Homeopathic Remedies for Malaria

Malaria kills about 1–1.5 million people each year worldwide. It is a major health problem in most developing countries. It is well known that homeopathy can effectively treat several diseases. Homeopathic remedies for malaria have been used for centuries.

Treatment of malaria with homeopathy

Acute malaria responds well to homeopathic treatment. However chronic malaria, malaria with severe or life threatening complications are more difficult to treat with homeopathic remedies.

From approximately 45 homeopathic drugs used for treatment of malaria initially, currently about 113 remedies are listed for treatment of malaria. The commonly used remedies include Arsenicum album, China, Eupatoriatum perfoliatum, Natrum muriaticum, Nux vomica, Pulsatilla, Rhus toxicodendron and Sulphur.

The treatment of malaria for every patient is individualised. The homeopathic remedy is usually given after considering the symptoms such as:

• time of onset of chills and fever.
• part of the body where the chills start and extend to.
• periodicity of chills and/or fever.
• progression of stages of chill, heat and perspiration.
• thirst/thirstlessness/quantity of thirst/time of maximal aggravation.
• location  and the kind of headache.
• whether the symptoms are associated with nausea/vomiting or stool/diarrhoea.

Recently homeopathic studies have tried evaluating alternative prevention and treatments of malaria. Artemisin alkaloid is an extract of the shrub Artemisia annua. Several different plant sub-species of Artemisia (Compositae) such as Artemisia abrotanum (Abrotanum), A. maritima (Cina), A. absinthium (Absinthium) are well proven homeopathic remedies. Chinese have used Artemisia annua or "sweet Annie" for more than 2000 years as a potent tea to cure malaria and other fevers. A study on the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment as compared to chloroquine for treatment of malaria showed that homeopathy has an effect, comparable to chloroquine.

Caution with Homeopathy

Homeopathy remedies can probably effectively treat a patient with acute symptoms of malaria but inform your physician if you intend to use homeopathic remedies. Do not rely on homeopathic remedies for the prevention of malaria or treatment of severe malaria. Scientific proof on the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies in either preventing or treating malaria is limited.