The protective effects of lavender herbal tea on spasticity and ataxia in patients with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease with (an) unknown cause(s) that affects the central nervous system, the brain, and the spinal cord and causes loss of control, vision, balance, and sensation. Ataxia and spasm are commonly observed in patients with MS and cause a significant decrease in functioning and quality of life. Pharmacotherapy, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation are usually used to deal with ataxia and spasms. Given the World Health Organization’s emphasis on using herbal medicines with fewer side effects and the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of lavender extract, the present study aims to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic lavender extract on ataxia and spasm in MS patients.  The present study is a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eighty-four patients with MS referred to Imam Ali Clinic and Hajar Hospital of Shahrekord were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. Patients in the intervention group were given lavender tea, and those in the placebo group received the placebo for 60 days. Before and after the intervention, spasticity was assessed using the Ashworth Scale and the spasm repetition scale. International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were used to evaluate ataxia. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16.  The results showed the mean Ashworth and spasm index before and after intervention did not differ significantly between the two groups of control and placebo (P < 0.05), but lavender tea could increase BBS and decrease ICARS significantly in the group receiving it (P < 0.05).  Due to phenolic and flavonoid compounds and high antioxidant properties, lavender can decrease spasticity and ataxia and improve the functioning of other chemicals and drugs used to treat MS in patients.