Epilepsy

[Pat Robinson]

This is an old email about natural alternatives for epilepsy. I'm copying it in whole. It is mostly a summary (without source links) since the family wasn't very research savvy. GreenMedInfo.com is another amazing resource of natural alternatives. http://www.greenmedinfo.com/search/node/epilepsy

Most of the nutritional stuff can be done concurrently with conventional therapies to lower the seizure threshold. Another alternative is classical homeopathy. We see Naomi Zeskind and she is amazing.


Pat


Aromatherapy essential oils. It appears from the study that roughly 65% of patients achieved greater than 50% reduction in seizures, with 35% becoming seizure free.

Oils that were reported as helpful:

* Jasmine
* Ylang Ylang
* Lavender
* Camomile
* Bergamot

Oils to be avoided:

* Rosemary
* Hyssop
* Sweet fennel
* Sage

Low carbohydrate diet.
Total carbohydrates are gradually decreased to 40-60 gm/day (~10% of daily calories)
Approximately 20-30% of calories are from protein and 60-70% are from fat.
Efficacy:
According to a study published in Neurology:
Ten of 20 patients treated with this regimen experienced a greater than 90% reduction in seizure frequency.

Ketogenic Diet
The ketogenic diet is a strict, mathematically calculated diet high in fat and low in protein and carbohydrates that, when followed conscientiously, produces a by-product called ketones in patients' blood and urine. The diet is supplemented with vitamins and calcium, so patients do not suffer from any nutritional imbalance.

Glutamate Aspartate Restricted Diet (GARD)
The G.A.R.D. originally stood for the "glutamate-aspartate restricted diet" after its limitation of these two non-essential, neurostimulating amino acids that are also the parent compounds of MSG and aspartame (Nutrisweet) respectively. They are now termed "excitotoxins" and known triggers of seizures and inciters of some neurodegenerative diseases. However, the G.A.R.D. also stands for the "gut absorption recovery diet" due to its removal of the "big 4" foods (gluten, dairy, soy and corn), which are all capable of inducing the damage to the intestinal villi that characterizes celiac disease and the related food intolerances.

The GARD is an elimination diet. It specifies foods (and food products/ingredients) that should be avoided:

* gluten - commonly derived from wheat and grains
* casein - protein found in cow milk (and most dairy products)
* soy
* corn - including corn syrup and corn derivative products
* MSG (mono-sodium glutamate) - this a very common food ingredient in processed foods even though it is rarely clearly labeled as such
* aspartame - commonly used as a sugar substitute
* glutamate - found in high concentrations in most beans/legumes
* hydrogenated oils

http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/index.php?p=alternative-treatments

High folate diet, many anti-epileptic medications cause folate deficiency. The dose generally recommended is 4–5 mg daily. http://www.epilepsycentre.org.au/info/livingepilepsy/adults/folate....

Magnesium, 400mg is the RDA. Magnesium deficiency is associated with increase seizures.

Magnesium is a powerful glutamate inhibitor
food sources for magnesium:
Quote :
To enrich the diet naturally with this mineral, look to nuts, legumes, and unmilled grains. Removing the germ of cereals and the outer seed husks eliminates 80 percent of any magnesium present in the whole grain. Green vegetables and bananas are also relatively good sources of the mineral. You won't find much, however, in other fruits or fish, meat, and milk.
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f20/hi-everyone-i-hope-i...

Omega 3 and epilepsy: It is recommended that we take 500mg-1000mg per day of DHA and EPA.
http://epilepsyinanutshell.blogspot.com/2008/01/take-your-omega-3-p...
http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Science-Nutrition/Omega-3-influenc...

Vit E supplements: They found that the frequency of seizures was reduced by more than 60 percent in 10 of 12 children taking vitamin E supplements. (They took 400 international units a day for three months in addition to their regular medication.) Six of them had a 90 to 100 percent reduction in seizures. By comparison, none of the 12 children who took placebos (inactive substances) along with their medication improved significantly.

What's more, when the children who were taking placebos were switched to vitamin E, seizure frequency was reduced 70 to 100 percent in all of them. The researchers noted that there were no adverse side effects. http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/10/57.cfm

NUTRIENTS DEPLETED BY EPILEPSY DRUGS: http://www.healingwithnutrition.com/edisease/epilepsy/epilepsydrugs...


(this is NOT comprehensive, and is not intended to replace a medical professional's advice, it is merely some alternatives to consider based upon your own comfort and judgment and your personal research)


Pat