AGASTYA

EFFECT OF AYURVEDA AND YOGA PROTOCOL IN MANAGING CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

AUTHORS

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1.       Dr. Dinesh.KS, Founder of CIMCD, AyUCALM, Principal Investigator of the project, Professor and head, Vaidyaratnam P.S.Varier Ayurveda College, Kottakkal, India[+91 9447698085, www.ethicalayurveda.com, drayurksd@gmail.com ]

2.       Dr. Nazeema P.K, Professor and head, Vaidyaratnam P.S.Varier Ayurveda College, Kottakkal, India

3.       Dr. Swapnachitra, Senior Research Fellow, Kerala Ayurveda studies and research society, Government of Kerala, India

4.       Dr.Santhikrishna, Junior Research fellow, Kerala Ayurveda studies and research society, Government of Kerala, India

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AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of neuro-behavioural conditions, the symptoms of which are seen in patients from early development stages. Of late, there has been an alarming increase in the incidence of these conditions. ASD is mostly prevalent in the ‘developed’ world. It is a negative consequence of the lifestyle changes of the people of these areas that has, otherwise, brought them improved health and living conditions. This is further validated by the fact that ASD is rarely found in tribal populations that live in remote places.

Parents and caregivers of the patients are always on the lookout for treatment and therapeutic techniques that yield maximum results, while being affordable in the long run. The solution to this is to follow a comprehensive protocol that gives long-term results while helping to maintain the quality of life and not being expensive.

A group of Ayurvedic medical professionals from Kerala, India had come together to formulate one such protocol and carry out studies on its impact. The research was funded mainly by the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India.

The group named the protocol as AGASTYA, an acronym for the components, as below, that constitute the treatment regime:

-                      Ayurveda Herbal Drugs

-                      Gut Therapy Protocol

-                      Ayurveda Standards of Living

-                      Training of the Parents

-                      Yogic Assistance

ABOUT AYURVEDA

Ayurveda is an Indian traditional medical treatment system that has been in practice for many millennia and the wisdom and knowledge of which has been passed on for generations. The treatments are based on a holistic approach to diagnosis of conditions and prescription of treatment regimens that addresses the good and bad sides of the biological, psychological, social and spiritual domains of the patient. The Ministry of AYUSH ( [http://ayush.gov.in/]) of Government of India is the governing authority for Ayurveda medicine.

BASIS FOR FORMULATING THE PROTOCOL

Children affected by ASD require undivided care and attention to ensure their physical and psychological development. Their condition must be managed at all domains – social, biological, psychological and spiritual – to ensure proper care. These actions should be initiated and continued by the child’s family so that it will result in the child leading a normal and independent life in the future. The AGASTYA protocol was formulated to comprehensively address the management of all the domains with the active participation of the whole family in bringing about positive transformation in the child. The treatment methods administered and the results of the research on the impacts of these on patients are described below.

THE AGASTYA PROTOCOL

1.                   Ayurvedic Medicines:

Based on the detailed diagnosis of the condition of the patient, a group of multi-herbal Ayurvedic medications were formulated and administered. These herbal medications contained ingredients that are detoxifiers, brain tonics, digestive correctors, metabolic correctors, supplements, prebiotics and probiotics.

2.                   Gut Therapy (GT):

The major component of GT was the administering of individually tailored medications of various herbal combinations that were in the forms of tablets, fermented liquids, powders, aqueous extracts, etc. The main therapeutic actions of these medicines were to correct digestion, establish an equilibrium of dysbiosis, reduce gut allergies, inflammations and leaky gut syndrome. The GT therapy regimen also included maintaining food and feeding schedules, drinking medicated water and following lifestyle guidelines. The researchers provided digital and printed handouts detailing the GT procedures as also conducted bi-monthly reviews to assess the progress of the therapy.

3.                   Ayurvedic Standards of Living:

The treatments prescribed in this protocol were:

o        A full program of lifestyle regimens to be implemented each day and night, changes to be made to this regimen based on the change of seasons, customisation of food and diet, following codes for social interaction, conduct training and learning sessions for the patient, etc.

o        Procedure based therapies (PBT) on the body and head (Sirodhara, Udwartana, Sirolepa, etc.) to be performed initially in the hospital in the presence of the parent so that they can learn the exact methods of administering PBT that are to be continued at home. The PBT was repeated in the hospital after six months.

4.                   Training of Parents:

All the family members of the patient were trained in administering the techniques of all the protocols like principles of Yoga, GT, Ayurvedic Standards of Living, PBT, etc. Training was imparted through various practical sessions and other means of communication as detailed below:

o        Periodical Training (once every four months): The first training module consisted of two days (6hours per day) workshops on PBT. The follow up sessions were conducted every four months. These one-day sessions consisted of 6hour continuing education classes followed by a review test of 30minutes duration. The training modules were prepared as per relevant quality standards by training management experts. Family members who did not show commitment to learn in the training sessions were excluded from future sessions.

o        Printed handouts of the training materials were given to the family members.

5.                   Yogic Assistance:

The family members were trained in helping the patient perform a set of yoga techniques that included Pranayama, Aasanas, relaxation techniques, tightening and loosening exercises (Sukshma Vyayamas), etc. These family members performed these techniques in the training classes and were trained to become adept in helping the patients perform these.

PARTICIPANT FAMILIES

This article is about 672 families who were participated in the assessment program.

Effect of AGASTYA in the family

·       Effect in negative feelings towards the child

·       Effect in positive feelings towards the child

·       Impact in social life

·       Impact in the quality of life assessed by criteria of world health organisation

Effect of AGASTYA on CARS [CHILDHOOD AUTISM RATING SCALE]of the children

Effect of AGASTYA in problem behavior of the children

Effect of AGASTYA in abdominal problems of children

Effect of AGASTYA in the intestinal dysbiosis was assessed by 1d6s rRNA whole genome sequencing. Statistically highly significant results are observed in this assessment. However due to the complexity of data presentation for the common man, we are not producing the same here as graph.

CONCLUSION 

Ayurveda is a non-linear, dynamic and complex system of knowledge that encompasses all aspects of life. AGASTYA is a protocol that imbibes this true spirit of Ayurveda and comprises more of social rather than medical interventions to manage ASD in a child and the effects of these on the immediate family and society. Research has established that AGASTYA is a highly effective protocol that can be implemented to become a way of life for the ASD child and family.

ACKNOWLEDEMENT

·       Department of AYUSH, government of india for funding of the project

·       AyuCALM[Ayurveda center for autism and learning disability management], Kottakkal, India

·       CIMCD[center for integrated management of children with differential abilities], kottakkal, india

·       Kerala Ayurveda studies and research society, Government of kerala, India

·       Jeevaneeyam Ayurveda Hospital , Ernamkulam, India