Traditional remedy for malaria

Traditional remedy for malaria

Malaria is currently widespread and has claimed several lives
in places such as Sukabumi and Cilacap. The Ministry of Health
says that most malaria sufferers are reluctant to seek modern
medical treatment and instead prefer to avail of traditional
healing methods.

Today, the malaria parasite is resistant to chloroquine. A
relatively new malaria drug, which is effective and almost free
of side effects, is artemisin. It is extracted from the leaves of
a plant called Artemisia vulgaris, known as domolo in Javanese.

The wild plant, according to the literature on medicinal
herbs, can be found on the slopes of mountains and even along the
roadside. Artemisia is also listed in the Cibodas Botanical
Garden's catalog as a plant that grows both in Indonesia and
other countries.

The use of this plant should be popularized by distributing
leaflets bearing its picture, name and how to use it. The water
in which Artemisia is boiled can cure malaria and relieve fever.
In several weeks, the patient will be rid of the malaria
parasite.

This herb is also widely used in tablet form in Asia and
Africa, and has produced good results. In Indonesia, the health
ministry refuses to allow its use in the absence of testing.
Meanwhile, the ministry's health development & research agency in
cooperation with the Australian government is studying a drug
called Artesunate.

I would like to suggest that schools of pharmacy should
establish herbariums where this plant species may be displayed so
that mistakes in its identification may be avoided.

SUNARTO PRAWIROSUJANTO, Jakarta