What is Malaria?
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease. This spreads through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquito. The plasmodium parasite causing the infection is not a virus or bacterium it is a single-celled parasite that breeds quickly. When infected Anopheles mosquito bites any human being the saliva gets mixed in human blood and reaches the liver.
The parasites mature and reproduce in the liver and cause fever and other symptoms. Usually, the symptoms arrive after 10-15 days and it can reoccur if not treated properly for the first time.
In the case of people surviving infection reoccurrence of infection produces milder symptoms. If this infection is allowed to stay it can become life-threatening on aggravation.
Home remedies for malaria have been used since the old times. These are even today reliable and effective ways to get rid of symptoms and infection.
Malaria can cause complications. It can cause respiratory distress which occurs in nearly 25% of adults and 40% of children affected by severe malaria.
Renal failure and severe anemia are other complications caused by malaria. Liver dysfunction due to malaria is rare but it can occur in many cases.
People with conditions like viral hepatitis or chronic liver disease are at high risk of liver dysfunction due to malaria parasite.
The symptoms can reoccur after a symptom-free period which can be due to reinfection or relapse. Relapse happens when active plasmodium has been eliminated from blood but it survives in a dormant form in liver cells.
This dormant plasmodium can become active after a period and resurface symptoms.
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Causes and Symptoms of Malaria
A mosquito bite is the only cause of malaria. It can also spread from one person to another through a blood transfusion when infected blood gets transmitted to a healthy person.
When female Anopheles bites any human being or animal that has already been infected by malaria it sucks up the infected blood.
This blood contains male and female categories of a parasite that reach the guts of Anopheles and mate.
After reproduction, these produce single-celled parasite which can reproduce asexually in a proper medium. Human blood is the most suitable medium for a parasite to survive.
During a bite by an infected mosquito, this parasite is transmitted into human blood through saliva and it reaches the liver. It takes place in liver cells and begins reproduction asexually.
From the liver, it again gets transmitted to human blood in red blood cells and spreads all over the body.
Malaria is one of the oldest diseases that have stayed with human beings. It has even altered human genes. People with sickle cell anemia are less likely to suffer from malaria due to gene-alteration done by infection of plasmodium.
The symptoms of malaria appear after 10-15 days. These can vary a bit depending upon the type of parasite ingested in blood. Broadly four types of parasites can cause malaria in humans.
Out of this four P. Falciparum is the most dangerous as it can cause death within weeks. Home remedies for malaria are easy to use and effective in controlling the infection.
These help in expelling dangerous parasites completely out of blood and liver cells.
Common symptoms of malaria include high fever, chills and sweats, headaches, poor appetite, abdominal pain, and muscle aches. It can cause low blood pressure and dizziness when standing from a lying position.
Sometimes it also causes diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. People infected with P Falciparum plasmodium see symptoms like anemia, extreme tiredness, convulsions, delirium, coma, and kidney failure.
This parasite also causes serious condition pulmonary edema to cause fluid build-up in the lungs.
Home Remedies for Malaria
There are quite a few home remedies for malaria which can control the parasite and relieve the symptoms.
Lemon Juice
In the case of high fever drinking, lemon juice is one of the trusted home remedies for malaria. Add the juice of one lemon to a lukewarm glass of water and drink.
2-3 glasses in the day to bring down fever and control sweating and abdominal pain to gain relief.
Grapefruit Juice
Grapefruit juice contains quinine like substance which kills parasite present in blood and liver and treats the infection.
Raw grapefruit juice also supplies this substance and 2-3 glasses in a day work useful home remedies for malaria.
For faster effects boil 250 grams of grapefruit with a sufficient amount of water for a few minutes.
Later when it has cooled down, strain and remove pulp and drink the juice 2-3 times in the day. After boiling, grapefruit becomes even more effective.
Holy Basil leaves
Holy basil leaves are trusted natural treatment for malaria and numerous other problems. Extract some juice of holy basil by crushing a handful of leaves, add a pinch of black pepper and consume 3 times in a day after regular intervals.
It is one of the most effective natural home remedies for malaria at initial stages and expels infection before it aggravates and causes troubling symptoms.
Cinnamon Powder, Pepper, and Honey
Cinnamon powder, pepper, and honey too are reliable home remedies for malaria. Boil one teaspoon of cinnamon powder with a glass of water, after it has become warm add a pinch of black pepper powder and 1-2 teaspoons of honey.
