Clinical Study on the Effect of Swarnamritaprashana (Modified Swarna Prashana) on Immunity (IgG) in Children of 3 to 5 years

Abstract

Background: Owing to reduced immunity, more children are becoming prone to various recurrent infections especially upper respiratory tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections and gastro intestinal tract infections.Swarnamritaprashana has been practiced for many years in many institutions throughout India, and it has been proved that regular administration of Swarnamritaprashana improves immunity. That is the reason this study was taken to evaluate the effect of Swarnamritaprashana on immunity [IgG] in children of 3 to 5 years. Materials and Methods: 60 Children, fulfilling the inclusion criteria and willingly participating under the parental assent between the age group 3 and 5 years, were recruited and were allocated into two groups (Study Group, Control Group), each consisting of 30 children in which study group children were recruited from Swarnamritaprashana Program on every Pushyanakshatra day at Shree Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda, Hassan, and control group children were recruited from different Anganwadis of Hassan. The 30 children in the study group were administered with Swarnamritaprashana for continuous nine Pushayanakshatra day while another 30 children in control group were not given any medication. Routine blood investigations were done in order to rule out the secondary conditions and IgG levels were also accessed for immunity before and after intervention. General health was also accessed on the basis of recurrent infection episodes.Results: Positive results were seen in the study group while number of recurrent episodes of infection showed a decreasing trend while control group showed an increasing trend. Accelerated growth (anthropometry) was more seen in study group than in control group. Levels of IgG were also seen in near normal range after nine months in study group. Conclusion: Swarnamritaprashana helps in modulating the immunity