Nilavembu Kudineer To Treat Fever

Nilavembu Kudineer is a classical polyherbal Siddha medicine. Siddha is a system of traditional medicine originating in Tamil Nadu. Nilavembu or Andrographis paniculatus is the principle ingredient of this medicine along with Vettiver, Vilamichai ver, Chukku, Milagu, Korai Kizhangu, Santhanam, Parpadaagam and Pei pudul.

Kudineer means decoction in Tamil. So this decoction (Kashaya / Kwath / Kashayam) of Nilavembu with other herbs is known as Nilavembu Kudineer. It has antipyretic, analgesic, anti–inflammatory and anti­viral properties.

Nilavembu (Andrographis panicultata) is also known as Kalmegh and Bhunimba. It is a bitter tonic and used traditionally for treating fever, the liver problems, jaundice, respiratory illness, etc. The other ingredients of Nilavembu Kudineer are also used traditionally in the treatment of fever, inflammation, arthritis, gastric ulcer, jaundice and general debility conditions.

So this whole combination can be used as preventive and curative measure for chikungunya, dengue and other viral fever. It is basically effective against all types of fever and viral infections due to antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Here is given more about Nilavembu Kudineer such as indication/therapeutic uses, Key Ingredients and dosage.

Ingredients of Nilavembu Kudineer

Nilavembu Kashayam Powder which is used to prepare Nilavembu Kudineer contains equal proportion of following herbs:

1. Nilavempu Andrographis paniculatus whole plant
2. Chandan Santalum album heartwood
3. Chukku Zingiber officinale rhizomes
4. Milaku Piper nigrum fruits
5. Koraikilangu Cyperus rotundus tubers
6. Vetiver Vetiveria zizanioides roots
7. Peipudal Trichosanthes cucumerina whole plant
8. Parpatakam Mollugo cerviana
9. Vilamichu ver Plectranthus Vettiveroides

About the ingredients

Nilavembu, Andrographis paniculatus is known as Kalmegha, Bhunimba, Bhuminimbaka, Vishwambhara, Yavtikta, Kalpanatha, Kirata-tikta in Ayurveda due to its bitter taste. It is called Creat in English and is known as the “king of bitters.”

The aerial part of the plant, used medicinally, contains a large number of chemical constituents, mainly lactones, diterpenoids, diterpene glycosides, flavonoids, and flavonoid glycosides.

Kalmegha has significant hepatoprotective / the liver protective, hepatostimulant, alterative, blood purifier, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, choleretic, hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, and adaptogenic effects. It is effective diseases of the liver such as jaundice, slanginess, enlargement of the spleen and chronic undetermined fevers. Kalmegh is a bitter tonic.

Nilavembu is contraindicated in bleeding disorders, hypotension, pregnancy as well as male and female sterility.

Chandanam / Sandana / Ingam / Santalum album, is cooling, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, hypotensive, antibacterial and antifebrile. Traditionally it is used to treat fever, infection of the urinary tract, inflammation, low immunity, the liver and gallbladder complaints.

Vetiver / Cuscus / Vetiveria zizanioides / Andropogon muricatus / Ushira / Khas / Khus Khus Grass, has cooling / refrigerant, febrifuge, diaphoretic, stimulant, stomachic and emmenagogue action. It is excellent in curing fever due to its cooling nature. It is effective in the fever that cause shivering, body ache and swelling.

Vilamichu ver / Karu Ver / Kuriveru / Vettiveru / Plectranthus Vettiveroides, is fibrous and strongly aromatic roots similar to Khus Khus grass. It is used traditionally for fever, intrinsic hemorrhage, burning of the liver, swelling of hands and feet, head-ache, dysentery and eye pain, vomiting, and giddiness. It has antibacterial and cooling properties.

Parpata / Parpaatakam/ Mollugo cerviana, is stomachic, aperient, febrifuge, antiseptic, antibacterial, blood purifier and emmenagogue.

Chukku / Sunthi, is gastric and intestine Tonic, digestive, hot, dry, carminative, stimulant, stomachic, anti–inflammatory, antispasmodic, expectorant, circulatory stimulant and diaphoretic. It increases bioavailability of other drugs.

Milaku / Piper nigrum, is carminative and bioavailability enhancer. It is used in fevers, dyspepsia, flatulence, indigestion, and as mucous membrane and gastro-intestinal stimulant.

