Comparative efficacy of homeopathic and allopathic treatments against Foot and Mouth disease in cattle

The study was conducted in crossbred Frieswal bulls (Holstein-Friesian X Sahiwal) during an outbreak of FMD and 24 FMD-affected animals were randomly divided in to two groups-homeopathic treatment group and allopathic treatment group-consisting of 14 and 10 animals, respectively. Animals in the homeopathic treatment group were treated with Sulphur 200C @ 20 drops orally once, Kalium iodatum 200C @ 20 drops orally twice a day for 3 days. Calendula mother tincture was used for washing and topical application over the oral and foot lesions. Animals in the allopathic treatment group were treated with in tramuscular injections of strepto-penicillin twice adayfor 3 days, meloxicam oncea dayfor 3 days along with washing of oral and foot lesions with potassium permanganate (1: 1000) followed by topical application of 2% boroglycerine over the oral ulcers. The animals were closely inspected for 12 days for recording clinical signs. The mean rectal temperature in the animals of homeopathic treatment group was significantly(p<0.05) lower than those of the allopathic treatment group on days 2 and 3 post treatment. Appetite score improved significantly (p<0.05) in homeopathic treatment group as compared with allopathic treatment group on day 3 post treatment. Healing scores of oral mucosal lesion were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the homoeopathic treatment group than that in the allopathic treatment group on days 2, 3, and 5 post therapy. Healing of foot lesions was significantly (p<0.05) better in the homeopathic treatment group than that in the allopathic treatment group on day 3 and 5 post treatment.