..." 3
Charaka Samhita in 300 BC and Shusrut Samhita in 100 BC describes the
symptomps and Ayurvedic treatment of Malaria. The Charaka Samhita classifies
the fevers into five different categories, namely continuous fevers (samatah),
remittent fevers (satatah), quotidian fevers (anyedyuskah), tertian fevers
(trtiyakah) and quartan fevers (caturthakah) and Susruta Samhita even
associated fevers with the bites of the insects.4
In Ancient India there were innumerable Herbs and plant which were
being used in treatment of Malaria. 1277 plant species from 160 families used to
treat malaria.5 Ayurveda mentions numerous herbs and plants which were used
in treatment of fever. Ayurveda has identified Malaria fever since hundreds of
thousands years before and founded the foolproof treatment of this diseases,
conditions and its syndromes. Ayurveda termed it as VISHAMA JWAR 6 which
has classified according to their symptoms and natures. Madhava Nidana is the
classic book of Ayurveda which describes all kinds of fever in detail.
3 Lehrer , (1979), Steven Explorer of the body, New York: I Universe.inc, page
251
4 RMRC News Bulletin, (2007) ,Vol-7, No-1, (Jan-June)
5 Online Web , accessed at 13 July 2014, URL: BMJ 2004; 329 doi:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7475.1156 (Published 11 November 2004)Cite this
as: BMJ 2004;329:1156
Susrut Samhita Chapter 39 ,[Online Web] accessed
at 16 July 2014 ,URL :
http://archive.org/stream/SushrutaSamhitaVolumeIii/SushrutSamhitaTritiyaKhanda1_djvu.txt
6
at
13
July
2014,
URL:
8 There are three Doshas or in capabilities in human according to Ayurveda and that is VATA, PITTA,
KAFA,
9 Ayurveda classifies 7 elements of the body. These are Rasa, Rakta, Mansa, Majja, Asthi, Meda,
Shukra,
10 Mala are the substances or waste matter to be thrown out of the body. They are actually by
products formed as a result of various physiological activities going on in the body. Purish (stool),
Mutra (urine) and Sweda (sweat) are considered as main excretory product of the body.
Guruchi Ghanstava Vati, Amritrista. These medicines are totally safe and have
no side effects.
Use of herbal plants in the treatment of malaria
Apart from the pharmacological treatment, various options are being
used since ancient timesfor many health ailments. Nearly 80 % of the global
population still depends upon the herbal
since
ancient
times.
effectiveness,
cultural
preferences,
The
medicinal
plants
is
currently transmitted
from generation
Botanical Name
Indian
NO.
1
Clerodendrum
Common Name
Viti , Bhat Pata
viscosum Vent
Family
Lamiacieae
Route,
Flowers.
12 Bahekar, , Satish and Kale, Ranjana, Herbal Plants Used For the Treatment of MalariaJournal of
Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 1, (6), 123-149.
2
3
Duranta Repens
Laltana Camara L
Kata- Mehandi
Shefali
Leaf
Leaf
Verbenaceae
and Verbenaceae
Bark
Decoction
4
Zanthoxylum
Tsihanihimposa
A
tsihanimposa Bak
Rutaceae
decoction
of the leaf
and bark
Nymphaea lotus
A
Voahirana or
decoction
Rutaceae
retsimilana
of the leaf
and bark
6
Bridelia
micrantha
Mshamako
Root
(Hochst.) Baill
decoction
Senna occidentalis
Root
Omwetanjoka
Euphorbiacea
Fabaceae
Rauwolfia
serpentina Sharpgandha
Benth
Ocimum sanctum Linn
10
Root
Apocynaceae
Tulsi
Plant
Apocynaceae
Nimbima
Extract
Plant
Asteraceae
Cryptolepis
11
Extract
Sanguinolenta
Artemisia annua
sweet wormwood
aqueous
extract
Hydrangeacea
e
12
A.amazonicus Ducke[
Indian Beer
Ground
Root
Apocynaceae
and
13
Cymbogon citratus[
Lemon Grass
Leaves
Vapours of Lamiaceae
a decoction
14
Coula edulis
Walnut
15
16
Vernonia amygdalina[
Tamarindus indica
Bitter leaf
Tamarind
Stem Bark
Root
Asteraceae
Fabaceae
Lindl
17
Azadirachtaindica
Root,
Meliaceae
A. Neem
Juss
Stems,
Bark,
18
Leaves
Moraceae
Fruit
Burret
Beside all these Herbs some more Useful Herbs which contains anti Malarial
properties are -
14
Means the home with Tulsi is like a pilgrimage where no grievances and
sickness can enter into.
One more modern Research throws its light on anti Malarial properties of Tulsi
essence. In nut shell the conclusion is Tulsi leaves can kill the Malarial
Parasites 15.
Neem- Ancient Health wisdom knows that the area surrounded by Neem Tree
remains free from Malarial parasites.
Cow- Cow can prevent Malaria; the cow dong has some properties which
prevent malarial parasites. 16 A perfume for cows that will make them smell like
humans is the next frontier in the fight against malaria.
According to The Times in London, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has
already
donated
$100,000
(Sh8.7
million)
for
development
of
the
perfume meant to confuse mosquitoes and help prevent the spread of malaria, a
disease that kills a child every minute.
A Californian company, ISCA Technologies, which specialises in producing
chemicals to lure insects, invented the bovine perfume. The backers of the
project believe that by making cattle smell like humans, mosquitoes will be
duped into biting cows instead of human beings.
Cows will be treated with an insecticide that kills mosquitoes that attempt
to feast on them. However, the cows that are bitten will not contract human
malaria. This project
will
work to divert
disease-carrying insects
like mosquitoes from people to animals that have been pre-treated to resist
15 Bahekar, , Satish and Kale, Ranjana, Herbal Plants Used For the Treatment of MalariaJournal of
Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 1, (6), 123-149.
complimentary Yoga. Mudra works basically on Panch Tatwa of the body and
Prana (Vital Force). Five fingers of mans hand represent five elements (panch
tatwa) Mudra science suppose that any disease effects the human body due to
imbalance in natural setup of the 5 elements and prana. So Mudra creates
Balance in those
essential elements.
PRANA MUDRA
APANA MUDRA
In Malaria , Prana Mudra and Apana Mudra are very useful. Prana Mudra
activated the immunity of the Body whereas Apana Mudra eradicates the
foreign empurities and this way Mudra is useful in treatment of the Malaria. 18
These are the ways through which Ancient Indian wisdom were trying to cope
against Malaria to which modern Medical Science approves.
18 Saraswati, Satyananda (1997). Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha. Munger, Bihar India: Bihar
Yoga Bharti. p. 422.
References
Bahekar, , Satish and Kale, Ranjana, Herbal Plants Used For the Treatment
of MalariaJournal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 1, (6),
Cheston B. Cunhaa & Burke A. Cunhab , (2008) , Brief History of the Clinical
Diagnosis of Malaria: from Hippocrates to Osler