Electroencephalogram analysis on alpha/beta and theta/beta ratios due to shirodhara

Abstract

Background

Shirodhara is a brain relaxation therapy. The treatment induces a relaxed state with awareness that results in treating neurological conditions like mental stress (depression/anxiety/hypertension) and some of its beneficial side effects are soothing the central nervous system.

Objectives

In the present study, the investigation aimed to analyze the ratios of brain waves, particularly focusing on the frontal region.

Materials and Methods

In this study, Shirodhara with “Ksheerabala thailam” medicinal oil was conducted on 16 participants and pre-post treatment brain signals were collected using an EEG acquisition tool and it was found that treatment induced relaxation aspects were observed among participants.

Results and Conclusion

Welch's Fast Fourier transform (FFT) was used to analyze the EEG signals in order to obtain power spectral density (PSD) features, which indicated a signal's power dispersed across a range of frequencies. The effectiveness of treatment has been evaluated by examining the spectral power ratios of alpha/beta, theta/beta in the frontal region of the brain and physiological and psychological parameters.