Abstract:Background and objectives: Falij is derived from an Arabic word
Falj which literally means splitting into halves. It is the paralysis of longitudinal half of the body starting either below the neck, sparing head & face or covering the entire longitudinal half of the body from head to toe. It draws analogy with hemiplegia occurring due to stroke. The estimated age-adjusted prevalence rate for stroke in India is between 84/100,000 and 262/100,000 in rural and between 334/100,000 and 424/100,000 in urban area. Unani physicians have advocated
Tanqia and
Ta’deel as treatment of
Falij. Therefore, a study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of
Munzij wa Mus'hil-e-Balgham and
Zimad-e-Sheetraj on Motor Recovery in
Falij-e-Nisfi (Hemiplegia).
Methods: Present study was an open, single arm, pre and post without control trial, carried out on 29 patients with hemiplegia, secondary to stroke. Patients were given Munzij-e- Balgham in Joshanda (decoction) form, orally, once daily before breakfast for 14 days; the ingredients of Mus'hil-e-Balgham were added in Munzij-e-Balgham and given in decoction form on 12th day. From 13th day of treatment, 5 grams of Safoofe Sheetraj was applied on spinal column as Zimad for 15 minutes, once daily till the 30th day. The assessment was based on Motor Assessment scale (MAS) and Barthel Index. Pre and post treatment values of the scales were analyzed statistically using paired student's t-test.
Results: The difference between the pre and post treatment values obtained for Barthel Index and MAS were found highly significant (p<0.001).
Interpretation & Conclusion: On the basis of the above observations and results, it may be concluded that the trial formulations are effective in the treatment of motor recovery in stroke. This treatment regimen may be used to reduce the dependence and improve the quality of life in patients of hemiplegia secondary to stroke.