Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Ashtamangal Ghrita Oral and Nasya in the Management of Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Background: Cerebral palsy is one of the most common childhood disabilities, which hinder the development of a child, causing extensive suffering to affected children and their families. According to world health organization about 10% of population have some form of disabilities. Cerebral Palsy can be compared with Vatavyadhi(neurological disorder) manifested in various form like sarvangavata (quadri-plegia), pakshaghata (hemiparesis), ekangavata(monoplegia), pangu and khanja (motor disorder), kampavata,  jadatva (mental retadation), mukatva (dumbness) etc. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Ashtamangal ghrita, in the form of oral medication and as nasya in the management of cerebral palsy. Material and Methods: Total 24 Children with physical and mental developmental disabilities of of age group 01 to 10 years of either sex were randomly divided into two groups, group A received Ashtamangal ghrita (orally) - 1 ml/kg body weight in two divided doses for 3 months and Group B received Pratimarsh Nasya with Ashtamangal ghrita – 2 drops in each nostril 2 times a day for 3 months. Assessments were done on the basis of 5 point grading score of Clinical symptoms of Cerebral Palsy as per standard classification scale for CP, i.e, motor functions were assessed on the basis of CDC Grading Scale for Motor milestones and Teacher’s drooling test. Follow up visit was on every 15th day. Result: Overall effect of therapy shows that there was 34.79% improvement in group A & 37.74% improvement in group B. Results were slightly superior in group B than group A in most of the parameters. Although intergroup comparison of both groups was not-significant or there were no differences in both groups statistically. Group A was slightly superior than group B in following parameters –Head holding, sitting, teacher drooling scale and spasticity. In all the other parameters group B was slightly superior. Conclusion: Clinical efficacy of both Ashtamangal ghrita orally and as nasya on various parameters of Cerebral Palsy showed that both were effective, safe and comparable.