CMCH to conduct stroke recovery trial

Ludhiana: The department of Neurology at Christian Medical College& Hospital is conducting a trial on Paralysis/Stroke patients funded by Indian Council of Medical Research. This is a unique project which proposes that Ayurvedic Treatment is superior to conventional physiotherapy in paralysis patients. The patients would be assigned into Ayurveda or Standard care physiotherapy only after they have been stabilized in hospital & are eligible for inclusion in the trial. Physiotherapy which is the main stream for stroke rehabilitation in proven to be effective. Contrary, Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine has many beneficial effects in the rehabilitation of post stroke patients. The objective of the project is to find out the safety and compare the efficacy of Ayurvedic treatment in the rehabilitation of stroke patients.
The assignment of these patients into Ayurveda or Standard care treatment is done by computerized method which is non-biased. Christian Medical College& Hospital is collaborating with Kerala Ayurveda Centre, Pakhowal Road, Ludhiana which is run being run by an Ayurveda expert from Kerala, Dr. Dhanya Nair since 2004. The treatment procedures are scheduled over a period of 30 days and are provided as an in-patient treatment at the ayurvedic centers along with ayurvedic diet. Stroke patients seek alternative treatments for better post-stroke recovery. Alternative medicine such as Ayurveda may aid in the speedy and consistent recovery for stroke patients.
Dr. Dhanya Nair said that Ayurveda which is traditional system of treatment which is practiced in our country has beneficial effects in the rehabilitation of stroke patients. The treatment includes, Dhanyamla Dhara (induced sweating), Ksheera Dhooma (milk steam therapy), Patrapodala Swedam (induced sweating), Virechana (induced purgation), Dhanya Pinda Swedam (induced sweating) and Madhu Tailika Vasti (medicated enema).
Dr. Silky Adya, Research Coordinator at CMCH for the trial, said that stroke patients seek alternative treatments for better post stroke recovery and no study have conducted in India to evaluate effectiveness of Ayurveda. By this study we will be able to formulate a rehabilitation protocol for the stroke patients integrating different rehabilitation approaches.
Dr. Jeyaraj D Pandian said that “Stroke is a major reason for long term disability and poor quality of life. There are no definite guidelines and treatment protocols for the rehabilitation of the stroke patients. In India the frequency of alternative treatment opted by stroke patients was found to be 59.3%. Patients who had motor deficits and severe strokes tend to use alternative medicine. Patients also stop secondary prevention drugs and use many alternative medicines which can lead to stroke recurrence. The brain has significant plasticity and reorganization capacity even in the old age. By enhancing this plasticity, there is a potential for improving the functional outcome of stroke patients” Hence, the Indian Council of Medical Research initiated this RESTORE Project Dr. Pandian added.