Malaria - Vishama Jvara

Background

Malaria (Vishama Jvara) is one of the most prevalent vector borne disease. Malaria is a protozoal disease caused by infection with parasites of the genus plasmodium and transmitted to man by certain species of infected female Anophelese mosquito. The incidence of malaria worldwide is estimated to be 300-500 million clinical cases each year and Malaria is estimated to kill between 1.1 and 2.7 million people worldwide each year. It is mostly caused by Plasmodium falciparaum. In India, during 2003 about 1.65 million cases were reported with 943 deaths and there were 0.7 million cases of P. falciparum malaria.

In Ayurvedic literature Malaria fever is known as Vishama Jvara (intermittent fever) and many drugs are prescribed for its treatment.

Intervention/ Approaches

The following are some interventions/ approaches based on CCRAS research from published sources. However, in malaria the first and immediate choice of treatment should be antibiotics and the medicines mentioned in this document may be added on or used when the antibiotics are not effective.

For the patients of Plasmodium Vivex Malaria:1,2

Ayush 64 tablet:

• For adult-2 gm with honey thrice a day for lweek.
• For children (5-12 yrs) - lgm with honey thrice a day for 5-7 days.
• For infants (below 5 yrs) 500mg with honey thrice in a day for 5-7 days.

Ingredients of Ayush 64:

• Saptapama (Alstonia scholaris) bark aqueous extract 100mg
• Katuki (Picrorhiza kurroa) root aqueous extract 100mg
• Kiratatikta (Swertia chirata) whole plant aqueous extract
  100mg
• Kuberaksha (Caesalpinia crista) seed powder 200mg

Medicinal Plants useful in Malaria (Vishama Jvara)

Source : Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences