Anti-malaria medication

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Permalink Reply by VOID on July 28, 2008 at 2:54pm

Isnt there a homeopathic version you can take? Im pretty sure there is. I dunno much about homeopathy. Normally I wouldnt ever recommend it, but I guess if you're scared, then you could try that. apparently fasting is good if you have been bitten. You gotta do what makes you feel safest there. I definately wouldnt want to take the Lariam personally, or probably the homeopathy either as homeopathy is invariably not vegan. But I guess you gotta look out for yourself there. Im sure the locals get along fine without drugs.

Take Care

Adam x

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Permalink Reply by Angel on July 28, 2008 at 5:56pm

Thanks, Adam. Yeah, it's a problem - don't really want to take anything but there's a nasty type of malaria out there that attacks the brain and can kill you. As a wife and mother, I feel I have a responsibility to take whatever measures I can to protect myself.... I've just heard about another drug called Malarone that you only need to take for 2 weeks, which could be the compromise I'll have to go with but the idea of it fills me with dread. I'm sure I'll react badly to any type of drug, There was a homeopathic drug recommended but there's a lot of controversy about it.
The locals do get along fine but apparently they develop a resistance over a long time from childhood (and many children die out there). I don't think 10 days will quite cover it!! I worked in the Middle East in the 80s and stopped taking anti-malarial medication because there was a scare about it causing brain damage and I decided I'd rather risk Malaria - and it wasn't the fatal sort out there (although you can die from any form of it if you're unlucky).
If I do take anything, I'll let GI2MR know how it affects a 9-year (with some exceptions!) raw foodist to help anyone else who may be faced with the same decisions.
Thanks, again.

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Permalink Reply by Erin on July 28, 2008 at 3:45pm

Hey! I did a little looking and Neem appears to be a very effective antimalarial. Neem is also an effective mosquito repellant if used externally.
http://www.info-ghana.com/malaria.htm

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Permalink Reply by Angel on July 28, 2008 at 5:45pm

Many thanks, Erin. I have done some research myself and there was a homeopathic remedy but the medical world condemned it (naturally). I shall look into Neem - don't fancy slappling DEET preparations all over my skin, so that looks like a much better alternative. I was also in a Lush shop today (don't know if you get them where you live but they sell toiletries, etc, based on herbalism and made from organic, natural vegan products) and they told me that their 'Charity Pot' (all proceeds go to charity) moisturiser contains an insect repellent so that with Neem may be useful. Will keep looking and post any info I get in case anyone else raw encounters the same dilemma!

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Permalink Reply by Angel on July 28, 2008 at 6:01pm

This neem oil is sounding good. I'm sure I've heard of it before, actually - can't remember from what though. I love essential oils too so adding some of them would be good. I plan on getting a head-net. In fact, at one point I thought a bee-keepers outfit would be the only way you'd get me out there!! Ha Ha!

Thanks, Nettle. Will let you know how I get on with it all.

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Permalink Reply by ॐ omshanti ॐ on July 28, 2008 at 6:07pm

when we went to Vietnam my partner and I took homeopathics instead of all our immunisations, including malaria. It isn't vegan but I have a history of sensitivities and allergic reactions to medication that it was my preferred option. We felt great and didn't have any problems. Homeopathy won me after I had an allergic reaction to a spider bite and it took away the effects within hours.

A lot of people we met along the way were on malaria medication and they were sick from it, made us even more glad. We also took citrus seed extract and avoided stomach bugs.

In the end it's up to you, and Vietnam probably isn't as bad as Africa for things like malaria, so you need to do what you feel is most appropriate.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Myra on December 9, 2008 at 2:45am

I am going to Vietnam in a couple of weeks too and I'm taking homepathics. What did you take the citrus seed extract for? The stomach bugs?

