Article: EXPLORING THE CORRELATION BETWEEN MALATU PUZHU AND SCHISTOSOMIASIS: SIDDHA APPROACHES TO TREAT INFERTILITY CAUSED BY PARASITIC INFECTIONS

Article Category: Review articles

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.17281

Pages: 210-215

Author: Jenbagavalli T *, Muthuvel A, Meenakshi Sundaram M

Abstract: Infertility affects 60–80 million couples globally, with 15–20 million in India each year. While multiple factors contribute to infertility, parasitic infections like Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease, are often overlooked. Schistosomiasis may lead to azoospermia in males and Asherman syndrome in females; early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent complications. In Siddha texts, infertility caused by pathogens was addressed as Malatu Puzhu, Suronitha Kirumi, and Karba Poochi, with a detailed description of symptoms, progression, and treatments. This study explores the correlation between Malatu Puzhu and Schistosomiasis, as well as Siddha treatments for the condition. This review examines the conceptual correlation between Malatu Puzhu in Siddha texts and schistosomiasis in modern medicine. Classical Siddha textbooks were analyzed using relevant keywords to identify disease descriptions and formulations. Contemporary biomedical literature indexed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Medline was also reviewed to understand the pathophysiology and reproductive consequences of schistosomiasis. The findings reveal a correlation between the manifestations of schistosomal infection and the Siddha concept of pathogen-induced infertility. Several Siddha formulations indicated for Malatu Puzhu and commonly used herbs, which were reported to have antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, and fertility-supportive properties, were documented. Overall, this review emphasizes the underrecognized role of parasitic infections in infertility and the importance of early intervention. It also highlights the potential of Siddha therapeutic approaches as complementary strategies in managing infertility associated with parasitic infections, warranting further pharmacological and clinical research.

Keyword: Malatu puzhu; infertility; Schistosomiasis; Siddha.