Usefulness of Curcuma longa in the Cases of Functional Dyspepsia—A Parallel Arm-Controlled Study

Abstract

Abstract Background Functional dyspepsia is one of the common gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. This prospective experimental, randomised, single-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted at SKHMC, Jaipur, for a period of 1 year (March 2018–March 2019) with a 3 -month intervention and follow-up period, aiming to ascertain the usefulness of Curcuma longa in the cases of functional dyspepsia. Materials and Methods In this study, after screening of 220 patients using ROME III diagnostic criteria, 88 cases of functional dyspepsia fulfilling the eligibility criteria were included and enrolled in the study in a ratio of 1:1. Assuming 10% drop-outs to obtain 80 evaluable cases, that is, 40 cases were randomly allocated to experimental group (Curcuma longa), while another 40 cases were allocated to controlled group (Placebo). Both the arms followed dietary and lifestyle modifications. Usefulness of homoeopathic medicine and placebo in cases with functional dyspepsia on day 35 was compared with baseline. Potency used was 30 CH. Assessment and reassessment were done using gastrointestinal symptom (GIS) score. Results Eighty cases completed the study, in (50%) subjects marked improvement was seen in 12 (30%) cases in Curcuma longa group and 00(0%) cases in placebo group, moderate improvement was seen in 8 (20%) cases in Curcuma longa and 01 (2.5%) in placebo group, mild improvement was seen in 6 (15%) cases in Curcuma longa and 2 (5%) cases in placebo group, no relief was seen in 14 (35%) cases in Curcuma longa and 37 (92.5%) cases in placebo group. Functional dyspepsia is found in middle-aged persons of 36 to 45 years, with predominance in females. To analyse the change in the GIS scores of symptoms of functional dysplasia, paired t-test was applied for both treatment group and control group. It was observed from the paired t-test result that there is a one-point increase in the pre- and post-average GIS score (from 28.65 to 29.65) in the control group and it is not statistically significant (t = −0.760 and p = .452). Whereas there is 13.3-point decrease (from 29.55 to 16.25) in the treatment group and it is statistically significant (t = 9.347 and p = 0.000). Conclusion It indicates medicine is effective in lowering down the GIS score, which was statistically significant to conclude that homoeopathic medicine Curcuma longa was effective in the cases of functional dyspepsia.