Epilepsy

Self-care for epilepsy (seizures) that will work well with your health care practitioner include:

Necessary Lifestyle Changes

Eat beet greens, chard, eggs, green leafy vegetables, raw nuts, seeds and soybeans

Eat soured milk produces: yogurt, kefir, buttermilk
Drink fresh juices made from beets, carrots, green beans, green leafy vegetables, peas, red grapes and seaweed; a juicer is necessary to make these juices
Eat chunk light tuna, ocean salmon and/or take a tablespoon of cod liver oil once a day
Eat small meals
Take 2 tablespoons of olive oil daily (can be used for a salad dressing)
Take an Epsom salts bath twice a week
Keep drug dosages as low as possible by eating the correct diet and taking nutritional supplements; don't forget to talk to your health care practitioner about the changes you're making
Keep a daily dietary/mood/reaction diary and eliminate any foods you suspect may bring on seizures
Use light acupressure: Sit in a calm place with hands in your lap. Using the index, third and fourth fingertips, hold the little finger of your opposite hand until you feel a strong and balance pulls in all three fingers; repeat, using the other little finger and other hand
Participate in daily gentle exercise such as walking to improve circulation to the brain

Avoid:

Large quantities of liquids at one time
Too hot or too cold liquids
Alcoholic beverages, animal protein, fried foods and artificial sweeteners such as aspartame (NutraSweet; research at the Biochemical Department at Arizona State University showed NutraSweet associated with seizures in some people), caffeine, nicotine, refined foods and sugars
Stress and tension as much as possible
Pesticides
Using aluminum cookware (high levels of aluminum have been found in the brains of people with epilepsy and animal studies have shown that very small amounts of aluminum in the brain can initiate the type of disordered electrical activity that causes seizures

Supplements that may help:

vitamin B complex 50 3 times a day with meals (protects nerve endings and helps with brain function and improves mood)
calcium, 500-750 mg twice a day (important in normal nerve impulse transmission)
magnesium, 250 mg twice a day (take with calcium to relax the nervous system)
zinc gluconate lozenges (50-80 mg a day protects the brain cells)
coenzyme Q10 (improves brain oxygenation)
vitamin A (25,000 IU a day protects brain function)
milk thistle (silymarin) will help protect liver function if you are on a medication to prevent seizures; take a standardized extract to contain 80 percent flavonoids (silymarin) and take 150 milligrams 2-3 times daily for 2-3 months; take a month off, then repeat
borage oil is a good source of omega-6 fatty acids that support nervous-system tissue; take 1,000 mg twice a day
drink 1-2 cups of oatstraw tea to strengthen your nervous system
drink a cup of chamomile tea to help relax (avoid if allergic to flowers and try peppermint instead)
gingko biloba can increase circulation to the brain; choose a product containing at least 24 percent gingko hererosides or flavoglycosides and take 40 to 50 milligrams three times daily
fish oils are rich sources of omega-3 essential fatty acids which can mediate inflammatory responses and provide nutrients for nerve tissue; take 1,000 milligrams twice a day
lecithin feeds the protective sheaths surrounding the brain; take 1,200 milligram capsule before each meal to help in the digestion of fats and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and improve brain function
to insure an adequate amount of nutrients, take a good multivitamin AND a multimineral daily
if you are taking anti-seizure medications, consider taking the amino acid taurine (500 mg twice a day) to enhance its effects
always wear head protection for rigorous activities and always wear a seat belt in a car or airplane

For quality supplements and herb teas, click on www.carolynchambersclark.com/id125.html

For children with epilepsy:

A specialized dietary program called the ketogenic diet has been used with considerable success in controlling seizures. It is high in fat and low in carboydrates and proteins. For more information, contact the Pediatric Epilepsy Center at Johnson Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD or go to www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/treatment/ketogenicdiet/

Sources:

Zand, Spreen and LaValle. Smart Medicine in Healthier Living

Balch and Balch. Prescription for Nutritional Healing

B. Dayton. High Touch Jin Shin Workbook 1

To return to the home page and index for other articles and books, click on www.carolynchambersclark.com