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Schistosomiasis:  Herbal treatment for parasitic infection

This is an abstract (a short summary) of a study that I have had loitering in my files for a good few years now. It has never been of practical use to me in practice in Christchurch New Zealand but you never know when or where such info might just make a world of difference to someone. Plus it goes to show just how mighty Myrrh really is.

Two hundred and four patients with schistosomiasis (a parasitic infection) were treated with a combination of resin and volatile oil of myrrh (from the stem of Commiphora molmol), at a dose of 10 mg per kg of body weight per day for three days.

Patients who still showed living ova in colonic or rectal mucosal biopsy specimens two months after treatment were given a second course of 10 mg per kg per day for six days, and biopsy specimens were obtained again two months later. The cure rate from the first course of treatment was 91.7%. Re-treatment of patients who did not respond to the first course resulted in a cure rate of 76.5%, increasing the overall cure rate to 98.1%. The treatment was well tolerated; side effects were reported by 11.8% of the patients, but were mild and transient. Twenty patients provided biopsy specimens six months after treatment and none of those showed living ova.

Comment :
Schistosomiasis affects more than 180 million people worldwide. Although early treatment usually produces good results, if not adequately treated it can lead to complications including renal failure, liver damage, heart failure, and seizures. Praziquantel is the drug of choice, but resistance to this drug can occur. The present study indicates that an extract of myrrh is a safe and effective treatment for this common parasitic infection.

Sheir Z, et al. A safe, effective, herbal antischistosomal therapy derived from myrrh.
Am J Trop Med Hyg 2001;65:700-704.

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