Aloe Vera Tea vs. Anti-malarial tablets (Mefloquine) for treatment/prevention of malaria
Alternative Lifestyles and Subcultures
Yeah, I am really leaning towards the aloe vera. Thanks for replying.
Forum Activity for @amelia-marie-dreadybear
Alternative Lifestyles and Subcultures
Aloe Vera Tea vs. Anti-malarial tablets (Mefloquine) for treatment/prevention of malaria
Alternative Lifestyles and Subcultures
Hey everyone! How's it goin?
So I have a question for my fellow dreadies.
Last year I went to Uganda, and took Mefloquine which is a complex, potentially harmful drug to prevent malaria. I fortunately did fine with it, didn't catch malaria, and didn't have any noticeable side effects. However, I recently found an article, and have listened to several trusted testimonies that say aloe vera is effective in treating malaria, and you will recover in about three days time.
I am very anti-chemical/artificial drug, and LOVE finding alternatives for these things. So naturally, I am really considering going to Uganda this year and NOT taking the anti-malarials. There is also a particular plant that I ate last time, and will eat this time. It is a preventative.
Anyway, I am seeking advice from people who have possibly traveled abroad to malaria infested areas without prophylaxis.
What I have been discussing with concerned friends and family is taking a supply of the prophylaxis with me, but not taking it unless I actually contract malaria, and it ravages me. In that case, from that point on I would take the meds for the rest of the stint. Otherwise, I would take my chances. My fiance and all of his family get malaria regularly. He gets over it rather quickly, and it doesn't do much damage to him. His sister and younger brother however sometimes require iv drip of fluids to rehydrate them. I have a pretty strong immune system, and although I have clearly never had malaria before, I feel like I would be able torecover quicklywith the herbs and teas.
What say YOU?
updated by @amelia-marie-dreadybear: 01/13/15 09:20:05PM
dreadlocks changing more than your hair
General Talk
Hey, what a great question to ask!
I have become waaaaay more self-confident. This might be too out there, but I'm gonna say it anyway:
I have always felt that shaving my legs and arm pits was sexist and totally unnecessary. Sooo, after having my dreads for a couple years, and gaining all that self-confidence, I have become much more comfortable with my whole entire body, as well as my thoughts. I have gained the confidence to walk around campus in shorts/skirts and raise my hand in class in a tank top, and now when people stare, it cracks me up! They have NO idea what's going on! It's great!
But aside from that, my dreads really have helped me mature a lot. I live in a pretty conservative town, and people have confronted me about my dreads quite often (thankfully more are simply trying to figure out what my hair is up to rather than insulting me!), so it has forced me to talk to lots of people I wouldn't normally be in contact with.
I also feel much more beautiful. I used to dye my hair all sorts of wacky colors, and it was sleek and very straight. It did not flatter my face at all. Now I have a sweet little fro of frizzies crowning my flowing locks, and i feel like a goddess some days!
Along with gaining self-confidence, I have been able to wear anything I like, even if it looks like trash to someone else. I don't wear makeup anymore, and haven't plucked my eyebrows inyears. I just feel so much more wholesome. It's for sure the best decision i have ever made. I feel like it has also taught me how to be humble, and how to not get hurt from things rude people might do or say.
So what about you? Would love to hear!
-Amelia
****1 year n 2 month JOURNEY**
Introduce Yourself
Love your dreads! Lookin sexy. I have thick dreads too, and love them. Lot's of loose hair at my roots too, but I've been told it will all dread up into new dreads over time. The breakage, is it like from your hair being dry, or from separating them?
Science Of Dreads
General Questions
not sure about the ends, but my dreads will be a year old, and I'm already at 2 inches of new growth, and my ends are still wispy. I think the ends take a bit longer depending on how they are forming,. Some of my ends are already completely dreaded, but others, mostly those that I back-brushed the heck out of, have got like two to three separate little tails of undreaded hair hangin on them. I have braided the ones I could, and they turned into solid dread in about three weeks time. You might try braiding your ends, too. Hope that helps! :D
Hello all I'm new at this
Introduce Yourself
Hey! What a bummer. Some people can be sooo judgemental! I live in the south, too. Texas, to be exact. Trust me, I get some stares, and people ask me some wacky questions.Boo on them. It's their loss, not yours.
I am sure you are a great mom. Now you should rock those nappy thangs and show them that you are capable of anything, AND you have dreads! We all have to work together to get rid of this negative stigma associated with dreads.
Happy dreading, welcome to the site, and see ya around! 
Need a little help
Dreading Methods
Hey there! What a badass girlfriend! My boyfriend wont even touch my dreads. :[
I have had three sets of dreads. First was DHHQ stuff. The shampoo is good. I used it even after I had to cut my dreads. All the other stuff, I would stay far away from. Speaking from experience, WAX IS NASTY STUFF!!!
The second set, I backcombed and used Knotty boy shampoo, which is also great.
This set (hopefully my permanant, to the grave set) I backcombed, and now I just do Baking soda/acv rinses. My dreads are perfectly healthy and strong, so I don't believe backcombing is bad, unless you uncomb them and expect straight hair.
So, just stick to all natural washing and you should be good. :P It's really up to you which way you dread. I think both are good. I have one little tnr dread baby on the side of my face, and it seems to be locking up at the same rate my backcombed babies did.
Happy dreading my friend! Good luck! :D
Beads and Your Dreads
Dread Accessories
I used to have a shell on one of my dreads. I never took it off. Found it walking down the beach one day, and it had a perfect hole for my dready. I never had a problem with the dread beneath drying, but it was one of those spiraly shells, and had alot of holes in it. I agree with VoRN. You should take a look around home, you'd be suprised at what you find, and it makes it all that more personal of a bead/ornament.
If You Ever Used the Crochet Method
Dreading Methods
My experience with the hook was not satisfying at all. The hairs I had crocheted just slipped back out. It sounds like your hair is already fine and slippery, so just save yourself the time and effort (took me like 3 hrs and had horribly achy arms) and don't do it. Just my opinion.