Abstract

CLINICAL EVALUATION OF A SIDDHA PREPARATION BRAHMI NEI (INTERNAL MEDICINE) AND KOLLU PODI THIMIRTHAL (EXTERNAL) IN THE TREATMENT OF SIRASTHAMBAVAATHAM (CEREBRAL PALSY) – A PILOT STUDY

G. Ridhambaradevi*, R. Vinodini, M. Meenakshi Sundaram and V. Banumathi

Abstract

Introduction: In Siddha system of medicine, Sirasthambavaatham is a disease which is correlated with Cerebral palsy that was managed by various neuroprotective medicines and external therapies like varmam, thokkanam, nasiyam, otradam with the help of medicated oils and powders. Cerebral palsy is defined as non-progressive disorder of posture and movement often associated with seizure and abnormalities of speech, vision and intellect resulting from a defect or lesion of the developing brain. In National Institute of Siddha, Chennai about 75% of children visited Kuzhanthai maruthuvam OPD on 2013 – 2014 for the management of Sirathambavatham which inspired us to undergo research on that topic. Objective: The objective of the study is to analyse the efficacy the drug Brahmi nei and Kollu podi thimirthal in the management of Sirasthambavatham (Cerebral palsy). Method: The pilot study was conducted at the Ayothidoss Pandithar Hospital, National Institute of Siddha, Tambaram Sanatorium, Chennai-47. Ten children were recruited in the study, those meeting with inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were treated with Brahmi nei twice a day and Kollu podi thimirthal for 28 days. Grading of spasticity was recorded before and after treatment with the help of Modified As worth scale. Result: There is significant reduction in spasticity of the muscles for all the 10 children included in this study. Paired‘t’ test was performed for determining the statistical significance between before and after treatment. Conclusion: It can be concluded that Brahmi nei along with Kollu podi thimirthal (massage) has a definitive action on spasticity in cerebral palsy children.

Keywords: Sirasthambavatham, Cerebral palsy, Special children, Modified Asworth scale, Powder massage, Siddha medicine.