Malaria

Nick-H

I both agree and disagree!

It is quite conceivable that science has not noticed, or taken seriously, some herbal answer to the problem. Artemesia is the new kid to western medicine; the Chinese have been using it for several thousand years.

I do think that that the mind of western medicine, so long closed to herbal medicine, and in denial of the herbal origin of a huge percentage of its pharmaceutical war chest, has been opening in recent decades. The pharmaceutical industry itself, of course, is ever seeking fresh patents.

Yet, in this instance, I do agree. If neem worked, on a mass basis, it would be on the shelves making profit by now.

The minds of the repellent testers do seem to be fairly open. There was anecdotal evidence, some time back, of some Avon shower soap having a repellent effect (before they marketed a repellent), and it was duly tested, and found to have a very slight effect. Less toxic than what? DEET? DEET has been shown, over decades of use by millions of people, to be hardly toxic at all. The last time we discussed this on this site, someone dug up an instance of it killing someone: they had drunk a bottle of it!

I wonder how many essential oils have been as extensively tested in such a way? There is no more reason to suppose DEET to be harmful than there is to suppose that neem oil is safe.

Sama

sorry to get personal but you did not get a yeast infection with using doxy for so long?

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MY INDIA, 2005-2008
"Once you have felt the Indian dust, you will never be free of it." (Rumer Godden, 1975)

camelgirl

I don't think it's toxic when used according to directions. Please pass the glass of deet I completely agree, this whole notion of "natural" being better is hogwash! People die regularly ingesting "natural" stuff like jimsom weed & deadly nightshade--lovely plants, think I make some tea or smoke it! I carry literally 1/2 doz. different kinds of deet products when I travel (all different strengths)!

I was just quoting the article above:

Newer agents, like picaridin and natural products such as oil of lemon eucalyptus are becoming increasingly popular because of their low toxicity, comparable efficacy, and customer approval.

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Nick-H

Ahh, right.

What they should probably have said is, "perceived low toxicity".

Sama

as for using essential oils, it's what works for you personally, so I guess that's called anecdotal evidence. if someone has a recipe for essential oils to keep mosquitoes at bay and it works for them, more power to 'em. the wrong amount of essential oils can burn your skin so there are drawbacks to "natural" solutions.

as for using "natural" remedies, I really don't think the Amazonian or Native American shamans bothered with western scientific research -- they discovered what worked by trial and error. eat too much of a plant and it kills you or take just enough and it cures an upset stomach or headache. too much valerian root (the basis of valium) can put you to sleep so you don't wake up.

I don't see that much of difference with what Big Pharma does in determining how much to take of whatever drug! it's trial and error in the lab instead of out in the field. western scientists/researchers/doctors thought DDT and thalidomide were safe, too.

I'm the middle path -- "natural" remedies or solutions can complement western ones. too much of one over the other does not strike a balance.

edwardseco

Not me obviously but someone of the female persuasion I know didn't. I know another fine person (correspondent) who did. Its highly differential by type of regime and by person. No easy Aspririn solutions I suppose..

Nick-H

I think this is THE point: if it works for you.

DEET works for me (most days I use it*); picaridin, another major commercial repellent, has absolutely no repellent effect at all, or at least it didn't seem to on the one holiday I tried it.

We all have our personal smells, and some things, combined with our personal smell, confuse the mossies, whereas, combined with someone else's smell, they do not.

There is one proviso to this, though, that has to be considered when people tell you that they use compound-X and never get bitten --- that is that they do get bitten, but do not notice. This is particularly common where mosquitoes are rife; people's immune systems do not react to them and the bite is just not felt.

Oh, there is another proviso too... the lucky people that mossies just do not fancy.


*actually, most days I don't bother and just get bit

Karina83

Hello guys,
I have a specific question about Malaria which is confusing me a little bit:
For a person who is going to india (Mumbai) from more than 6 months, does he/she have to take anti-malaria tablets for all that period or just at the beginning of the stay in india??
It would be sooo strong for the body to keep taking tablet's for the whole period!!!!

Your answers would be of a great help

Wishes to all!

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Kabhi alvida na Kehna

Nick-H

If you consider that you need anti-malarials for the area(s) in which you will be staying or travelling, then you need them for the whole period. They work while you are taking them; they do not give any lasting immunity or protection.

Six months is a very short period, and there is no reason that your body should have a problem with this.

Please check out my favourite source, the British National Health Service's reference on malaria, which you can download from this page -->here.

One thing that you will notice is that the British Authorities no longer recommend anti-malarials as being necessary for much of India. If relying on this, though, you must check out their site for updates. Goa, for instance, has been added as a higher-risk area, since the book was published.


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Karina83

Nick! I could not open the link of the British National Health Service! can you resend it please?

Thanks a lot for the information!

Nick-H

Woops... I forgot to add it

It is there now. Sorry.

camelgirl

Wish I was one of those people who mossies don't like As I've gotten older I seem to now get a really strong reaction to all insect bites which all swell up & itch horribly.

I read something, don't remember where, that really helps with the itching & taking down the swelling.

Take any regular aspirin tablet & wet it to make it melt and rub the mushie result onto the bite. Stops the itch really fast & seems to help it heal quicker. Yes, it's messie & looks funny but it works! And it's really cheap!

Obviously, I'm not very diligent about putting on insect repellant here at home! Just came back from hacking away invasive vines in our lovely veggie garden & needed my aspirin mush as soon as I got into the house!

Nick-H

I am never very far away from a tube of antihistamine cream.

wonderwomanusa

No -- but I'm not prone to them and haven't had one in many years. If that's something you get often, I'd avoid the doxy... or carry lots of that yucky stuff!

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The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

Sama

camelgirl, hijacking this thread again.....

my Brit friend in Arusha says:
"we long stay expats don't take anything and seem to survive."

so there ya go. to each their own.

back to malaria in India....