Determination of the Effect of Iranian lavandula on Tremor in the Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background and Aim: Tremor is one of the most debilitating common symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Tremor can reduce patients' life quality and limit their daily activities. Considering the beneficial effects of Lavandula on several neurologic disorders which have been confirmed in many studies, we decided to evaluate the effects of Iranian Lavandula on tremor in MS patients. Materials and Methods: This was a randomized double-blind clinical trial that included 30 patients with MS in Khuzestan Province from April 2017 to December 2018. The patients were divided randomly into intervention and control groups. Using goal positioning system (individual’s hands), all the movements of hands and fingers were investigated during rest, posture 1, posture 2, and movement toward a specific target (kinetic) in the zero, 4th, and 8th weeks. Data collection tools were a questionnaire on tremor extracted from MDS_UPDRS questionnaire which is a comprehensive self-assessment questionnaire, a specific form of assessing EDSS, and a motion capture system. Data were converted into quantitative data by Matlab software and then analyzed. Results: The Wilcoxon test demonstrated a significant difference among the three variables of POSTURE1, POSTURE 2, and kinetic in the group receiving the drug (P <0.05). There has been no significant difference between the mean values for the rest position in the eighth week and before the treatment (p=0.063).In the placebo group, we detected a significant difference in the kinetic variable (p<0.05). Considering the POSTURE1 variable, the intensity of tremor after 8 weeks reduced more in the group receiving the drug than in the placebo group. No significant difference was detected among the other variables in regard to the reduction of the tremor intensity. Conclusion: Data Analysis in the present study demonstrated that Iranian lavandula extract with the minimum dosage of 80 milligrams is effective in reducing the tremor in patients with MS and can be used alone or as an adjunct drug.

Keywords

• lavandula
• tremor
• multiple sclerosis