- Written by Gemma Handy
- St. John’s, Antigua
image source, Gemma Handy
Shira Berzas used herbal medicine to alleviate chikungunya symptoms
Shira Belzas winced as she remembered the pain.
The acute pain started in my ankle and quickly spread throughout my body, leaving my muscles paralyzed, my joints aching, and my hands and feet severely swollen.
Last summer, the 38-year-old from Antigua and Barbuda contracted the debilitating chikungunya virus, which has spread across the Caribbean and infected more than 800,000 people since it was first detected in the region in December 2013. Infected.
The mosquito-borne disease, which originated in Africa and has no known cure, is characterized by sudden onset of fever, deep joint pain, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash.
“When I went to sleep, I was fine,” Berzas said. “But when I woke up in the morning and tried to get up, my ankle hurt so much that I couldn’t stand. It was very scary. Then the pain started.” I felt all kinds of pain all over my body, and soon my hands were swollen. , can no longer have anything. ”
“Nothing worked.”
Most patients recover completely, but the pain can last for months or even years.
In older people, this disease can be fatal. In 2014, 176 deaths were linked to the virus across the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States, according to World Health Organization statistics.
“I knew right away that it was chikungunya,” Berzas said.
chikungunya fever
- Viral disease spread by mosquitoes that bite during the day
- There is no specific treatment at this time
- There is no direct human-to-human transmission.
- The name comes from the African Kimakonde language, which means “distortion”
- Symptoms include sudden fever and joint pain, especially affecting the hands, wrists, ankles, and feet.
- Most patients recover after a few days, but in some cases, joint pain can last for weeks, months, or even longer.
“I didn’t go to the doctor because it was expensive, and everyone I knew who went to their GP was just told to take paracetamol and rest. I tried painkillers, but nothing worked. .The morning was the worst, my joints were so stiff I could hardly move. ”
Berzas is one of a growing number of patients who are turning to natural remedies to alleviate symptoms.
alternative approach
In Antigua, where the minimum wage is just $3 (£2) an hour and a visit to a conventional doctor costs $44, herbalists who specialize in ‘bush medicine’ are often the first port of call.
“When I became desperate, I went to Dr. Am, a naturopath. He gave me two cups of tea and an oil to put on my skin. It soothed the rash and reduced the pain significantly. It didn’t cure me, but at least I was able to cope with it,” Berzas recalled.
image source, alex andre rose
Sylvester Tyrone “Am” Motley believes his herbal remedies can help alleviate symptoms
It took four months for the pain to finally subside.
“Ten months later, my ankle still hurts in the morning. I don’t know how I would have coped without Dr. Am. I have recommended him to many people. Nothing else has worked. “There wasn’t,” Berzas recalls.
“The power of plants”
Sylvester Tyrone “Am” Motley, a self-taught natural healer, prescribes a four-pronged approach to combating chikungunya.
The first is tea, which is drunk on an empty stomach three times a day. It contains echinacea, which boosts the immune system, and chaparral and burdock, which purify the blood, soothe pain, and soothe rashes, he explains.
image source, alex andre rose
A selection of herbal remedies provided by Sylvester Tyrone “Am” Motley
image source, alex andre rose
Mr. Motley collects plants for Chinese medicinal purposes in the countryside.
The second is a detox made by boiling 5 types of plants in fresh spring water.
“Arnica, soursop and cow’s tongue are great elixirs,” says Motley, who scours the local countryside for plants.
“Then there’s neem, which is an antiseptic, and dandelion, which purifies the body. This should be drunk throughout the day instead of water.”
He also created a special oil that was applied to important parts of the body after bathing and at night.
Motley, a strong advocate of the power of plants, says he has never had the disease himself and believes it is largely due to his herbal intake.
“I tried to come a few times, but my body resisted,” he added.
skepticism
Traditional doctors are more skeptical because there is no scientific evidence.
image source, Getty Images
Caribbean governments are trying to prevent the spread of chikungunya by spraying pesticides
Dr Nick Fuller, a general practitioner based in Antigua’s capital St John’s, told the BBC: “Herbalism is unproven so I can’t recommend it.”
“But I don’t think it’s harmful,” he added.
“At the end of the day, chikungunya is a virus and it needs to be stopped,” he explains.
The only sure way to fight chikungunya is to avoid getting it.
The government is therefore trying to stop the spread of the virus in Antigua, where 1,442 people are suspected of being infected so far, through preventive measures.
They stepped up spraying of insecticides in communities and purchased large quantities of bed nets and repellents.
The public education campaign urges residents to wear clothing that covers their arms, legs and feet, to protect themselves from mosquito bites and to use repellents.