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Permalink Reply by Lauren on July 28, 2008 at 6:28pm

I'm going to India in two weeks and I am also taking malaria pills... I was very resistant to the whole idea, but decided i'd rather not get the disease. Blahhh

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Permalink Reply by VOID on July 29, 2008 at 5:16am

I do agree clean living is the best solution. But I guess if shes eating high fat (which we dont know) she may react differently, as it will be taxing the liver alot more (see further down). I know I asked Doug about this a few years ago as I was concerned when going to costa rica. He told me not to worry since I would be fasting anyway which would be the best thing I could do.

He told me how he had been bitten a few years back by a Tsetse fly and got really sick and had to fast for a week. I guess the cleaner you are the better really but theres no guarantees. If you're willing to and are experienced with fasting for a while, its not really so bad. But not everyone is, so they might have to make compromises and suffer the consequences.

I knew someone who was working in Zambia last year and he got malaria, but I think it set on chronically as he was home for about 3 weeks before he realised something was wrong..but he was very unhealthy. Smoked cigars, drank most evenings, ate lots of bbq'd meats...AND he had taken the malaria medication. Though he started taking it and then stopped while he was out there. His liver quadrupled in size, would have died had he not been hospitalised when he was. Obviously had there not been all that excess strain on his liver from his lifestyle, that probably wouldnt have happened.

Take care

Adam x

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Permalink Reply by Angel on July 29, 2008 at 8:45am

Thanks everyone for all your thoughts and suggestions, it's really helpful to discuss this with like-minded people.

I was initially given a list as long as my arm of all the vaccines I'd need to have but have decided (after discussion with my GP practice nurse and my brother who is a GP) just to have Hep A and Typhoid vaccination (Viatim - this was particularly recommended because I'm raw and apparently at higher risk from contaminated hands/water!!). I'll be staying in 5-star lodges with mosquito nets and they are aware that I'm a raw foodie. They've been really cool about it, actually, saying it's not a problem and that there'll be plenty for me to eat that they will wash in bottled water. Have given it all a lot of thought and my husband has pleaded with me to take some form of malarial protection (although nothing is 100% guaranteed). SO.... am going to use neem oil/essential oils (and moisturise with that herbal moisturiser I mentioned containing citronella), wear hat with net, AND try the Malarone medication. Apparently, it's new (not available in the US currently) and has the fewest side effects (but is expensive, of course!) and you only take it 2 days before you go and 7 days after you get back. I've decided I can be a guinea-pig for GI2MR, in the hope that others can then have more info to help make up their minds about it ('tho of course we're all different). Will keep a journal and let you know... and juice feast before I go and after I return.

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Permalink Reply by Angel on July 29, 2008 at 3:26pm

Thanks, Nettle, you really helped me reach that decision. Not going til October (it's my Silver Wedding Anniversary treat!) but will be sure to let you know how I get on with it all. Lots of love and peace, always. :)

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Permalink Reply by Angel on August 9, 2008 at 3:14am

Just a quick update with an interestng occurence.

Had the Viatim vaccination last week at my doctor's surgery. Within minutes the room started to rock from side to side (which was very alarming, as you can imagine). The nurse got me to lie down and ran off to get a doctor. As I was lying there my limbs started to feel very strange, like they weren't mine (numb, I guess you'd call it!). However, all the doctors were with patients so I just lay there for quite a while. The dizziness passed so I sat up. After a few minutes I felt OK to walk through to the reception area. My husband was with me as he'd had the jab too and so I decided to leave then (didn't really want to see a doctor because I know their solutions tend to involve more medication).

For about 6 hours after this event I felt 'de-energised' and very slightly nauseous and irritated. Then, like a light being switched on, I suddenly felt completely allright again. About this time, my husband started to feel bad and slept for 2 hours.

Apart from a very sore arm (site of the vaccination) for 3 days, I've felt fine since. The nurse told me that if I have another Viatim within 12-24 months of this one, I'll be immune from Hep A and Typhoid for 20 years. Mulling on that one.....

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