ANYONE USED HOMEOPATHIC MALARIA TABLETS?

[MammyShirl]

I know this is going about off but im at work and my friend needs to decide whether or not to take homeopathic malaria tablets rather than normal to go india? anyone know which is best? any advice? thanks

My advice would be NO. Malaria is a really horrible disease, and it can kill you. The tablets aren't nice, and some people do react badly to them, but IMO they are infinitely preferable to malaria. Just my view though. (I am not very good on homeopathy generally. Acupuncture, on the other hand, I'm a BIG fan of!)

what does IMO mean... sorry divvy mumsnet user still learning

It means 'In my opinion', Mammyshirl.

Re malaria, two of dh's colleagues have just been released from hospital after being in Intensive Care with malaria, which they contracted whilst working in Nigeria. Personally, I wouldn't take chances.

I with you Mother Inferior. My dh's Uncle ended up in intensive care with malaria which he picked up in Uganda. Not one to mess around with. Take the tablets, and avoid getting bitten by using insecticide, nets, long sleaves and trousers etc. It is one of the worlds biggest killer diseases, but because it happens in developing countries we tend not to take notice

I would recommend the normal tablets as well. The worst type of malaria (P. falciparum) is present in India.
The World Health Organisation's site for International travel and health (www.who.int/ith/ -sorry couldn't get the link to work) recommends chloroquine plus proguanil as Malaria prophylaxis.
You might want to check thats the most current information and write it down and make sure thats what you get. Some doctors still prescribe the same one drug to everyone, wherever they are going.

lots of people don't take the tablets when they go on holiday or especially if they're going to work somewher malarial for a long time - no idea about homeopathic but things to think about are how long she's going for, which areas she'll be travelling in as cities for example might not be high risk areas, is she a 'mosquito magnet' usually, etc. All basic stuff but I'd recommend she thinks seriously about it rather than just not take the tablets. Difficult call.

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I thought the whole basis of homeopathy was treating like-with-like, ie once you have something you take a remedy. for mild conditions I think the placebo effect could play an important role and like twiglett think anyone contemplating not taking a regular course of antimalarials is a bit mad.