A Randomized Open Label Comparative Controlled Clinical Trial to evaluate the efficacy of Ashwagandhadi Taila with Occupational Therapy in the Management of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), understood in Ayurveda as a form of Unmada, is a neurodevelopmental condition that impairs communication, behavior, and social interaction in children. Conventional management is supportive, and there is still no definitive cure, which highlights the need for integrative approaches such as Ayurveda along with Occupational Therapy.randomized clinical study is planned to assess the effect of combining Occupational Therapy with Ayurvedic intervention (Ashwagandhadi Taila) in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), correlated with Unmada in Ayurveda. The intervention group will receive Occupational Therapy along with Abhyanga, Nasya, Matra Basti, and Sneha Pana (three sittings of Abhyanga, Nasya and Matra basti for 16 days each, with Sneha Pana also continued for 16 days between the first and second sittings). The control group will receive only Occupational Therapy. The total study duration is 80 days, and assessments will be carried out before and after treatment using the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA) and the Autism Parenting Stress Index (APSI). This study aims to determine whether integrated Ayurvedic and Occupational Therapy provides additional benefits compared to Occupational Therapy alone in improving symptoms and reducing parental stress in ASD children.