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El Mundo Magico Health Tips for Journeys and Expeditions to the Peruvian Amazon
Ayahuasca diet and precautions Food to avoid on a MAO Inhibitors diet _______________________________________________________________________ Useful medical and herbal references . MASTA (Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad): http://www.masta.org Travel Medicine Program - Disease Information, Malaria: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/tmp-pmv/info/pal_mal_e.html Keep The Bugs Away With DEET: http://www.deet.com/ Malaria, Health Risks - Travelers vs. Natives (Tropical Diseases): http://www.nativeplanet.org/health/malaria.htm CDC Travelers' Health: http://www.cdc. gov/travel/ malariadrugs. htm Peruvian Bark (Chinchona Tree): http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/perbar29.html Botany - Using Bark to Cure the Bite: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/botany/botany_map/articles/article_08.html Chinese Herbal Medicine: http://vvv.com/healthnews/chinese_medicine.html _______________________________________________________________________ Insect repellent suppliers WPC brands: http://www.wpcbrands.com/ Repel Lemon Eucalyptus: http://www.wpcbrands.com _______________________________________________________________________ Vaccination and medical check-ups We strongly recommend a thorough medical check-up well before your departure. At the time we are writing, there are no formal vaccination requirements for entering Peru, though shots for Hepatitis A (and Hepatis B, if you plan to stay for a long time or doing an expedition), Polio, Tetanus, Rabies, Yellow Fever, Diphtheria and Typhoid - together with anti-Malaria prophylaxis - are recommended. There may not be need for an Hepatitis B shot within a short period of staying in the jungle, in the context of a civilized ayahuasca retreat. Consult a specialised Health Travel Clinic, a Tropical Medicine Centre, or your medical practioner, for the most updated medical requirements and information on anti-malaria prophylaxis. In London, try the Royal Free Travel Health Centre (at the Royal Free Hospital), Pond Street, London NW3 2 QG (Tel. +44 - 20 7830 2885). Hospitals & Medical Emergencies in Iquitos The following centres have emergencies departments, with English speaking personnel:
___________________________________________________________________________ Malaria and herbal medicine Important note: The information provided below is not meant to diagnose, cure or treat any disease and is not to be intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Malaria is caused by different varieties of Plasmodium, a parasitic protozoan 'host' of the Anopheles darlingi mosquito. Among natural remedies, there is some evidence that the bark of the Chinchona tree (commonly known as Peruvian bark, with the varieties Cinchona succirubra, Cinchona Officinalis and Cinchona Calisaya), native of Peru (but today mostly cultivated in areas of India and South-East Asia) - from which the alkaloids quinine, quinidine and cinchonine are sourced, among others - has effective antiviral, antipyretic and antimalaria proprerties, including activity against strains of malaria now resistant to chloroquine. Another interesting plant which shows powerful antimalarial activity is the Sweet Wormwood (Artemisia annua L.), well known (since 341 AD, in Zhouhou Bei Ji Fang, a manual of prescriptions for emergencies) in Chinese Traditional Medicine as Quing Hao (or Quinghao). The active principles are concentrated in the dry leaves of the shrub from which is extracted Artemisinin (a yellowish oily substance, known in China, where it was first discovered, as Quing gha shu, or Qinghaosu, which acts as a blood schizontocide - i.e. kills the schizonts of the malaria parasite, causing free radical damage to the organisms responsible for malaria inside the red blood cells they infect), Artemether (which contains alpha and beta-epimers, both active antimalaria agents) and Artesunate. Sodium artesunate (sodium dihydroartemisinin-12-succinate) is a synthesized product which quickly control attacks of malaria and kills the erythrocytic stage of plasmodium asexual form. __________________________________________________________________________ Click here for extra info on health issues in the Amazon
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