Orthodox and Herbal Therapy of Malaria

Malaria is a major public health problem in Nigeria where it accounts for more cases and dleaths than any other country in the world. Malaria is a risk for 97% of Nigerian population with the remaining 3% of which living in malaria free highlands. The aim of this to study is to expand the knowledge of orthodox and herbal therapy of malaria infection through recent published literature thereby exposing already known facts about malaria infection, elaborate on the orthodox and herbal treatment of malaria infection and ascertain the differences between orthodox and herbal therapy of malaria infection. After diagnosis by either microscopy or rapid diagnostic test (RDT), and that uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria should be treated with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT)which is an orthodox way. Theuse of herbal remedies throughout the world exceeds that of the conventional drugs by two to three times. The use of plants for healing purposes predates human history and forms the origin of much modern medicine. In Ghana,Mali, Nigeria and Zambia, the first line of treatment for 60%of children with high fever resulting from malaria is the use of herbal medicine at home. Several studies have confirmed the effectiveness of some herbal product in treating malaria in in vitro as well as invivo studies using animals and in clinical trials. Herbal medicine differs from orthodox pharmacotherapy on two main important aspects. Firstly, herbal medicine makes use of whole plant material containing several constituents and depends on synergic action for the effectiveness of the treatment. It is important but not easy a task in incorporating knowledge of traditional medicine in treating malaria into modern health care and ensuring it meets modern safety and efficacy standards. However there is the impossibility of integrating certain aspects of traditional medicine based on spiritual,moral and other fundamental principles into modern scientific medicine.