By: Roger French
Q. Our son has a form of focal
epilepsy with partial and absent seizures. We have had no success using drugs
and wish to have him drug-free. Can you tell me what natural alternatives are
available?
From M.O. and N.0, Cranebrook
NSW
A. I am making this a general
discussion of epilepsy. The primary defining characteristic is the occurrence
of seizures, which occur when many nerve cells in the brain become overexcited
and discharge at the one time. The prevalent theory of the cause is an excess
of excitatory neurotransmitters (such as glutamate or aspartate) and/or a
deficiency of inhibitory transmitters (such as gamma-amino butyric acid or
taurine).
Types of Epilepsy. Seizures are
either generalised or partial. Generalised seizures involve many nerve cells throughout
the brain, while partial or focal involve only nerve cells within one area of
the brain. With generalised seizures there may be loss of muscle tone, in which
the person falls to the floor, possibly remaining conscious. Or there may be a
stiffening of the body followed by convulsions and often loss of consciousness,
referred to a ’grand mal’. Also generalised are absence seizures in which
consciousness is maintained but the person loses awareness and may stare into
space or twitch slightly. This is ’petite mal’.
Petite mal is the most common
form of epilepsy in children, while partial seizures are the most common in
adults.
Diagnosis. Doctors use a number
of devices to diagnose epilepsy. Those that measure the electrical activity of
the brain are the electroencephalogram (EEG), the magneto- encephalogram
(MEG), positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance
imaging (fMRI). Scans that provide three-dimensional images of the brain are
computerized axial tomography (CAT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The
former uses X-rays and the latter uses the body’s own magnetism and radio
waves.
Causes of Epilepsy. The cause of
generalised epilepsy is probably an imbalance of brain chemicals, whereas with
partial epilepsy it is often microscopic damage to the brain. If epilepsy is
associated with a known health condition, it is secondary epilepsy, whereas if
the cause is unknown it is idiopathic.
The wide range of possible causes
include the following: traumatic birth, head injuries, meningitis, viral
encephalitis, hydrocephalus, neurocysticercosis, hardened arteries, stroke,
heart attack, brain tumour, Alzheimer’s disease, alcoholism, drug abuse, drug
withdrawal, lead poisoning, reactions to allergens, low blood sugar or fluctuations
in blood sugar, exposure to toxic fumes, coeliac disease, cerebral palsy,
autism and others. A genetic predisposition may make the person more
susceptible.
Medical Treatment. The basic
treatment is antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) or anticonvulsants. These require
strict monitoring until the dose is determined, and must be taken regularly. If
the drugs are not effective, surgery is usually considered.
If surgery is not appropriate,
vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is often recommended for adults and children over
12.
Another technique is Transcranial
Magnetic Simulation (TMS) which alters brain activity through the use of
magnetic fields. However, the effects wear off after six to eight weeks.
PREVENTION — REMOVING CAUSES,
SELF HEALING
Few health writers have much to
offer about dealing with epilepsy. However, the United States-based Life
Extension Foundation gives a lot of suggestions in their monumental work,
Disease Prevention and Treatment. All the following information is abridged
from the Life Extension Foundation.
Allergies. Seizures can be
triggered by allergens, and may occur immediately or within hours or days of
exposure. It is important to be alert for any food or substance that may be
triggering seizures. A health professional can provide thorough allergy testing.
Three substances that commonly cause allergy are milk, wheat and
petrochemicals.
Diet. The ketogenic diet is
sometimes prescribed because it avoids wild fluctuations in blood sugar level
which affect the brain. Being high-fat and low-carbohydrate, the diet forces
the body to burn fat (raising levels of ketones in the blood) instead of sugar,
and avoids foods that rapidly raise blood sugar.
However, this is an unhealthy
diet overall and certainly not recommended in Natural Health.
A safe diet is described under
Natural Health Dietary Guidelines, summarised in the Autumn 2004 issue of NVNH
and explained in detail in the Natural Health Society’s book, The Man Who Lived
in Three Centuries. Modify this eating pattern by omitting high-sugar foods,
such as honey and dried fruit.
Fibre is important because is
slows the absorption of sugar. Being essentially plant based and free of
refined carbohydrates, the Natural Health way of eating is high in fibre. A
fibre supplement such as psyllium hulls could be advantageous.
