Hakeemah’s Corner 

By Hk. Raziya Mu’min
Islamic Post Staff Writer

Many people are unfamiliar with the disease malaria. While not as common as many illnesses, it has, however, shown its face to many travelers. Although it is not contagious, malaria kills nearly 3 million people worldwide every year. The disease is spread by mosquitoes which are infected with the malaria parasite. The parasite is found in the red blood cells and can be transmitted through a blood transfusion. New studies indicate it may also be transmitted from a mother to her unborn child before or during delivery -which is called congenital malaria.

Malaria, or diseases resembling it, have been noted for more than 4000 years. It became widely recognized in Greece by the fourth century and was responsible for the decline of many city and state populations.
During the seventeenth century, Spanish Jesuit missionaries in South America learned of a medicinal bark from neighboring Indian tribes: the Peruvian bark, from which quinine is derived. It is still one of the most effective anti-malaria cures available.
 The symptoms of malaria can begin 10 days to four weeks before the onset. In some people, it can take nearly a year for the symptoms to begin. Some symptoms are flu like: shaking, fever, chills, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, headaches and muscle aches. There are sometimes jaundice symptoms due to the loss of red blood cells. If not properly treated, malaria could cause kidney failure, mental confusion, coma -it can be fatal. There are many malaria drugs on the market now that are very effective. However, since this is the Hakeemah’s Corner we will give herbal treatments and only natural remedies.

Diet
I. Start with a grapefruit juice fast for 5 to 10 days. Grapefruit contains natural quinine. During this period, take grapefruit juice diluted with water every two hours during the day and cleanse the bowels daily with a warm water enema.
II. Then, continue with an all-fruit diet for a further three days, with three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits at five-hour intervals.
III. Thereafter, adopt the following diet:
Upon rising: A glass of lukewarm water mixed with half a freshly squeezed lime and a teaspoon of honey.
Breakfast: Fresh fruits and a cup of organic milk sweetened with honey.
Lunch: A bowl of steamed vegetables, whole wheat tortilla and organic buttermilk.
Mid afternoon: A glass of fresh fruit or vegetable juice.
Extra help for this illness can be obtained when a grapefruit is quartered, boiled strained for its pulp and consumed. Limes and lemons are beneficial in the treatment of reducing fever. About three grams of lime should be dissolved in 60 ml. of water with the juice of one lemon added to the mix. This water should be taken before the onset of the fever.
Cinnamon is regarded as an effective cure for all types of colds, including malaria. It should be coarsely powdered and boiled in a glass of water with a pinch of pepper powder and honey. There are other herbs that are very helpful including a mixture of equal portions of neem, also known as Indian Lilac, powder; amla , or gooseberry, powder and wormwood powder.
Separately, and of interest, is that malaria, like dengue, carries no class or racial stigma. There have been many famous names who have contracted the illness, such as: Alexander the Great, US President George Washington, Ghandi, Davy Crockett, President John F. Kennedy and Attila the Hun.