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From Hans-Martin Hirt and Keith Lindsey, anamed international Dear All, Many greetings from Germany. We have just enjoyed a four week visit of Philip Mateja from anamed in Tanzania. In the annual churches conference / assembly, Kirchentag, he worked extremely hard on the anamed stand that was inundated with many eager visitors. Even today it is still hard to convince both Africans and Europeans that a simple tea can be so effective in treating malaria, and that they can make effective medicines themselves. We were very dismayed to find that many groups at Kirchentag talked about the catastrophe of malaria and AIDS and its financial impact on communities, but very few groups had any idea about how to effectively tackle the problem with locally available knowledge, wisdom and resources. Tragically, because of commercial orientation, chemical medicine and now even often herbal products, are having the effect of discouraging people, and making them dependent. If you are ill, you go to the doctor; if you have no money, you die. When Martin was in Tanzania, a seminar participant told him that farmers were burning their fields of artemisia as a protest because of the pitifully low price that they were being offered by the pharmaceutical industry – 50 US cents for 1 kilogram of dried leaves! We heard only today the story of a farmer in Kenya who grows artemisia for sale to industry. He asked the industrial buyer if he could himself drink the tea to treat malaria, and was immediately told that, if he did, he may die!!! Often in Africa when we speak about “Natural Medicine”, then people associate even this with imported medicine. In Cameroon recently Martin saw that in the capital city there were innumerable Asian clinics, but in Peking there is certainly not a single African clinic! Our co-worker Bindanda M’Pia, who lives in an extremely poor district deep in the Congolese forest, was recently approached by an American company and asked if he would be willing to sell their Aloe vera products - for $100 a cure! Wherever we go in Africa, we see that Coartem, produced by Novartis, is unaffordable for the majority of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa. Then recently in the news we read that the Chief Executive of Novartis is the top earner amongst European industrialists – with a salary of over 20 million Euros per year. (Note: Since writing this we have been reminded that in 2001 Novartis made an agreement with the WHO to supply Coartem to public sector agencies on a “not for profit” basis) These experiences underline the urgent need for people (e.g. anamed groups) in each country of the world who build upon the skills and resources that already exist in those countries. From the economic point of view, it is a success if you can sell expensive aloe products to a poor family surrounded by aloe plants. From a humanitarian point of view it is crazy! The same is true if a doctor refuses to allow an AIDS patient to drink artemisia tea from plants in his own garden, claiming that only ARV drugs are effective. He obviously does not know that artemisinin is patented as a biological ARV. Annual meeting of anamed international: On Saturday 22nd September 2007 in Winnenden. All friends living within reach are warmly invited. Please see our web-site for details. Rectal administration: According to the literature, rectal administration of isolated artemisinin is becoming more and more important in the treatment of malaria. In our recommendations we have given clear instructions of how to prepare and use enemas made from artemisia leaves. Please give us feedback if you have any experience of this, whether positive or negative. For those of you with internet access, an abstract of a recent survey of the use of rectally administered artemisinin can be read at http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/297/21/2381 Artemisia and cancer: Artemisinin is rapidly becoming an internationally accepted medicine for cancer. Here we find a situation similar to that concerning artemisinin and malaria. Pharmaceuticals are being developed and used that contain artemisinin only, in spite of the fact that Artemisia annua contains many anti-cancer components. Again, please share any experiences with us, whether positive or negative, that you have of using artemisia tea with cancer patients. With best wishes, Martin and Keith
News and information 1. A film as discussion starter. The “Integrated Regional Information Networks” (IRIN) is part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Its main aim is to bridge the information gap that so often exists between decision-makers, governments, humanitarian workers and the people they are trying to help by providing accurate, reliable and impartial information. They have a very informative web-site regarding AIDS and malaria, see www.irinnews.org IRIN has produced a film, “Malaria: Killer number one”. This film is set in Ethiopia. It shows horrendous suffering, and shows very clearly many of the features that make the problem so severe. It is an excellent stimulus for discussion, and shows very clearly the need for
The key question for discussion is, “How can Natural Medicine help?” The film does not, however, state the ideal strategy: self-reliance through the cultivation of Artemisia annua anamed and its use as tea. Nor does it state the need for anamed training seminars in Natural Medicine for the entire population! The film can be downloaded from http://www.irinnews.org/InDepthMain.aspx?InDepthId=10&ReportId=57924.
