Epilepsy is a
disease that disrupts the electrical activity of the nervous system, causing
seizures.
More than 65 million people in the world have epilepsy. The
Epilepsy Foundation estimate that 1 in 26 Americans will develop the disease
during their lives.
Children are the group most frequently diagnosed with new
cases of epilepsy. In the United States, 300,000 children under 14 are affected
by the condition. Some may outgrow the disorder, but most will not. The number
of senior citizens with epilepsy is also 300,000.
People with epilepsy have a range of treatment options,
including alternative therapies.
The illness is a complex condition, however, and all
alternative treatment options must be looked at carefully, to ensure they are
effective.
It is essential to work with a doctor when making changes in
treatment, as every epileptic seizure can cause brain damage, and the effects
build up. So, any treatment must work to avoid seizures.
Causes of epilepsy
-electrical activity in the brain diagram
-Epilepsy is a complex disease that can disrupt the
electrical activity of the nervous system.
-Infections, which can cause scarring on the brain that
leads to seizures, are among the more common causes of epilepsy.
Possible links between autism and epilepsy are also under
investigation, as a third of children on the autism spectrum are also likely to
have seizures.
In the over 65s, strokes are the most common cause of new
seizures. Family history and brain injuries account for other cases.
However, the Epilepsy Foundation say the cause is unknown in
60 percent of people.
Eight natural
remedies for epilepsy
People with epilepsy and their doctors are expressing
growing interest in alternative therapies.
Although antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) help most people control
their symptoms, these do not work for everyone. Furthermore, some people are
concerned about the long-term safety of these drugs.Complementary health
practices for epilepsy, such as the eight natural remedies discussed here, are
designed for use in combination with AEDs.
After talking to a doctor, and before beginning natural
treatments, people with epilepsy should ensure they are working with a well-qualified
and informed therapist.
Common complementary treatments for epilepsy include the
following:
Medical marijuana
Cannabis sativa, or marijuana, as it is commonly known, has
been used to treat convulsions for centuries. Today, it is attracting
increasing attention from people with epilepsy, clinicians, and researchers.
Interest in the use of medical marijuana is particularly
strong for the roughly 1 million U.S. residents whose seizures are not
controlled by AEDs. Some families with young children, suffering from severe
seizures, have moved to one of the 22 states where medical marijuana use is
legal.
However, since broad-based, well-designed scientific studies
have yet to prove the effectiveness of marijuana in treating epilepsy, doctors
do not generally recommend its use.
Diet
The ketogenic diet
The ketogenic diet is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet that
may help to reduce seizures.
Diet is one of the earliest forms of treatment for epilepsy
and is used with contemporary variations to make it easier for children and
adults to adopt.
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that
has had some success in reducing seizures in children who cannot tolerate or
benefit from AEDs. It requires extensive commitment and monitoring.
The Atkins diet is a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet
that is less restrictive and has shown positive effects.
Low glycemic index treatment (LGIT) is similar but allows
for a targeted level of carbohydrate consumption.
Herbal treatments
Herbs are used for many illnesses by 80 percent of the
world's population. Remedies drawing on Chinese traditions have shown promise
in treating epilepsy.
Some herbs, such as chamomile, passionflower, and valerian,
may make AEDs more effective and calming.
However, ginkgo, ginseng, and stimulating herbs containing
caffeine and ephedrine can make seizures worse.
St. John's wort can interfere with medications and make
seizures more likely, similarly to evening primrose and borage.
It is important to remember that herbs are not monitored by
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If any herbs are used, they should
be researched and bought from reputable sources.
Vitamins
Low levels of the B6 vitamin have been known to trigger
seizures.
Magnesium, vitamin E, and other vitamins and nutritional
supplements, have been identified as either promising or problematic for
treating epilepsy.
People taking AEDs are often advised to take vitamin D
supplements to keep their systems in balance.
Biofeedback
When AEDs do not work, some people have successfully used biofeedback
to reduce seizures.
With the use of extensive training and a machine that
detects electrical activity in the brain, the technique teaches individuals to
recognize the warning signs of seizures, and train their brains to prevent a
full-blown attack.
Relaxation
Stress and anxiety are both linked to seizures.
There are many different practices that people with epilepsy
can follow on their own to help them feel calmer, relax their muscles, get
better sleep, and enjoy a better state of mind.
All these actions taken together can help reduce seizures
and make it easier for people to manage their epilepsy.
People should be cautious if trying meditation, as this can
change the electrical signals in the brain.
Some essential oils used in aromatherapy, such as lavender,
chamomile, jasmine, and ylang-ylang, have been found to be effective in
preventing seizures when used with relaxation techniques.
However, the Epilepsy Society report that others may provoke
seizures. These include spike lavender, eucalyptus, camphor, sage, rosemary,
hyssop, and fennel.
Acupuncture and
chiropractic
While acupuncture does not seem to be helpful in preventing
seizures, people with epilepsy find it can reduce the stress of living with the
condition.
There is little evidence on chiropractic care, but it also
may be among the natural treatments people with epilepsy find useful.
Education and
avoiding triggers
Education and avoidance can have a big impact on quality of
life for people with this condition.
Many of those with epilepsy find that their seizures develop
in response to specific triggers. This is the case for people with
photosensitive epilepsy.
Learning how to avoid situations and stimuli that could
spark a seizure can be very helpful. Some children may learn to avoid using
video games in dark rooms, for example, or to cover one eye when exposed to
flashing lights.
Do natural treatments
for epilepsy work?
For many practices, there has not been enough study to give
a definite answer to this question, one way or the other.
The following overview of the top natural treatments for
epilepsy offers a quick summary of their reported effectiveness:
Diet: The
ketogenic diet, usually prescribed for children whose epilepsy does not respond
to AEDs, has been shown to cut their seizures by half and eliminate seizures
completely for 10-15 percent of those studied.
Herbal treatments:
Two studies of Chinese herbal compounds found them effective at reducing
seizures in children and adults. But some herbs, such as St. John's wort, can
make seizures worse.
Vitamins: Many
studies have linked low levels of vitamin B6, magnesium, and vitamin E to
seizures. Treating people with supplemental doses helped reduce the frequency
of seizures.
Biofeedback:
Researchers in 10 different studies showed that 74 percent of people whose
epilepsy could not be treated with medication, reported fewer seizures after
they learned this technique.
Relaxation: Fewer
seizures and a better quality of life were reported by children who took part
in trials, according to research.
Acupuncture and
chiropractic: Scientific studies have not found acupuncture to be effective
for people with epilepsy. However, positive outcomes were reported for some
children with drug-resistant epilepsy who tried chiropractic therapy.
Education: After
learning more about epilepsy, coping strategies for it, and how to take
medication, improved quality of life was observed for people of all ages with
epilepsy.
Conclusion
Many reports on the effectiveness of complementary
treatments for epilepsy come from personal experience, and from studies that
are not considered conclusive.
Most importantly, people should always talk to their doctor
before trying natural treatments to help ease their symptoms.
