Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/ALS and movement disorders
Improvement of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with therapeutic techniques from Ayurvedic Medicine.
Jay Glaser, MD
UMass-Memorial Clinton Hospital
Lancaster Ayur-Veda Medical Center
Lancaster, MA 01564
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an uncommon and progressive disorder of unknown cause involving lower motor neurons and having no currently known effective therapy. The author, who specializes in treatment programs for chronic disorders utilizing a comprehensive science of health including treatment strategies from Ayurvedic medicine and other Vedic disciplines, has been approached by patients with ALS looking for therapeutic options.
Eight consecutive patients with ALS presenting for treatment between 1992 and 1995 were evaluated before and after therapy with a standard scale measuring functional status in patients with this disorder. The scale used was the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Severity Scale developed by HIllel et al. It provides a rapid functional assessment of symptoms in four categories that describe speech, swallowing, lower extremity and upper extremity abilities. These scores provide a rapid and accurate evaluation of a patient's status and can be used for following therapy. The ALS severity scale has been shown to have an estimated reliability coefficient of 0.95 between different examiners.
In each of the four categories, the investigator evaluated the patient by both examining and asking questions related to the function. In each category, 10 is a perfect score, with no functional impairment. A score of 1 means no function, e.g. flaccid paralysis of an extremity, inability to effectively speak or swallow secretions.
Four patients coming from out of state for out-patient consultation were lost to follow-up. The four patients with complete results had one week in-residence treatments and were evaluated at the beginning of their stays and 6 days later before discharge.
Results: see Table 1. (Cannot be reproduced for this web site).
Three of four patients staying at the center for a one week program had improvements of a significant enough nature (2.5 to 6 points) that it made a functional difference in their lifestyle. In two of the patients the improvement was dramatic, with an improvement of at least one functional level on three of the areas measured. In the fourth patient, there was no substantial change.
Discussion
This limited study suggests that Ayurveda may offer encouraging treatment options for patients with ALS. The developers of the test have noted that in a small group of patients, progression of the disease was from -3.4 to -24.0 points per year with a mean decline of 11.3 points. Thus, in this small pilot study, an improvement of 3 to 6 points in two of the patients represents an encouraging response. The therapy given was simply an in-residence rejuvenation program (panchakarma). It does not reflect a response to a complete out-patient follow-up program including herbs, dietary modification, TM, Yoga, and other appropriate therapies. The author feels that a more comprehensive study is warranted.
Reference
Hillel AD et al. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Severity Scale. Neuroepidemiology 1989,8: 142-150.
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