RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF INFLUENCE OF ABHYANG AND SVEDAN ON NEUROPLASTICITY IN CEREBRAL PALSY PATIENTS

ABSTRACT Introduction: Panchakarma are a group of very unique ayurvedic therapeutic approaches having the potential of releasing spasticity and contractures, providing positive neuroplasticity after neurologic insult, removing abnormal metabolites developed due to faulty life style or any pathological process in the body, etc. Some of these procedures involve drug delivery systems bypassing the hepatic first pass effect. Abhyang (therapeutic massage) is one such system, which employed with svedan (therapeutic sudation), relieves spasticity and is widely used in several neurological conditions including cerebral palsy (CP). Since both these procedures are used externally they are extremely helpful and effective therapeutic tools for the ayurvedic pediatricians and are also readily accepted by patients and parents. Several children with cerebral palsy opt for ayurvedic treatment in ------------. Material and methods: In this article, retrospective analysis of both these procedures in 51 cases of CP during a finite period (of 22 months) is carried out with focus on their neuroplastic ability. Gross Motor Function Classification System Expanded and Revised (GMFCSE-R) levels of each patient before and after treatment, data related to impairment of speech, vision and cognitions as well as epilepsy along with available radiodiagnostic reports were noted. Detail analysis of the documented data in their files was done to evaluate the possible effect of abhyang and svedan. Observations and results: Only three patients out of 51 failed to respond to this treatment i.e. 94.11% of the patients showed improvement. Some children achieved near normal motor function and became independent in their routine activities. The results in detail are discussed in this article. Discussion: Currently proposed ten principles of neuroplasticity are discussed along with proposal for consideration of willingness (attitude) of the patient and cognition as another principles as they influence the neuroplasticity. Conclusion: Considering the improvement in motor function in 94.11% cases it can be said that abhyang and svedan have positive neuroplastic effect on the motor function of the CP patients irrespective of site of pathology in the brain and time of initiation of panchakarma therapy. Key words neuroplasticity; cerebral palsy; abhyang; svedan