DMK Working President MK Stalin demanded an answer from Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan on whether nilavembu kudineer being advocated by the government to prevent and cure dengue causes infertility.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Stalin said, “I also read the report in the Time of India this morning. The Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Radhakarishanan should respond to this after checking the facts.”
The DMK leader also hit out at the state government for holding functions like the MGR centenary when people are dying of dengue. Accusing ministers of lying about dengue Stalin said, “A senior minister Dindigul Sreenivasan has said that no one has died of dengue in Dindigul. But I have documents to show that in the Palani Government Hospital that some children have died of dengue.”
Times of India had on Tuesday reported that past studies have indicated that nilavembu kudineer can induce infertility. Few studies had shown that the herb andrographis paniculate, which is used in the concoction, caused the sperm count in rats to reduce.
Speaking to TNM, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan had pointed out that all drugs have side effects, including the Siddha medicine. “Every drug has side effects. We are advocating it as it has proven benefits in several countries,” Radhakrishnan said. He also pointed out that the Tamil Nadu government is recommending the concoction only under a recognised Siddha medical practitioner and said niluvembu kudineer needs to be taken under the specified doses.
The Tamil Nadu government has been advocating nilavembu kudineer, a concoction of 9 herbs for the past several years. The Ayush Ministry has also been promoting the Siddha medicine, observing that nilavembu kudineer is “Antipyretic (used to prevent or reduce fever), Analgesic (pain-relieving) and Anti-dengue activity proved.”