Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by an intracellular protozoan parasite (genus Leishmania) transmitted by the bite of a female phlebotomine sandfly.

Symptoms

The clinical spectrum of leishmaniasis ranges from a self-resolving cutaneous ulcer to a mutilating mucocutaneous disease and even to a lethal systemic illness. The disease can present in three main ways: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, or visceral leishmaniasis.The cutaneous form presents with skin ulcers, while the mucocutaneous form presents with ulcers of the skin, mouth, and nose, and the visceral form starts with skin ulcers and then later presents with fever, low red blood cells, and enlarged spleen and liver.

Natural Treatment

• The roots of the plant Pentalinon andrieuxii have been used by Mayans for years to treat infections from the parasite Leishmania, and researchers know now why: a compound from the plant : Pentalinonsterol, newly synthesized in the lab, reduces parasite load in infected mice.
• A clinical study conducted in Iraq tested the effectiveness of a topical herbal remedy on 150 patients with leishmaniasis skin lesions. The ointment contained aloe juice, turmeric, fat, and Euphorbia milii. The majority of patients were cured within about 4 months. Results of the turmeric-containing ointment were similar to those treated with conventional injections of Glucantime
• Ashwagandha (Indian ginseng): Withania somnifera Dunal or ashwagandha was found to be effective against Leishmania donovani. Indian ginseng has antibacterial properties and causes the apoptosis-like death of leishmanial cells.8
• Garlic (Allium Sativum): Garlic’s abilities to heal Leishmaniasis was explored in one study where garlic therapy was administered along with vitamin A.9
• Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum): Ayurvedic herb tulsi is also renowned for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial powers. Studies have found it shows strong leishmanicidal activity when taken orally. Its immunomodulatory effects also help with recovery from the illness.
• Calcium-containing Bhasma: Shankha bhasma, Muktashukti bhasma, and Pravala bhasma, common calcium-containing Ayurvedic remedies for ulcers and piles, may also be useful in treating sores.
• Goldthread
• Caper : Capers are used for diabetes, fungal infections, chest congestion, worms in the intestines, and a skin disease caused by parasites called leishmaniasi
• Lantana : Essential oil from leaves of Lantana camara: a potential source of medicine against leishmaniasis.

References

• Antileishmanial Effects of Traditional Herbal Extracts Against Cutaneous Leishmaniosis In Vivo. Mohammad, Bahrami Ali. [ed.] Abdel Rahman Al-Tawaha. 10, Ma'an: AENSI Publications, September 2011, Advances in Environmental Biology, Vol. 5, pp. 3188-3195. ISSN: 1995-0756.
• Sharma, Umakant, Thirumurthy Velpandian, Pawan Sharma, and Sarman Singh. “Evaluation of anti-leishmanial activity of selected Indian plants known to have antimicrobial properties.” Parasitology research 105, no. 5 (2009): 1287-1293.
• Ahmadi-Renani, K., A. Mahmoodzadeh, A. M. Cheraghali, and A. A. Esfahani. “Effect of garlic extract on cutaneous leishmaniasis and the role of nitric oxide.” Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences 27, no. 3 (2015): 97-100.
• Suzuki, Akiko, Osamu Shirota, Kanami Mori, Setsuko Sekita, Hiroyuki Fuchino, Akihito Takano, and Masanori Kuroyanagi. “Leishmanicidal active constituents from Nepalese medicinal plant Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum L.).” Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 57, no. 3 (2009): 245-251.
• Singh, A., S. D. Dubey, K. R. C. Reddy, S. Patne, and V. Kumar. “Anti-Ulcer Activity Of Calcium Based Ayurvedic Bhasmas And Pishti Prepared From Marine-Sourced Animals.” Electronic Journal of Pharmacology and Therapy 2 (2009): 71.