Management of Shayyamutra (enuresis) through Yoga Asana along with Medhya Rasayana Churna – An open-label, randomized controlled clinical trial

Background: Shayyamutra (enuresis) is one of the common urological and disabling problems of developmental age. Involuntary voiding of urine at least twice per week for at least 3 consecutive months, without any congenital defects, is the hallmark of enuresis. Desmopression, imipramine, and anticholinergic drugs are the available pharmacotherapies for enuresis, but have a high relapse rate after their discontinuation. Medhya Rasayana , a polyherbal formulation mentioned in Ayurveda, helps to improve cognition and neuromuscular control, and Yoga Asana are known to improve the stability of biological systems. Aim: This study was planned to evaluate and compare the efficacy of Medhya Rasayana with and without Yoga Asana in the management of Shayyamutra in children. Materials and methods: A total of 41 patients, of either sex, aged 6 to 14 years, were randomly divided into two groups. In group A (MRY) , Medhya Rasayana powder, along with Yoga Asana , i.e., Utkatasana, Ardha-Shalabhasana, Bhujangasana, Shavasana , and for group B (MR), Medhya Rasayana was given for 8 weeks, followed by a 4-week follow-up period. Out of 41 patients, a total of 38 patients, i.e., 19 patients from group A and 19 patients from group B, completed the treatment protocol. Bedwetting frequency and associated psychological symptoms, i.e., impaired memory, irritability, lack of concentration, hyperactivity, and fear, were assessed before and after the treatment. Statistical analysis was done by applying the Wilcoxon signed-rank test within the groups and the Mann-Whitney U test between the groups. Result: Medhya Rasayana with Yoga Asana (MRY) had shown statistically significant improvement in bedwetting frequency, impaired memory, irritability, lack of concentration, hyperactivity, and fear, while Medhya Rasayana (MR) showed statistically significant improvement in all except hyperactivity and fear. On comparison of both groups, a significant difference was observed in bedwetting frequency ( P < 0.001) and improvement of impaired memory ( P = 0.034) and hyperactivity ( P = 0.025). Conclusion: A given set of Yoga Asana , when combined with Medhya Rasayana , yields better results in reducing the frequency of bedwetting in children with enuresis compared with Medhya Rasayana administered alone.