Mandyam Kumar, an expert at the Siddha Medical Research Institute, Bangalore, has developed an injectable medicine - "Solar Drop" - which claims to cure patients with full-blown AIDS cases and other viral infections.

An extract bf 13 herbs, the Solar Drop is "an immunomodulator that helps in proper 'functioning of the entire immune mechanism in coordination with nervous and endocrine system, during different immunological disorders", says Kumar. The medicine is in its trial stage.