Curry leaves

Soon karuveppilai (curry leaves) capsules will find a place on the shelves of all medical shops. Acknowledging its value as a potential cure for anaemia, the Tamil Nadu state government has initiated an innovative project to make easy-to-use capsules of karuveppilai, which is rich in iron content, and provides them to pregnant mothers and children to fight anaemia. Plans are on to add karuveppilai podi (curry leaves powder) in the noon-meal menu.

A team of Siddha doctors at the Government Siddha Hospital at Chennai is working on formulating the karuveppilai capsules in different doses for patients suffering from anaemia of various categories.

The capsule will be a combination of karuveppilai, and greens like karisalankanni and ponnanganni and dry gooseberry.

During the ongoing Assembly session, all legislators present during the discussion of the policy note on health and family welfare department got a gift kit of herbal healers from the government that included karuveppilai podi.

“Apart from its healing qualities, karuveppilai podi tastes delicious when you mix it with hot rice and add a bit of nallennai (gingelly oil). And it is the cheapest nutrition-provider in an Indian meal,” said Vik­kravandi MLA R. Ramamurthy (CPM), welcoming the government capsule initiative.

Health secretary, Dr J. Radhakrishnan said chief minister J. Jayalalithaa was keen on propagating the traditional medicines as they are safe and effective.
Siddha doctors said the fam­­ous siddhars, Aga­thiyar and The­yraiyar, had penned several songs hailing karuveppilai.

According to the siddhars, karuveppilai will improve digestion as well as provide resistance to ailments. “It will stimulate hunger, strengthen the pancreas and liver.
Youngsters having grey hair can consume karuveppilai to get back natural, black hair,” said siddha doctor S. Suganthan.