INTRODUCTION

Infantile mortality rate amounts very high in tropical countries like India due to infantile diarrhoea. Inspite of enormous expenditure incurred to improve health standards of the masses, diarrhoea still poses the same threat especially in rural areas. Although it is not a deadly disease as such yet due to ignorance, lack of medical facilities and late treatment children suffer heavily and by the time they
reach some proper medical institution the cases turn complicated to the extent of irreversible state.
To combat such situations propagation of such treatment is earnestly needed which should be easily available, cheap, safe and effective. Ayurveda stands ready for the help of the masses.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

86 children upto the age of 2 years with complaint of diarrhoea form the sample of the study. All the children were from the rural settings of Kasi Vidpapitha Block, Varanasi. The cases having the history of fever, respiratory, infection, otitis media (dehydration, vomiting, blood in stool) and
worm infestation were not included in this study. The parents were instructed to administer Haritaki Satapuspa decoction prepared as follow in group A. Haritaki small (Terminalia chebula) – 45 gms.Satapuspa (Foeniculum vulgare) – 45 gms.First of all Haritaki was anointed with pure ghee and then parched at low temperature.Half portion of Satapuspa was parched and rest half was kept as such. Now both the drugs were powdered (crude) and divided into 9 parts (10 gms, each packet). Decoction (traditional method of 1:6) was prepared from one part of the powder and administered in the doses of 1 TSF / 2 TSF at 15 minutes interval as per age (below one year 1 TSF and 2 TSF above one year). Thus consuming the whole liquid within 2 hours / 1 hour respectively. Group B children received Pectokaolin suspension 1 TSF thrice daily below 1 year and 1 ½ TSF above 1 year.