King’s Institute is conducting research to test out the ‘Nilavembu Kudineer’, which treated hundreds of people suffering from dengue fever in Tamil Nadu, as an effective, traditional anti-viral medicine. Meanwhile, as the preliminary research results are positive, the government has decided to get a patent for the dengue fighter, Nilavembu Kudineer.
State-owned Tampcol has already sold 47,000 kg of Nilavembu powder so far to government hospitals and through its counters in sachets.
According to the Union health ministry, Tamil Nadu recorded more than 5,000 dengue cases, the highest in the country, in 2012, with over 30 deaths. When the state was plagued by dengue, siddha doctors suggested Nilavembu Kudineer for cure. Several allopathic doctors also asked their patients to have Nilavembu Kudineer when they did not show any improvement after consuming ‘English’ medicines.
Health secretary J. Radhakrishnan told that Nilavembu Kudineer played a big role in controlling the dengue outbreak. “The government came out with ads promoting Nilavembu Kudineer as patients showed significant improvement. Now, we need to patent the medicine,” he said.
Dr M. Mohamed Musthafa, head of Sirappu Maruthuvam in the government siddha medical college, said, “There is a misconception that siddha doctors would use metals in preparing medicines. We do not give hard metals as medicines. We derive metals even from flowers and roots of plants. Nilavembu Kudineer is a mixture of nine herbs including sandalwood and vettiver. It strengthens the immune system and controls fever.”
Dr Kanagasabai, dean of Madras medical college, said Nilavembu is given to patients at GH hospital. “There’s no dengue death in Chennai in the last few months as we took care of the patients by supplying the traditional Nilavembu syrup,” he said.
Source : Deccan Chronicle
