The herb Shankhapushpi is known in Ayurveda to improve loss of memory, cure fever and treat nervous disability. A docoction prepared from milk, cumin and dried powder of this herb is the method of prescription of this herb by Ayurveda. Research done on this herb is now confirming the validity of this age old practice. It reports that the herb is beneficial in curing epilepsy.
What is Epilepsy: It is a disorder associated with the nerves of the brain. It causes uncontrolled body movements. The muscles of the body behave abnormally with rapid contractions and relaxations repeatedly. Patient also experiences strange familiarities between events of present and past. The drug Phenytoin is the regular drug to cure Epilepsy. The recommended dose of this drug is 300mg/day. It takes 7 to 10 days on average for the healing effects of this drug to manifest. Once the drug is taken in it takes 22 hours on average for the drug to dissolve in the body. The presence of this drug in blood after it is taken is monitored as a regular practice.
Knowledge Gained about Shankhapushpi from Research:
- The study was conducted at Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College, Parel, Bombay, India.
- Two patients were given the herb along with the drug Phenytonin on a trial basis.
- An unexpected drop in the uncontrolled body movements was observed.
- The drug got dissolved in the blood faster.
- To confirm the new findings the experiment was repeated on mice.
- Small doses of the herb and the drug only improved the uncontrolled body movements of epilepsy.
- But when high doses were given there were significant improvement in epilepsy and absorption of the drug in the blood.
