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Some dietary changes, herbal treatments, biofeedback, and other natural treatments may help relieve symptoms along with other epilepsy treatments.
Epilepsy is traditionally treated with antiseizure medications. Although they can be extremely helpful, these medications may not work for everyone, and as with any medication, can come with a risk of side effects.
Some people with epilepsy turn to natural treatments and alternative therapies to help relieve their symptoms or complement their treatments. From herbs and vitamins to biofeedback and acupuncture, there are a number to choose from.
Herbal treatments
With an increasing market and public interest, herbal treatments have soared in popularity. There seems to be an herb for every ailment.
Some of the most commonly used herbs for epilepsy are:
burning bush
groundsel
hydrocotyle
lily of the valley
mistletoe
mugwort
peony
scullcap
tree of heaven
valerian
According to a 2003 studyTrusted Source, a handful of herbal remedies used in traditional Chinese, Japanese Kampo, and Indian Ayurveda medicine have shown anticonvulsant effects. Still, there are no randomized, blind, controlled studies to support their benefits.
The safety, side effects, and interactions are not well studied.
Some of the above listed natural herbs can actually cause illness — even death. Currently, there’s not enough scientific proof that most herbal remedies successfully treat epilepsy. Most evidence is anecdotal.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also doesn’t regulate herbal supplements. Herbs sometimes cause unpleasant side effects such as headaches, rashes, and digestive problems.
Although some herbs might help epilepsy, others may worsen your symptoms.
Herbs to avoid
- Gingko biloba and St. John’s wort may interact with antiseizure medications.
- Kava, passionflower, and valerian may increase sedation.
- Garlic may interfere with your medication levels.
- Chamomile may prolong the effects of your medication.
- Schizandra may cause additional seizures.
- Herbal supplements containing ephedra or caffeine may worsen seizures. These include guarana and kola.
- Mint tea
2. Vitamins
Certain vitamins may help reduce the number of seizures caused by some types of epilepsy. But keep in mind that vitamins alone don’t work. They may help some medications work more effectively or reduce your necessary dosage.
Follow your doctor’s instructions before taking vitamin supplements to prevent a possible overdose.
Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-6 is used to treat a rare form of epilepsy known as pyridoxine-dependent seizures. This type of epilepsy usually develops in the womb or soon after birth. It’s caused by your body’s inability to metabolize vitamin B-6 properly.
Although the evidence is promising, more research is needed to determine whether vitamin B-6 supplementation benefits people with other types of epilepsy.
Shop for vitamin B-6 supplements online.
Magnesium
Severe magnesium deficiency may increase seizure risk. Older researchTrusted Source suggests magnesium supplementation may reduce seizures.
A 2012 hypothesis published in Epilepsy ResearchTrusted Source supports this theory. Researchers indicate that more randomized, controlled trials are needed to better understand magnesium’s potential effects on epilepsy.
Shop for magnesium supplements online.
Vitamin E
Some people with epilepsy may also have a vitamin E deficiency. A 2016 studyTrusted Source found that vitamin E increases antioxidant abilities.
This research also suggested it helps decrease seizures in people with epilepsy whose symptoms aren’t controlled by conventional drugs. The study concluded vitamin E may be safe to take with traditional medicines for epilepsy. More research is needed, however.
Shop for vitamin E supplements online.
Other vitamins
Medication used to treat epilepsy may also cause biotin or vitamin D deficiency, and worsen your symptoms. In these cases, your doctor may recommend vitamins to help manage your condition.
3. Dietary changes
Certain dietary changes may also help decrease seizures. The best-known diet is the ketogenic diet, which focuses on eating a higher ratio of fats.
The keto diet is considered a low-carb, low-protein diet. This sort of eating pattern is thought to help decrease seizures, although doctors don’t know exactly why.
Children with epilepsy are often put on the ketogenic diet. Many people find the restrictions challenging. Still, this type of diet might complement other treatment measures to help reduce seizures.
4. Self-control and biofeedback
Some people with epilepsy try to control their brain activity to reduce the rate of seizures. The theory is that if you can detect symptoms of an impending seizure, you may be able to stop it.
Many people with epilepsy experience aura symptoms about 20 minutes before a seizure occurs. You may notice unusual smells, see strange lights, or have blurry vision.
You may feel symptoms for several days leading up to the event. These symptoms include:
anxiety
depression
fatigue
bad headaches
Self-control methods are used to prevent or decrease the intensity of the seizure once it arrives. There are several techniques, all of which require good concentration and focus.
Examples are:
meditation
walking
immersing yourself in a task
sniffing a strong odor
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