11 May 2000 - Press Release Artemisia Annua As part of Doctors For Life’s (DFL) efforts to make cheap, effective medicine available to third world countries, DFL, in collaboration with the German based organisation ANAMED, will be offering the drug: Artemisia to Southern African countries. ANAMED (Action For Natural Medicine) works together with scientists from across the world, to research scientifically the medicinal effects of different herbal remedies. Artemisia Annua is used in the treatment of Malaria and appears at present to be the most effective drug for that purpose. Tea made from the plant, has already been used for about 2000 years in China for treating Malaria and fever. At present a few Western and Asian countries have already started producing tablets from Artemisia. These tablets are however extremely expensive and therefore out of reach for most third world countries. Efforts to grow Artemisia in countries in the Southern Hemisphere has been unsuccessful. However, a hybrid called "A-3", which grows well in the Southern hemisphere has been developed. DFL was the first in South Africa to obtain access to it and has been involved in planting large amounts of the plant. This particular hybrid contains about twenty times more of the active ingredient and can be used with virtually no side effects. We have also managed to produce the plant in tablet form. In order to discuss a strategy for combating Malaria, DFL will be meeting with officials from the Department of Health of the different Southern African Countries. For more information contact Dr A. Van Eeden; Tel: (031) 764-0443. |
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