Chorea and Unani Treatment

The word "chorea" comes from the Greek word for dance. The jerky movements of the feet or hands are often similar to dancing or piano playing. When chorea is severe, the movements may cause motion of the arms or legs that results in throwing whatever is in the hand or falling to the ground. Walking may become bizarre, with inserted excessive postures and leg movements. Unlike parkinsonism, which is an inability to make voluntary movements, or ataxia and dystonia, which affect the quality of voluntary movements, the movements of chorea, athetosis, choreoathetosis, and ballism occur by themselves, without conscious attempts at movement. In some cases, attempts to move may make the symptoms worse.

Athetosis is a slower writhing and twisting movement. Choreoathetosis is a movement of intermediate speed, between the quick, flitting movements of chorea and the slower, writhing movements of athetosis. Ballism is a violent flinging of one or more limbs out from the body. Choreoathetosis is the most common form in children.

These disorders may affect the hands, feet, trunk, neck, and face. In the face, they often lead to nose wrinkling, continual flitting eye movements, and mouth or tongue movements. These disorders may be

distinguished from tics, as tics tend to repeat the same set of movements. In addition, the child often describes a "build-up" in the need to make the tic, with a sense of release afterwards. There is no such sense of release following chorea; the movements are continually changing and flowing from one body part to another.

Mild chorea may be difficult to distinguish from normal restlessness. Therefore, it is important to assess whether the movements are controllable by the child and whether these movements are sustained or occur only in the doctor's office. It is important to note which parts of the body are involved. The speed and size of the movements determine whether this is most appropriately called chorea, athetosis, choreoathetosis, or ballism. For practical purposes, the distinction is often difficult to make; this distinction is not usually helpful in diagnosis and treatment.

The effect of purposeful movements, such as reaching, speaking, or walking, must be assessed. Dystonia may cause excessive and apparently random movements. These movements are usually worsened with intentional, attempted movements and improve when the child is at rest. There is no image of restlessness, although, in some cases of chorea, the symptoms may appear to be similar. Ataxia may lead to an abnormal gait, with extra movements needed to compensate; however, the movements disappear when the child is steadied or seated.

Chorea Unani Treatment:

1. Massage locally from Roghan Darchini or Roghan Qartam or Roghan Malkangni or Roghan Tarpeeen.

2. Jausheer 1 gm mix in honey water 20 ml and use two times daily.

3. Majoon Falasfa or Majoon Azaraqi or Majoon Jograj Guggul 10 gm at bed time.

4. Habbe Kuchla or Hab Sammulfar 2 tab with butter.

5. Aaqaqarha, Jund baid satter, Shetranj hindi, bazrulbanj each 10 gm, Shaham hanzal 15 gm, ayyariz fiqra 10 gm. Prepare powder and use 6 gm with Arq Gau zaban 100 ml daily two times. Very effective regimen.