Evaluation of Dorema Ammoniacum and Acupuncture's Therapeutic Effects in Patients With Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial 

Abstract

Aim: Stroke is the third prevalent cause of disability worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the role of Dorema ammoniacum and acupuncture in the management of patients with stroke.Methods: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, patients with a recent ischemic stroke (within the first month of stroke) were investigated. The patients were divided into three groups. The first group was managed by acupuncture, while the second group received 1 g of Dorema ammoniacum (two 500 mg capsules per day) from ammoniacum gum. The two intervention groups also received standard treatment with routine medical therapy and physiotherapy. The final group was the control, which only received conventional treatment and physiotherapy. The patients were evaluated immediately before the interventions, and one month after the interventions, using the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and Modified National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (mNIHSS).Results: There was a significant difference in the mean score of mNIHSS at the beginning and end of the study in all of the three studied groups (P<0.001). There were significant pre-treatment/post-treatment differences between the groups (P<0.001). After controlling for the effect of mNIHSS score at the beginning of the study and the follow-up visit, a significant difference was observed between the three groups regarding the mean mNIHSS score post-intervention (P<0.001). The results of the post-hoc test indicated a significant difference between the acupuncture and control groups, Dorema ammoniacum and control groups (P<0.001), acupuncture, and Dorema ammoniacum groups (P<0.001); the extent of reduction was greater in the acupuncture group. The mean mNIHSS scores of the acupuncture and Dorema ammoniacum groups were 1.82 and 1.04 lower than the control group's mean score, respectively. There was a significant difference in the mean mRS score at the beginning and end of the study in all three groups (P<0.001). However, the extent of reduction was greater in the acupuncture group.Conclusion: Acupuncture and Dorema ammoniacum may be beneficial if started within the first month of stroke incidence. However, acupuncture can cause a greater reduction in the mNIHSS score of stroke patients. Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20170227032797N2).Registered 5 March 2018 - Retrospectively registered, https://www.irct.ir/trial/25469

Phytochemical Analysis, In Vitro Anticholinesterase, Antioxidant Activity and In Vivo Nootropic Effect of Ferula ammoniacum (Dorema ammoniacum) D. Don. in Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairment in Mice

“…In Persian traditional medicine textbooks, D. ammoniacum is one of the materia medica that is frequently used for stroke and paralysis as it opens the blood vessels and is also considered as a thrombolytic agent. In traditional medicines, it is used as a remedy by itself and sometimes it is used in combination with other drugs to treat health complications like stroke and paralysis [ 22 ]. The essential oil of D. ammoniacum leaf, fruit, and stem have already been reported to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and low cytotoxicity activities [ 23 , 24 ].…”

Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality Among Suspected Stroke Patients, Mashhad, Iran: An Application of Autologistic Regression Model

“…Stroke is the second leading cause of death and disability in adults around the world (3,4). Despite the preventable nature of the disease, two-thirds of all stroke deaths occur in developing countries (5)(6)(7). In Iran, studies have reported that the overall in-hospital mortality is 20.5% (8,9), and in comparison to developed countries, stroke is more common, and the mortality rate is higher (10,11).…”

Predictors of in-Hospital Mortality Among Suspected Stroke Patients, Mashhad, Iran: An Application of Autologistic Regression Model

“…Stroke is the second leading cause of death and disability in adults around the world (3,4). Despite the preventable nature of the disease, two-thirds of all stroke deaths occur in developing countries (5)(6)(7). In Iran, studies have reported that the overall in-hospital mortality is 20.5% (8, 9), and in comparison to developed countries, stroke is more common, and the mortality rate is higher (10,11).…”