A comparative study of individualized homoeopathic medicine versus alfalfa tonic in management of under- nutrition in the age group of 1-5 years–randomized control trial

Undernutrition among under five children in India is a major public health problem. Despite India‟s growth in the economy, the child mortality rate due to under nutrition is still high in both urban and rural areas. Studies that focus on urban slums are scarce. Hence, the present study was carried out to assess the prevalence and determinants of under nutrition in children under five in Maharashtra, India. OBJECTIVES:-Primary objective-To study the effectiveness of Alfalfa tonic in BMI of children who suffering from Under nutrition. Secondary objective-To study the effectiveness so find individualized homoeopathic medicine in BMI of children who suffering from Under nutrition. Design:-This is a randomized control trial where a protocol is drawn and accordingly patients were selected. Materials and methods-Study design:-A randomized control trial. Study Setting:-M(N)HMC OPD and Village Camps. Study Duration:-6months Eligibility criteria:-a)Inclusion criteria:-1)patients of age group1 5years2)Sex–both 3)Children‟s parents giving consent to take medicine.4) Grade I and Grade II from Gomez classification b)Exclusion criteria:-1)Age below1year and above 5years. 2) Known case of any major illness.3) Grade III from Gomez classification. Result-As our first objective was-To study the effectiveness of homeopathic individualized medicine in BMI of children who suffering from under nutrition, so the result was 24 Patients were prescribed with Group-A in which12 patients showed improvement and12 patients were in grade-I. According to Gomez classification-50% (12) cases came under Grade-Normal and50% (12) Cases comes under Grade-I which was before in grade-I and grade-II. Second objective was-To study the effectiveness of Alfalfa tonic in BMI of children suffering from under nutrition, so the result was 24 Patients were prescribed with Group-B in which 23 patients showed improvement and only 1patients were in grade-I. According to Gomez classification-91.66% (23) cases came under Grade-Normal and 8.33% (1) cases comes under Grade-I, which was before in grade-II. Conclusion-By comparing the result of both individualized homoeopathic medicine (group A) and Alfalfa tonic (group B). Hence, we concluded that both group are effective in the management of under nutrition in the age group of 1-5 years but according to our statistical analysis, alfalfa tonic (Group-B)is more effective than individualized homoeopathic medicine.