Caffeine, as in coffee, tea, cola
drinks, chocolate and some medications causes an adrenalin rush which can lead
to fluctuations in blood sugar. Caffeine can also constrict blood vessels in
the brain.
Alcohol, smoking and aspartame
can also trigger seizures.
Toxic pesticides can be
particularly risky, so minimize chemical exposure and seek organically-grown
foods. Especially avoid chlorinated hydrocarbons such as lindane and dieldrin.
Behavioural Techniques. Obviously
a person subject to fits needs to be protected from situations which could
damage themselves or others, including swimming, cycling and driving a car.
Wear rubber gloves when washing glassware, take showers instead of baths, and
decide whether it is safe to climb ladders or trees.
Lack of sleep is widely
recognised to promote seizures, so adequate sleep is essential.
Similarly, stress poses a
considerable risk for seizures. For epilepsy sufferers, relaxation techniques
are more important than ever. They include regular physical activity, yoga,
relaxation tapes, deep breathing and meditation. By learning to relax, the
normal beta state of the mind, which facilitates seizures, is shifted to the
alpha state which greatly reduces the risk.
Seizure Interruption. Epilepsy
sufferers are sometimes aware when a full-blown seizure is about to happen. The
person may hear sounds that aren’t there, or smell an unpleasant odour that is
not there. It is possible that the seizure process can be interrupted with
mental imagery, by imagining pleasant music or some pleasant aroma, or by
actually hearing or smelling something pleasant.
For women oestrogen increases
excitability whereas progesterone decreases it, so fits are more likely when
oestrogen is at its highest level just before a period. The only suggestion
here is that women can be aware of these times of greater risk. After.
menopause, with the drop in oestrogen, seizures are likely to decline.
Women with epilepsy have a higher
risk of producing children with birth defects, and this is where folic acid can
help, its best source being a high intake of vegetables and fruits, perhaps
with the addition of supplements.
Nutritional Supplements. The
following supplements are suggested by the Life Extension Foundation. They give
dosages which I don’t include here because supplements, especially with a
problem like epilepsy, are best taken with professional guidance. If taken
without supervision, it would be wise to stay within the manufacturer’s
recommendations. The Foundation suggests that for children and adolescents over
age six years, dosages should be half the adult dosages, and for children under
six, one quarter the adult dose.
B-complex vitamins benefit some
people with epilepsy. Supplements of folic acid (folate or B9) sometimes help
reduce seizures and sometimes make them worse. For this reason, B-vitamin
supplementation should be closely monitored. Note that the whole B-complex
should be taken, not just individual B-vitamins which could create deficiencies
of other B-vitamins.
Certain amino acids have been
found to be beneficial for some sufferers. These include taurine, glycine and
alanine, probably because they are inhibitory amino acids, normalizing
glutamate levels in the brain.
Anti-epileptic drugs can inhibit
the uptake of calcium, so a child or adult taking these may be wise to
supplement with calcium. Deficiency of magnesium has in some cases increased
the severity of seizures, so magnesium supplements should also be included, at
half the level of calcium by weight. Unless the sufferer has moderate regular
exposure to sunshine, a vitamin D supplement is desirable.
Manganese aids sugar metabolism
and helps stabilize blood sugar levels.
Zinc has been found to help
decrease seizures, especially in children with severe forms.
Selenium has been helpful in some
children not responding to AEDs. The chelated form, seleno-methionine, is
preferred.
Evening primrose oil has helped
some people and provoked seizures in others, so close monitoring is necessary.
Vitamin E has produced
significant improvement in some children and adults who did not respond to
medication. Dosages even at high levels were well tolerated.
If herbs are taken, professional
guidance is recommended. Herbs listed by Life Extension are:
Coleus forskohlii extract —
decreases neurotransmitter activity.
Black cohosh has relaxant
properties that may be effective, particularly for women whose epilepsy is
connected to menstrual failures. It should not be taken by pregnant women.
Lobelia, also called pokeweed,
has relaxant properties and a depressing effect on the nervous system.
IN CONCLUSION
Epilepsy is a serious condition
and needs professional guidance. Proper diagnosis in the first place is
essential for best results. For those who want to use drug-free methods, it is
then a matter of looking at allergies, dietary changes and behavioural
techniques. If these fail to bring improvement, it may be desirable to try the
supplements and herbs that are suggested.
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