Siddha Drug’s Effectiveness in Reducing Anaemia Among Adolescent Girls: Study

The study involved 2,648 participants, with 2,300 completing a 45-day treatment program. Initially, participants were dewormed with Cuṇṭaivaṟṟal cūraṇam before receiving the ABMN treatment.

A recent study published in the Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge (IJTK) reveals that a Siddha drug combination effectively reduces anaemia in adolescent girls. Conducted by the PHI-Public Health Initiative, the research underscores the potential of Siddha medicine in addressing anaemia.

The study, led by researchers from prominent Siddha institutions including the National Institute of Siddha (NIS), Xavier Research Foundation, and Velumailu Siddha Medical College & Hospital, examined the impact of a Siddha drug treatment known as ABMN (Aṉṉapēticentūram, Bāvaṉa kaṭukkāy, Mātuḷai maṇappāku, and Nellikkāy lēkiyam) on anaemia in adolescent girls.

The study involved 2,648 participants, with 2,300 completing a 45-day treatment program. Initially, participants were dewormed with Cuṇṭaivaṟṟal cūraṇam before receiving the ABMN treatment. The researchers evaluated clinical features such as breathlessness, fatigue, and headache, alongside haemoglobin and biochemical levels before and after the treatment.

ABMN was found to significantly improve haemoglobin levels, packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH). The study adhered to WHO guidelines, setting anaemia thresholds at haemoglobin levels below 8.0 mg/dl as severe, 8.0 to 10.9 mg/dl as moderate, and 11.0 to 11.9 mg/dl as mild.

Additionally, laboratory tests on a subset of 283 girls confirmed that ABMN alleviated anaemia symptoms such as fatigue, hair loss, and menstrual irregularities while enhancing key blood parameters.

Dr. R. Meenakumari, Director of the National Institute of Siddha and a senior author of the study, emphasized the role of Siddha medicine in public health. She noted, “Siddha medicine significantly contributes to the Ministry of Ayush’s public health initiatives. The awareness, dietary advice, and treatment provided through Siddha drugs offer therapeutic benefits and can provide a cost-effective, accessible solution for anaemia.”

This study highlights the growing recognition of Siddha medicine as a viable option for managing anaemia, potentially offering valuable insights for public health strategies.