2. Nutrition Over the past year we have learnt a lot about grain amaranth. Like moringa, this is an excellent grain which contains vitamins, minerals and proteins, including many essential amino acids. With good nutrition, the immune system is massively strengthened. This is particularly important for young children, pregnant women and breast feeding mothers. Care of AIDS patients: In previous letters, and in our books, we have emphasised the remarkable beneficial effects of artemisia tea together with moringa leaf powder. In those areas where people have failed with the cultivation of moringa, we would strongly recommend grain amaranth (seeds and leaves). Keith has met groups in both Uganda and Zimbabwe who speak extremely positively about this. 3. Research into Artemisia tea as a treatment for malaria – an opportunity for you? A consortium of UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO has a Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR). This group is inviting applications for funding for research. If you are
there is the possibility of receiving funding from this consortium. Such research would be of enormous benefit to all those of us, who, scattered throughout the tropical world, have committed ourselves to enabling people even in the remotest regions to become so much more self-reliant in the treatment of malaria. For more information, see http://www.who.int/tdr/grants/grants/rtg2008.htm. 4. The economics of malaria The following is an excerpt from an article by Oliver Tickell entitled “Drugs, fakes and parasites”. It describes the work of Nick White, Professor of Tropical Medicine at Oxford University in the UK, who lives and works in Thailand. See “Oxford Today”, Volume 19 Number 1, Michaelmas 2007. The first part of the article describes the enormous problem of fake drugs, particularly in Asia. Yet another reason for encouraging self-reliance through the use of artemisia tea! Then the article makes the following observation regarding the cost of malaria, and the cost of tackling the problem comprehensively: 'Artesunate gives us an opportunity to eradicate malaria worldwide, just as we once had the same opportunity with chloroquine. We must seize it or the danger is that it will be squandered, that resistance to the artesunate will establish and spread, and millions upon millions of people will die needlessly all because the world chose to sit back and let it happen.' He strongly supports the revolutionary 2004 report of the US National Academy of Sciences, 'Saving Lives, Buying Time: Economics of Malaria Drugs in an Age of Resistance'. 'The key finding is that the entire cost of making ACT drugs should be financed by international institutions at a cost of US$300-500 million a year', says White. 'Another $500 million or so would be needed for other measures such as insecticidal mosquito nets, as well as further research and monitoring - so that if resistance to any of the ACT drugs emerges, the therapy can be quickly reformulated in that area. The entire programme to eradicate malaria over ten years or so would cost approximately $1 billion a year - roughly the cost of ten F35 fighters. And it is not just doctors calling for this, but economists too: malaria costs Africa's economy $12 billion a year in lost production so the investment makes excellent economic sense as well as saving lives.' We would be interested to see a calculation of the cost of treating malaria through Sub-Saharan Africa, or indeed throughout the Tropics, with artemisia tea, and of the appropriate training that this would require. The Natural Chemotherapeutic Research Laboratory in Kampala is studying the prophylactic properties of Artemisia annua. Preliminary results indicate that drinking artemisia tea once a week could reduce malaria by 80%. Gebeyaw Tiruneh conducted research into the widespread use of Artemisia annua anamed tea to treat malaria in Arba Minch, Ethiopia. In his thesis, he comments “Researchers at the Chinese institute of material medicine found a region of China that reported no malaria cases, and when they investigated, they discovered that people drank a tea of Artemisia annua at the first sign of malarial symptoms.” What do you think about that? 5. Campaign against the use of DDT. Uganda is one of many countries which is considering using the insecticide DDT to control mosquitoes. We in anamed are strongly opposed to the use of DDT. To our dismay, even the WHO has approved the use of DDT. We quote, “WHO is now recommending the use of indoor residual spraying (IRS) not only in epidemic areas but also in areas with constant and high malaria transmission, including throughout Africa.”. See http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr50/en/index.html In Uganda Monik Adriaens spearheaded a campaign against its use. She and her colleagues have prepared an excellent document. The following are excerpts. In the conclusion she writes: “This document is a compilation of scientifically proven methods already used to reduce malaria. All have significant effect on killing or repelling Anopheles larvae, mosquitoes or Plasmodium. The WHO is proposing Integrated Vector Control, in other words, a combination of one or more vector control methods. We believe in a holistic approach where all stakeholders have to take their responsibility in such a way that environment, health and economy are not compromised.”
On 25 April 2006 a letter of the Ugandan Business Community (signed by 36 key from the dairy, honey, coffee, tea, fish, flower, textile, horticulture, and organic sector) went to the president of Uganda. “The business community has major concerns about the plans of the government to use DDT for Controlled Indoor Spraying because it is not an effective and realistic option and a threat to the economy of Uganda. Besides, funding has been provided to Uganda for control measures known as “combination therapy” that can be effective without the use of DDT. The key reasons for the business communities concern are:
Malaria is the number one killer disease in Uganda and all efforts have to be put together to decrease the number of malaria victims. DDT is not the answer to eradicate malaria. Many people still think that DDT can be used massively, as it was in the 60’s, but this method of application is now completely forbidden under the Stockholm convention. DDT in indoor residual spraying (IRS) can suppress malaria in the short term, but also has a lot of negative impacts: First for exports: There is no way to avoid DDT contamination of the agriculture products produced by small farmers where the products have been stored in sprayed rooms. Large scale Agricultural Industries and fisheries will become affected as DDT used in IRS finds its way into the environment. Once in the environment DDT will remain for many years preventing no establishment of the export markets. Regulations are very strict when it comes to pesticide residues in food in Europe, America, Japan and many other countries. Secondly, countries become dependant on DDT and have to spray every year otherwise malaria increases immediately the day spraying is stopped. Thirdly, DDT is a lazy solution and does not encourage people to protect themselves and take full responsibility for their lives, due to the belief that DDT will eradicate malaria. The last, DDT is harmful for environment, animals and human beings. It persists and accumulates in the food chain leading to problems in the nervous system and foetal development. Therefore it is recommended that the following combination of methods should be used to fight malaria without DDT:
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