A recent study published in the Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge (IJTK) by the PHI-Public Health Initiative reveals that a combination of Siddha medicines significantly alleviates anemia among adolescent girls. This research aims to integrate Siddha treatments into mainstream approaches to combating anemia.
The study, conducted by researchers from prominent Siddha institutions including the National Institute of Siddha (NIS), Ministry of Ayush; Xavier Research Foundation; and Velumailu Siddha Medical College & Hospital, found that the Siddha drug combination known as ABMN (Aṉṉapēticentūram, Bāvaṉa kaṭukkāy, Mātuḷai maṇappāku, and Nellikkāy lēkiyam) effectively improves key blood parameters such as Hemoglobin, Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) in anemic adolescent girls.
The study involved 2,648 participants, with 2,300 completing a 45-day treatment regimen. Initially, participants were dewormed using Cuṇṭaivaṟṟal cūraṇam, followed by a 45-day course of the ABMN combination. Clinical symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue, giddiness, headache, anorexia, and pallor were assessed before and after treatment, along with Hemoglobin levels and biochemical markers.
According to WHO guidelines, anemia was categorized based on Hemoglobin levels: severe (below 8.0 mg/dl), moderate (8.0 to 10.9 mg/dl), and mild (11.0 to 11.9 mg/dl). The study also included a laboratory analysis of Hemoglobin, PCV, MCV, MCH, red blood cells (RBC), platelets, total white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils in a randomly selected subset of 283 girls.
The findings indicate that ABMN not only reduced clinical symptoms associated with anemia—such as fatigue, hair loss, headache, loss of interest, and menstrual irregularities—but also significantly improved Hemoglobin, PCV, MCV, and MCH levels.
Dr. R. Meenakumari, Director of the National Institute of Siddha and a senior author of the study, highlighted the importance of these findings: “Siddha medicine plays a crucial role in the public health initiatives of the Ministry of Ayush. The study demonstrates that Siddha treatments, combined with dietary advice and preventive care, offer a cost-effective and accessible solution for managing anemia. These results underscore the potential of Siddha medicine to enhance public health by providing valuable therapeutic benefits.”
