Page 274 - Proceedings Collega2023

Plant-based treatments

Interactions between users on Facebook community pages on dengue-related information have
unveiled a diverse array of plant-based medicines said to have healing potential for dengue fever. These
cures include a variety of plant species derived from herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Within this context,
Facebook users frequently cite third party experience such as family members and community members
who have previously had dengue as proof of the efficacy of the recommended treatments. For instance, a
user responded to a query posed by a woman whose father was currently suffering from dengue fever:

Find papaya leaves, crush them, and extract the juice. Give your father one to two
spoonful every day. Insha’Allah (God willing), his platelet count will improve. My
husband and neighbour were once admitted to the hospital, and the day after drinking
papaya juice, they were allowed to go home.

Occasionally, consumption of specific fruits has been claimed to hasten recovery from dengue infection.
This effect is noticed in the context of a rapid increase in platelet count within a short period and the ability
to restore the patient's appetite. A user shared her experience, highlighting how a diet high in fruits
effectively relieved her dengue symptoms:

Don't force a dengue patient to eat crab soup, especially if they have no appetite and a
bitter taste. Serve them kiwi fruit or combine it with dragon fruit. Their platelet count
will rise quickly, God willing. This has happened to me.

While herbs and fruits have gained widespread recognition as treatment possibilities, using vegetables as
therapeutic agents for dengue fever is a fascinating route. This is intriguing due to the fact that vegetables
are typically associated with culinary complements and essential vital dietary components, particularly
within the Malay community (Radzi, 2009). This idea is demonstrated by a user comment that suggests
extra dietary suggestions for dengue patients, emphasising the incorporation of healthy veggies in addition
to fruits:

Here's another trick for you - get some beetroot, grind it along with that white layer of
watermelon skin (the inner layer), and have it as a drink. Insha'Allah (God willing), it
tastes even better than boiling papaya leaves.

Supplement-based treatments

In addition to plant-based treatments, the use of health supplement products for dengue treatment is
prevalent among users. Almost all the comments analysed recommend using health supplements,

International Conference on Local Wisdom of the Malay Archipelago (COLLEGA 2023) Page - 261 -