Ukaga C N, Nwoke B E B, Onyeka P I K, Anosike J C, Udujih O S, Udujih O G, Obilor R C, Nwachukwu M I
Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Imo State University Owerri, Nigeria.
Tanzan Health Res Bull. 2006 Sep;8(3):183-5. doi: 10.4314/thrb.v8i3.45118.
Persistence of malaria symptoms after treatment with over the counter available antimalarial drugs has resulted in a gradual loss of faith in orthodox drugs. There is thus an increased tendency towards the use of herbs in the treatment of malaria in Imo State, Nigeria. In this study we report activities of two herbalists in the treatment of malaria as well as the effectiveness of the herbal treatment. The study covered two areas namely, Umuneke Ugiri in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area (LGA) and Odummara Obi-Orodo in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State, Nigeria. A participant-observation technique was used. Finger prick blood samples were collected from patients who visited the herbalists complaining of malaria, and blood smears were stained with Field's B stain. Blood smears were taken again one-week post-treatment. A total of 75 patients from Umuneke Ugiri and 265 patients from Odumara Obi-Orodo were involved in the study. All the 75 patients (100%) from Umuneke Ugiri and 163 (61.51%) patients from Odummara Obi-Orodo were positive for malaria parasites. Only 13 (17.3%) patients from Umuneke Ugiri and 149 (56.23%) from Odummara Obi-Orodo returned for the post-treatment blood parasite analysis. From Umuneke Ugiri 4 (31%) were still positive for malaria parasite while 9 (69%) were negative. All 149 patients from Odummara Obi-Orodo were negative. This indicates that the herbal treatment was effective. However, there is need for further studies into the efficacy of herbal concoctions, their effective life span, as well as possible toxic effects.
使用非处方抗疟药物治疗后疟疾症状仍持续存在，这导致人们对传统药物的信心逐渐丧失。因此，在尼日利亚伊莫州，使用草药治疗疟疾的趋势有所增加。在本研究中，我们报告了两位草药医生治疗疟疾的活动以及草药治疗的效果。该研究涵盖了两个地区，即尼日利亚伊莫州伊西亚拉姆巴诺地方政府区（LGA）的乌姆内克·乌吉里和姆巴伊托利LGA的奥杜马拉·奥比-奥罗多。采用了参与观察技术。从向草药医生抱怨患疟疾的患者中采集手指刺血样本，血涂片用菲尔德氏B染色剂染色。治疗一周后再次采集血涂片。来自乌姆内克·乌吉里的75名患者和来自奥杜马拉·奥比-奥罗多的265名患者参与了该研究。来自乌姆内克·乌吉里的所有75名患者（100%）和来自奥杜马拉·奥比-奥罗多的163名患者（61.51%）疟原虫检测呈阳性。来自乌姆内克·乌吉里的只有13名患者（17.3%）和来自奥杜马拉·奥比-奥罗多的149名患者（56.23%）回来进行治疗后血液寄生虫分析。来自乌姆内克·乌吉里的4名患者（31%）疟原虫检测仍为阳性，而9名患者（69%）为阴性。来自奥杜马拉·奥比-奥罗多的所有149名患者均为阴性。这表明草药治疗是有效的。然而，需要进一步研究草药配方的疗效、其有效寿命以及可能的毒性作用。
