Lok Sabha Question No. 6633 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-06
Subject: Malnutrition among Children
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: KAMLA DEVI PATLE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH)

LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 6633 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH APRIL, 2018

## MALNUTRITION AMONG C HILDREN

## 6633. SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE:

Will  the  Minister of AYURVEDA,  YOGA  AND  NATUROPATHY,  UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  a  large  number  of  children  are  suffering  from  malnutrition  and  if  so,  the thereof; and
- (b) whether AYUSH system of medici ne provides affordable diagnosis, prevention, treatment and management of child malnutrition and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

- (a) : As per the recent report of National Family Health Survey (NFHS) -4 conducted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2015 - 16,  3 .7% children under 5 years of age are underweight  and  38 .4%  are  stunted  indicating  a  reduction  from  the  previous  NFHS -3 conducted in 2005 - 06, which reported 42.5% children under 5 years of age as underweight an 48% stunted. The above data shows that there is a reduction in the level of malnutrition chi ldren in the country.
- (b) : The  System - wise  details  of  Ayurveda,  Unani,  Siddha  and  Homoeopathy  medicine providing affordable diagnosis, prevention, treatment and management are as under: -

## Ayurveda

Malnutrition / Nutritional disorders have been defined in Ayurvedic ancient classical texts as Kuposhanjanya  Vyadhi. The  diagnosis  is  done  on  the  basis  of  Ayurvedic  approach  of  Nidan Panchaka and the Dashavidha Pariksha. The prevention and treatment starts right from the of  pregnancy.  For  this  purpose,  A yurveda  has  elaborately  described  Garbhini  paricharya  i.e. antenatal  care,  which  also  includes  dietary  and  lifestyle  advocacies  according  to  the pregnancy.  The  line  of  treatment  and  management  of  undernourished  children  is  aimed improving Agni i.e. digestive fire, removal of Ama i.e. intermediate metabolites and impro the nutrition. Medicinal herbs like Sunthi (Dry Ginger), Pippali, Mareech etc are used to the Agni and removal of Ama. In case of breastfed children, mother is given Sh atavari Churna,

Jeerakaadi lehyam, Methi modaka etc to improve lactation and its quality. Children fed o milk are given milk boiled with Sunthi. There are good numbers of single and compound po -herbal medicines which could be administered to childr en for the management of malnutrition. These include Shatavari, Vidaari Kanda, Amalki, Jeeraka, Preenanamodaka, Rambhaphalarasayana,  Ajamansrasayana  etc.  In  addition  to  the  internal  medication,  exte application of oils in children, such as Chandan bala lakshadi taila, bala ashwagandhadi taila, mahamans taila etc are also useful.

## Homoeopathy

Homoeopathic  system  of  medicine  has  medicines  to  address  malnutrition  which  is  due underlying disease like worm infestations etc. However treatment needs to suppl em nted with adequate nutritional diet if it is primarily due to under nutrition. Diagnosis is based u signs and symptoms and laboratory tests where ever required. The first line of handlin cases is prevention through healthy and nutriti ous diet. The parents of the children are educated to provide healthy and nutritious diet to their children to prevent malnutrition.

## Siddha

For prevention, Siddha advocates Supplementation of Sowbakya Suntee lehyam which promotes Milk secretion and the same is included in the AMMA kit distributed to every delivered mo By this, Breast milk secretion is enhanced and low birth weight is prevented. Other th Thetran kottai lehyam, Nellikai lehyam, Annabedhi c henduram and Uraimathirai are formulations used in Siddha for prevention of Malnutrition.

## Unani

Some common remedies used to treat the undernourished children under Unani system of medicine are Jawarish Amla, Sharbat Foulad, Habbe Jawahar, Kushta Khubsul H adeed etc.