BACK TO ASK THE HERBALIST INDEX

ANSWERS FROM KAREN
QUESTION: Thank you for your time, I'll try to go straight to the point. I am a student doing research on malaria treatment in Nigeria using various herbs eg magnifera indica & Anacardium occidentale (these two to be precise). I want to please know how to extract the active tanins from the leaves of these plant without destroying them. Please if you don't mind I will like detailed chemical analysis because I will try it in the lab.
Thank you for your help in advance I am already grateful and looking forward to the reply.

ANSWER: Not being a chemist, I cannot help you with the intricacies of your request. As an herbalist, I extract the healing properties of herbs either through decoction or infusion. Or, by making a tincture using alcohol or vegetable glycerin.

QUESTION: Please help me, my dad is suffering from Malaria, he's about 1 week into it and is there an herb he can take to help him?  Please get back to me as soon as possible!  Thank you so much in advance for your answers! Anything helps!

ANSWER: So sorry to hear about your dad. There is a new drug resistant strain of malaria called Plasmodium falciparum that has become increasingly common in the states. If this is the type of malaria your dad is suffering from, try Pau D'arco. I'd make a tea of the organic herbs. 3-4 cups per day, in addition to plenty of water.  For traditional malaria, quinine is the normal remedy.


ANSWERS FROM DAVID
MALARIA
QUESTION: It has been suggested that I could take Qing Hao to prevent Malaria, and I wondered what information was available regarding this. I am due to visit Malaysia (both the mainland and Sabah) in 2 weeks time and I don't want to take the antmalarial drugs if there is a safe alternative. Please could you 
provide any information that's available regarding the reliability of Qing Hao and the dose required.

ANSWER: According to the book Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica Revised Edition by Bensky and Gamble:
         Qing hao, Latin named: Artemisia annuae or A. apiacea, is used for Malaria. Preparations of A. annuae have shown direct killing effect against the parasite in vitro. It was traditionally combined with the root of Huang qin, Latin named Scutellariae baicalensis and the rhizome of Ban xia, Latin named Pinelliae ternatae for Malaria disorders in China.
           Some western herbs that are effective against parasites are Black Walnut Hulls, Quassia and Elecampane.
          We sell an Anti-parasite formula that should be taken a week prior to and 2 - 3 weeks after your visit to alleviate your concerns. It is called AP compound, you would need a 8 oz bottle taking the suggested dose of 1/2 a teaspoon 3 times a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) for 5 to 6 weeks ( 1 week before, 2 weeks during and 2-3 weeks after). 
            My other suggestion would be lots and lots of Garlic, smell like Garlic, make everyone around you take it so they don't complain.
              To up your digestive systems ability to avoid the parasite, use bitters formula, bitters make you GI tract work at its peak. It increase all the secretions, such as salvia, acid, enzymes, bile and helps your body eliminate this better.