CLINICAL EVALUATION OF SHIGRU SWARASA (MORINGA OLEIFERA) IN THE MANAGEMENT OF KARSHYA (UNDERWEIGHT) AMONG CHILDREN AGED 3–7 YEARS: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21760333Keywords:
Karshya, Shigru Swarasa, Moringa oleifera, Underweight, Ayurveda, Child NutritionAbstract
Childhood undernutrition remains a major public health challenge, particularly in rural India, and is comparable to Karshya in Ayurveda, a condition resulting from impaired digestion (Agnimandya) and inadequate tissue nourishment. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Shigru Swarasa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) in the management of Karshya among underweight children aged 3–7 years. An open-label experimental study was conducted on 30 underweight children selected from ten rural Anganwadi centres. Freshly prepared Shigru Swarasa was administered orally twice daily for eight months, and anthropometric parameters were assessed through monthly follow-up. Among the enrolled children, 18 (60%) showed significant improvement, 5 (16.67%) showed mild improvement, 5 (16.67%) showed no improvement, and 2 (6.67%) discontinued treatment. Statistical analysis revealed significant improvement following the intervention (p<0.05). The findings suggest that Shigru Swarasa is a safe, economical, and effective Ayurvedic nutritional intervention that promotes healthy growth by improving digestion, nutrient assimilation, and tissue nourishment in children with Karshya.
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