Abstract

EFFECT OF AN AYURVEDIC TREATMENT PROTOCOL ON PARTIAL SEIZURE WITH SECONDARY GENERALIZATION

Bushra O. and Parvatheedevi M. P.

ABSTRACT

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder with recurrent and unpredictable interruptions in neuronal functions called as epileptic seizures. It has become a major public health problem all over the world. One in 200 among the general population has epilepsy at any one period of time. It is a lifelong tendency and can start at any age with irregular frequency and intervals. The disease is characterized by strange sensations, emotions, and behavior and sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. Ayurvedic classics have described the disease with these symptoms long back itself, known as Apasmaara. So many research works were already conducted in this area to find out an ideal anti epileptic drug but it is still a dream. Materials and Methods: An open clinical trial was conducted in 107 participants. Participants were selected from OPD of Govt Ayurveda Research Institute for mental diseases Kottakkal, Maadin special school Malappuram, Association for the Welfare of Handicapped kottakkal, Malabar special school Kottakkal. After getting informed consent from parents, participants were taken into the study. Ashtachoorna (3-5gm bid) and Krimighnavati(2 daily) was given for 21 days. After that root powder of Sweta shankupushpi was given 1gm bid with hot water, Aswagandha and Vacha choorna combination (2:1 ratio) 2gm bid with honey, and Kooshmanda swarasa grtha 5-10 gm at night. The total duration of interventions was 12 months. Assessment was done before treatment and after treatment using specially formulated epilepsy assessment scale. Results: The treatment package showed significant results (p<0.001) on reduction in frequency, severity, duration of attack and on post ictal features. Conclusion: The treatment package has promising result in people with epilepsy.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Kooshmanda swarasa ghrtha, Sweta shankupushpi, Aswagandha, Vacha.