Abstracts

Implanted vagus nerve stimulator is used to treat patients suffering from intractable epilepsy. As per demand, main aims for managing these patients are (1) reduction in seizure frequency as well as in duration of [italic]ictal [/italic]phase, and (2) bringing behavioral patterns of patients back to their normal lives. This study uses reflexology as a cheaper and complimentary medicine to meet both these requirements. Age group of selected samples ranged from 3yrs to 45yrs. Duration of disease was 2days to 15yrs. Patients who underwent epilepsy surgery were excluded. Included groups are: group-I: non-refractory seizures (11) and group-II: refractory seizures (5). Health conditions of group-I samples were monitored for a period of 6yrs and based on these data, group-II samples were studied. In both groups, reflexology + standard pharmacological drugs were administered. Reflexology, a health science is used to correct internal organ and gland dysfunctions and to bring back homeostasis in the body and mind through external stimulation on the corresponding reflex areas. First objective of this study was to quantify the reflex areas of organs and glands as well as that of [italic]vagus[/italic] nerve on hands and feet. Stimulation in the form of accurate pressure were applied to these reflex areas following a well framed protocol which leads systematically to detoxifying and correcting organ system dysfunctions specially, digestive-, endocrine- and lymphatic- system as 1^st phase of treatment. In 2^nd phase, energy flow through the body was maintained uniformly by stimulating all toes. In 3^rd phase, stimulation on reflex areas of [italic]vagus[/italic] nerve () was applied to prevent [italic]ictal[/italic] phase during aura (by 20 stimulations), to reduce duration of [italic]ictal[/italic] phase (20 stimulations) and to reduce seizure frequency (10 stimulations per session and a minimum of 10 sessions per day excluding [italic]aura[/italic] phase and [italic]ictal[/italic] phase, if any). One of the purposes of Indirect VNS is to establish homeostasis in almost all the vital organ system functions at a time. Individual responses were monitored by seizure diary and behavior patterns subjectively assessed by the patients and caregivers. The responses of these two groups were monitored for a period of 6yrs and 2yrs respectively. It was observed in group-I that physical stimulation on hands and feet were well tolerated, induced no side effect and did not increase seizure frequency. In group-II, the mean responses were recorded and these are : 80% reduction of seizure frequency, 75% reduction in duration of [italic]ictal[/italic] phase, 80% prevention of seizure during aura and 75% sleep pattern and general behavior improvement. This alternate method is hence cheap and effective to reduce seizure frequency, to improve general physical and mental status and to bring back their normal life. However, randomized blinded studies on larger samples are underway.