Musta / Koraikkizhangu / Cyperus rotundus is anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, hepatoprotective, diuretic, antipyretic, analgesic, hypotensive, emmenagogue and nervine tonic. It is used for intestinal problems, indigestion, sprue, diarrhea, dysentery, vomiting and fever.

Vana-Patota / Tikta-Patoli / Trichosanthes cucumerina, is blood purifier, germicidal, appetizer, laxative and hepatoprotective.

Benefits of Nilavembu Kudineer

1. It is effective in the management of fever due to viral infections.
2. It brings body temperature to normal within three days.
3. It reduces swelling and pain in the body to fever.
4. It helps to prevent the recurrence of fever.
5. It is effective in all age groups.
6. It detoxifies the body.
7. It protects the liver.
8. It is well-proven, time tested medicine.
9. It increases platelet count in dengue.
10. It gives relief in the body aches, bone pain, headaches, myalgia, rash, in dengue.
11. It improves body immunity to fight infections.
12. It is effective in the prevention of Chikungunya, Dengue and Other viral fevers. Its daily intake in season of mosquito borne diseases helps to prevent the occurrence of disease. A report on the protective effect of Nilavembu Kudineer against common viral fevers including dengue was published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Research.

Medicinal Properties of Nilavembu Kudineer

The Antipyretic, Analgesic and Anti-dengue activities of Nilavembu Kudineer are scientifically proven. Anna PK ling et al, 2012 proves the methanol extracts of Andrographics paniculata and Memorida charantia possess the ability of inhibiting the activity of DENV-1 (Dengue 1) in vitro assays. The Ethanolic extract of Nilavembu Kudineer Chooranam possesses antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity which supports Nilavembu kudineer chooranam efficacy in chikungunya fever (Anbarasu, 2011).

1. Antipyretic/antifebrile/febrifuge: Effective against fever.
2. Analgesic: relieve pain.
3. Antibacterial: active against bacteria.
4. Anti-viral: effective against viruses.
5. Anti-dengue: effective against dengue.
6. Anti-inflammatory: Reducing inflammation by acting on body mechanisms.
7. Antimicrobial: active against microbes.
8. Hepatoprotective: prevent damage to the liver.
9. Immunomodulatory: modifies the immune response or the functioning of the immune system.

Uses of Nilavembu Kudineer

Nilavembu Kudineer/Kashaya/decoction is useful medicine to treat fevers such as viral, malarial, chikungunya, dengue fever, etc. Regular usage of this decoction is helpful in preventing recurrence of such viral fevers. This medicine can be taken as preventive and curative medicine for viral fevers.

1. Dengue fever
2. Malarial fever
3. Chikungunya
4. Typhoid
5. All types of Fever

The Dosage of Nilavembu Kudineer

For preparing decoction, a teaspoon of dry powder of Nilavembu Kudineer Churanam is added to 200 ml water. This is boiled till water reduces to 50 ml. This is filtered and consumed within three hours.

The recommended dosage of Nilavembu Kudineer is given below:

• Above 12-years: 50ml
• Children between the ages of 5 and 12 years: 20 to 30 ml.
• Children below than five-years-old: 10ml.
• The drink is not advisable for infants.
• For treating fever, drink it three times a day for three to seven days.
• As a preventive measure, drink Nilavembu Kudineer once a day for five days.

In Dengue, it is taken with papaya juice and Adathodai Manapagu to treat dengue.

Adathodai manapagu consists of adathodai (Justicia beddomei) leaves and panai vellam (palm jaggery). It is prepared by cleansing the leaves, cutting them to fine bits and boiling with eight times of water and reduced to one fourth of the initial volume to which purified palm jaggery is added and boiled until the watery content gets evaporated and semisolid (kambi patham) state is obtained.

This medicine should be taken orally before the meals. This decoction can be taken regularly as preventive measure against viral fevers (malaria, chikungunia) in epidemics. Or take as directed by a physician.

Caution / Side effects

1. It is better to prepare decoction from the herbs powder because it should be consumed within three hours after preparation.
2. Patients with peptic ulcers, diarrhea, and bowel disorders must not drink Nilavembu Kudineer as it may worsen their condition.