Natural Treatments For Epilepsy

Over 20 different drugs are available for treating epilepsy, but in approximately one third of people, seizures continue to occur despite the drugs. Natural treatment strategies are important because they can address the cause and can be surprisingly effective, as well as free of side effects.

Ketogenic diet

The Ketogenic Diet (KD) has been used since the 1920s as a treatment for intractable (impossible to control) epilepsy. The ketogenic diet has reasonable evidence to reduce or prevent seizures in adults and children with epilepsy that is not adequately controlled with anti-convulsant medication.

The Epilepsy Foundation report that more than half of children with poorly controlled epilepsy who follow a ketogenic diet have at least a 50% reduction in the number of seizures and some stop experiencing seizures completely. Under medical supervision a ketogenic formula can be tried in infants.

If you find a true ketogenic diet too difficult or unpalatable, you can follow a modified keto diet that is a low carbohydrate diet and free of sugar. It is really worth trying as research has shown that 30–40% of adults with epilepsy who adopt a keto diet have a 50% reduction in seizures.

Research shows that the KD, or similar low carbohydrate diets, are a good alternative for non-surgical patients of all ages with intractable epilepsy. Variations of the KD include the Modified Atkins Diet (MAD), the Paleo Diet and the Low Glycemic Index Diet (LGID).

I also recommend you avoid artificial sweeteners such as aspartame found in diet drinks and diet foods. Some epileptics find they have far fewer seizures on a grain free and gluten free diet.

Natural progesterone for women

The use of natural progesterone may help to reduce seizures that occur or become much worse during the 14 days before the onset of menstrual bleeding. It is best used as a cream in a strength of 10% and the dose varies between 100 to 200 mg daily. The cream is started 10 days after the onset of menstrual bleeding (day one) and continued daily up to the onset of the next menstrual bleeding. Progesterone has a calming and stabilizing effect on the brain. It is a very safe treatment and worth a try in such cases.

Magnesium

It is essential to take a good magnesium supplement and one that can provide 400 mg of elemental magnesium combined with the amino acid taurine. The right dose and combination are found in Magnesium Ultra Potent Powder which needs to be taken in a dose of one teaspoon every day. Magnesium and taurine have a calming effect on the brain’s electrical activity.

Other supplements to reduce brain inflammation can be tried including selenium, N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) and vitamin D3 and they may result in big improvements.

For more information see www.liverdoctor.com

References
 www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327382
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6361831/