Integrative and Complementary Therapies

Herbal medicines have played a critical role in the history of malaria, with Peruvian bark (Cinchona spp.) being the first effective treatment for this dreaded, widespread disease and leading to creation of the entire quinine family of drugs. The more recent discovery of sweet Annie or qing hao (Artemisia annua) as another botanical treatment for malaria continues this history, and the artemisinin family of drugs has become an important new tool against malaria. This first of a two-part article reviews the use of whole herbs and herbal extracts to repel mosquitoes. A growing number of clinical trials suggest that botanical mosquito repellents have potential to be highly effective. There is also evidence that local production of whole herbs and their extracts to control malaria sustainably is possible. The second part will review their use to help prevent and treat malaria infection in travelers and in people living in malarious regions. The research behind using herbs to reduce antimalarial drug resistance will also be discussed.