Qing Hao, A Chinese Herb and Malaria Treatment
Acupuncture is a holistic medicine that employs herbal formulas to address various health conditions using plant and animal products. This practice has been around for centuries, and the herbal formulas used were developed before the creation of modern pharmaceuticals. With the recent confirmation of Malaria cases in the United States, even in our own Sarasota County, Florida, I wanted to remind the community of the powerful effects of herbal medicine and the recent advancement of anti-malarial medicine thanks to a Chinese Herb, Qing Hao.
What is Malaria?
Malaria is an illness that spreads when mosquitoes carry the infection, and is usually found in warmer countries near the equator. In the past, it was possible to cure it with certain medications such as chloroquine and quinolines. However, resistant malaria parasites appeared in the late 1960s following an unsuccessful effort to eliminate Malaria worldwide. (Source)
Symptoms of Malaria include:
chills
body aches
fever
headaches
nausea/vomiting
sweating
general fatigue
How does Chinese Medicine View Infectious Disease?
The first reference to infectious disease in traditional Chinese medicine is in the Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic), a text compiled in the first or second century C.E.. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, many people in Southern China suffered from various feverish conditions, which were recognized as different patterns than the previous disease ailments and required an alternate approach to treatment. Influential doctors during that era contributed to a new school of thought known as wen bing (warm disease). This theory describes the progression of illness from the exterior to the body's interior. It recognized that warm and hot diseases could be transmitted via airborne or direct contact.
How Does Herbal Medicine Work?
In traditional Chinese medicine, Herbalists create formulas using a combination of different single herbs. These herbs were selected based on their properties, which practitioners have studied for centuries. There are more than 300 single herbs and 200 classic herbal formulas. To ensure the best results, Herbalists modify these formulas to fit the patient's specific constitution, which includes their weight, age, gender, and overall health.
Qing Hao, A Powerful Chines Herb
Many herbs and formulas used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat "warm and hot" diseases were found to have remarkable antibiotic effects, despite being discovered approximately 200 years before the discovery of bacteria and other micro-organisms. Qing Hao, also known as sweet wormwood or Artemesia is an herb that gained global recognition when Physiologist Tu Youyou won the Nobel Peace Prize for her discoveries on a novel therapy against Malaria. Tu Youyou's research on sweet wormwood led to the extraction of artemisinin, which inhibits the malaria parasite. Since then, artemisinin-based drugs have helped millions of people survive and improve their health. (NobelPeacePrize.Org)
Chinese Herbal Medicine uses formulas, a combination of single herbs, to create a unique and powerful remedy for illness. Qing Hao has been used for centuries to alleviate symptoms of such diseases as Malaria through formulas that "clear heat from deficiency." Since herbs are combined into formulas, Qing Hao has also been used as a therapy for Lymes Disease, HIV/AIDS, and mononucleosis (source)
Protection from Mosquito-born Illnesses
While the threat of Malarial transmission is minimal, it is always good to be aware of your surroundings, when to go out and when to stay indoors, and how best to protect against mosquitos. Below are a few tips for a safe and mosquito-free summer.
DRAIN standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying.
COVER skin with clothing or appropriate repellent.
Repellent - Apply mosquito repellent appropriately.
Always use repellents according to the label.
Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.
Avoid mosquito activity by staying indoors during dawn and dusk hours.
If you would like more information, contact Dr. Jen at 941-499-7775 or book a complimentary in-office consultation here.