“ Effect of Kashyapokta Medhya compound in improving ‘IQ’ of school going children: randomized single blind clinical trial”

-Intellectual capability of children has naturally become matter of concern for the present society. About 10% of children in early school age performs poorly and have difficulty in learning academic skills. So dropout rate from school are commonly seen in developing countries like India. For this many factors are responsible among them low intelligence is important one. Ayurveda has a unique concept of Medhajanana . Below average IQ child has impairment in over all levels of intelligence that is cognitive, language, motor and social abilities. Thus with the aim of assessing the effect of an Ayurvedic compound on them, this study was conducted. Aims and Objectives is To evaluate the efficacy of Kashyapokta Medhya compound in improving IQ of school going children. compound improves the IQ in school going children.


Introduction-
Today's era is of competition and in this competitive world everybody preparing their offspring's as most competitive. The intellectual capacity of child is influenced by so many factors like health of parents and child, nutritional status of children, environment, life style etc. Thus intellectual capability of children has naturally become matter of concern for the present society. About 10% of children in early school age performs poorly and have difficulty in learning academic skills 1 . So dropout rate from school are commonly seen in children of developing countries like India. For this many factors are responsible among them low intelligence is important one 2 . Ayurveda has a unique concept of Medhajanana. Many Medhya dravyas and yogas are prescribed for improving intelligence. Even though some studies are done on Medhya dravya but no research work has been done on the present study.
Below average IQ child has impairment in over all levels of intelligence that is cognitive, language, motor and social abilities. Thus with the aim of assessing the effect of an Ayurvedic compound on them, this study entitled "Effect of Kashyapokta Medhya Compound in Improving 'IQ' Of School Going Children: Randomized Single Blind Clinical Trial" was conducted.
This retrospective research work is based on the methodology of randomized single blind placebo control clinical trial. The comparison of the test drugs' effect is made with a placebo Group.
In this study total of >330 subjects were screened by visiting different schools in and around Belgaum.
The review was done on the concepts of Buddhi, Intelligence and Modern & Ayurvedic approach to IQ in detail.

Aims and Objectives of the study
To evaluate the efficacy of Kashyapokta Medhya compound in improving IQ of school going children.

Source of data
Children of either sex of 10 year age Group fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected from schools of Belgaum. Method of collection of Data 1. Screening -Children of different schools of Belgaum were subjected to CPM test and whose IQ was below average were selected. 2. Quantification of intelligence quotientselected subjects were subjected to Seguin form board test to quantify the IQ. Those children whose IQ score was between70-89 were included. 3. Other related relevant data of the subject was collected from teachers and parents through specially designed questionnaires. 4. Segregation of children into Group A and B -By random number table they were divided into two Groups namely Group A and Group B. 5 .Intervention by medication Study Group (Group A) was administered Kashyapokta Medhya compound and control Group (Group B) was administered godhuma at the dose of 5 gm twice daily with honey and ghrut for 1 month. 6. IQ assessment -IQ was assessed by Seguin Form Board test and information was collected through questionnaires. Then result was interpreted scientifically.

Assessment of IQ-(A) Screening Test: CPM Screening
Test 4 designed by J C RAVENS was used to screen the children who come under suspicion Group of below average IQ. The scale consists of. This test contains sets A and B from the standard matrices, with a further set of 12 items inserted between the two, as set Ab. (B) Seguin Form Board Test: 5 Those who come under below average IQ level were put on SFB test to quantify the proper IQ .The "Seguin Form Board (SFB)" was used for assessment of IQ. This is the most commonly used test for measuring general intelligence in children between the age Group of 3 to 11 years. This board has ten wooden blocks of different shapes.
While administering the test the blocks were taken out and stacked in front of the subject who had to put them back as quickly as he could. The task was repeated three times consequently and the score was the time taken on the fastest trial. The score was compared with the SFB Below 70 -Retarded By using SFB test IQ was obtained and those subjects who scored 70 to 89 were included in the study. The SFB test was done pre and post to know the increase in IQ. (C) Questionnaires-Other related relevant data of the subject were collected from teachers and parents through specially designed questionnaires.

Evaluation of the efficacy of Kashyapokta
Medhya compound-A comparative study was designed with two Group comparisons and the study was carried out according to the plan of the study to assess the role of KMC in improving IQ.

Parents questionnaire:
In Group A the mean score was increased by 34.51% i.e. the results were significant (P<0.001). In Group B overall score in questionnaires 20.27% which was also statistically significant (p<0.0022), is calculated on the basis of a series of ten questionnaires. These questionnaires basically estimate the social competence, sleep, general awareness, commonsense, memory and mathematical proficiency of the child. The data thus reveals that Group A provided maximum improvement in the above mentioned mental capacities.
3. Teachers questionnaire. The specially designed questionnaires were based on a series of ten Questions which took into consideration the technical skills and reasoning of the child, ability to do homework, cognition, mathematical fluency, grasping power etc. In Group A an increase of 31.39% was observed, which is statistically significant (p< 0.0001). In Group B an increase of 8.33% was seen in the mean teachers questionnaire score, which is statistically less significant (p<0.0030). Thus it can be said that Kashyapokta Medhya compound and placebo given orally provided the improvement in I.Q. But compared with placebo KMC is better in improving scholastics performance.

PROBABLE MODE OF ACTION-Kashyapokta Medhya Compound:
Manjistha-Manjistha is having madhur rasa so ultimately it is shadendriya prasadak also madhur rasa acts as Medhya.R.cardifolia exerts neuroprotection 7 and weak nootropic activity 8 . Triphala-Triphala is having madhur rasa, madhur vipak so it acts as a Medhya. Apart from that research shows that it is having antidepressant and memory enhancing activity 9 . Brahmi-By virtue of tikta rasa and prabhav it acts as Medhya, resent research also proves that bacoside is useful for improving cognition, memory and intelligence 10 ,11. Bala-It is having madhur rasa and madhur vipak so helpful in Medhavardhan. It is antioxidant, and it is susseccfully used in neurodegenerative disorders 12 . Atibala-Karma is same as Bala, roots and panchang acts as nervine tonic 13 . Chitrak-It is hrudya so acts as an indriya prasadaka. Resent researches shows that it is having central nervous stimulating activity 14 . It is having ushna virya, so probably corrects the vitiated kapha and vata and promotes alochaka and sadhaka pitta. Ghrut-The ghruta is madhura rasa dominant and thus acts as sad indriya prasadaniya. The base of the preparation is ghruta which is dipana, pacana,