No scientific proof that herbs cure dengue: AIIMS

Days after yoga guru Ramdev advocated the use of herbs like giloy, aloe vera and papaya leaves to cure dengue, experts at AIIMS on Wednesday said there was no scientific proof that herbs help fight dengue and advised people not to fall for the propaganda in this regard.

Medical experts from India's apex health institution here also said they never prescribe herbs during dengue as there was no scientific evidence or research to prove that herbs were beneficial in curing dengue.

"We don't recommend these 'herbal cures' like aloe vera, papaya leaves and goat milk. We would also advise people not to scramble for these as there is no scientific evidence or research based on which it can be conclusively said that these herbs and fruits can be effective in the treatment of dengue," said S.K. Sharma, head of the medicine department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

He said that even if such herbs increase blood platelets, that was not the reason to conclude that it can also cure dengue.

"If the intake of these herbs increased platelets in two or three people, that doesn't establish their efficacy in the cure of dengue. There has to be a proper controlled trial on their use in treatment of dengue," Sharma added.

With the death of two more dengue patients in Delhi's hospitals on Wednesday, the official toll has reached 21. However, the unofficial figure has risen to over 60.

The number of dengue cases in the capital is over 3,000.

Anil Goswami, assistant professor at the Centre for Community Medicine at AIIMS, urged people not to panic, saying 99 percent of dengue cases were preventable and manageable at home and do not require admission.

"Fatality rate in dengue cases is just 0.3 percent and 99 percent of patients can be cured with proper treatment and care at home," he said.