Drink this twice in a day regularly. It suppresses symptoms and also eliminates the parasitic infection.
Cinnamon, Cloves, and Chirayta
Take one glass of water and add two crushed cloves and a stick of cinnamon. Chirayta is a famous herb that is easily available to add 15 grams of chirayta herb to the mixture.
Boil the mixture for few minutes and leave to cool down. Consume two teaspoons of this mixture a few times in the day regularly to beat off malaria. This is a highly effective natural treatment for malaria.
Fever Nuts Seeds
Fever nuts seeds are old and widely trusted natural treatment for malaria. Take 6 grams of fever nuts seeds and boil with a cup of water. Allow it to become warm and drink after straining.
Repeat one more time during the day. It will bring down fever and help in eliminating infection completely.
Dhatura and Jiggery
Dhatura is intoxicating but in small quantities, it is a natural treatment for malaria. Take 21/4 leaves of dhatura and rub with jaggery. Form small pills of equal size and consume three times a day after regular intervals.
It will prevent fever and clear the parasite from the body in a couple of days.
Fenugreek Seeds
Fenugreek seeds too are efficient home remedies for malaria. A few cups of fenugreek seeds tea are good for clearing infection from blood and liver.
Add one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds to a cup of boiling water and leave it to become warm. Strain and drink and continue until symptoms subside completely.
Apply cold compresses to bring down a high fever. Soak a cotton towel in cold water and wring to flush excess water out. Spread it overhead covering the forehead as well and relax.
Keep changing till fever goes away to protect health from side effects of high body temperature.
Diet for Malaria Patients
Diet for malaria patients needs to be healthy and nourishing but light. It shall also contain nutrition which helps in recovering from weakness quickly.
A suggestive plan for daily diet for malaria is as follows. Give a glass of lemon juice with lukewarm water added with honey in the morning. In breakfast, a bowl of fruits with a glass of milk can be given.
Steamed veggies and one or two tortillas of wholegrain along with buttermilk is the ideal diet for malaria in lunch. Give a glass of fruit juice or a cup of veggie soup in the evening.
Vegetable salad, sprouts, tortillas, and soup can be included in dinner as a diet for malaria.
When a patient is suffering from high fever orange juice or grapefruit juice is the ideal diet. Allow the patient to eat as per his hunger and desire.
When fever becomes a recurrent major portion of the patient’s diet shall be of fruits particularly apples, papaya, orange, grapefruit, mangoes, etc.
Avoid caffeinated drinks, alcohol, beverages, tea, coffee, white flour, cake, pastries, etc. Also avoid pickles, spices, meat, sauces, and other condiments.
Malaria Treatment and Prevention
Medically there is no prevention of malaria. Malaria cannot be prevented through any vaccine or medicine.
Areas having a high density of human population, high density of anopheles mosquito and high rate of transmission of infection from anopheles to humans and vice versa allow malaria to grow disproportionately in the region.
If any of these conditions can be eliminated the activity of parasite can be controlled in the region.
For prevention of malaria protection from mosquito bites is the best way. This can be achieved either by staying away from areas where the possibility of the presence of anopheles mosquito is higher or by staying protected from the reach of this mosquito.
Anti-mosquito creams or mosquito repellent cakes and coils shall be used to stay protected and for effective prevention of malaria.
While going out particularly in green areas cover the body as much as possible. Avoid wearing shorts or short sleeved shirts and apply mosquito repellent creams overexposed areas.
Nets are also good ways to stay protected from mosquito bites. Keep the surroundings clean to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. Do not let the water log in any area around the house or inside the house.
Mosquitoes can breed quickly in green and moist areas and few of them can be anopheles. There are medicines available that can be used as a protective remedy for the prevention of malaria.
These are very useful for people traveling in an area containing malaria parasites and mosquitoes in abundance.
These are administered a couple of weeks before the journey and till four weeks after leaving the place. These shall be taken only after the advice of medical practitioners to avoid allergies and other side effects.
The use of these medicines can even develop partial resistance from the parasite.
Malaria can be transferred from infected pregnant mother to child therefore pregnant women shall avoid visiting places which may have malaria parasite or stay very well protected. Prevention of malaria is possible only through protection.
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