Practitioners from across medical fields were divided over the efficacy of nilavembu concoction to treat dengue at a discussion here on Saturday. The panel consisted of two doctors each.
Sumanth Raman, medical practitioner, pointed out that there was a need to conduct medical trials to prove the efficacy of nilavembu kudineer in treating dengue.
“Kerala has more cases of dengue than us, why hasn’t its government distributed it officially? And why is no corporate hospital in our State distributing it and why hasn’t WHO mentioned the use of nilavembu in their dengue treatment guidelines?” he asked.
Kannan from the Central Siddha Research Institute, on the other hand, pointed out that like nilavembu, there were several types of plants that were used by most families across the State for generations to treat diseases, which cannot be negated.
While both parties agreed that there was a need for multidisciplinary research in the use of nilavembu, J. Amalorpavanathan, former director, Department of Vascular Surgery, Madras Medical College, Chennai, said that without evidence, the State must not stress on its use.