In a previous study on factors affecting the use of complementary and alternative therapies in adults with epilepsy, 31% of patients were receiving such therapies and 19. Epilepsy action is the working name of british epilepsy association, a registered charity in england and wales no. A ketogenic diet kd and epilepsy surgery are alternative treatments for people with. Complementary and alternative medicine cam has become much in vogue, and cam practitioners have increased in tandem with this. Stress management many adults with epilepsy report they have more seizures at times of increased or prolonged periods of stress. Cam is generally used as an umbrella term to refer to any treatment that. Complementary and alternative medicine use in a pediatric neurology clinic. I have tried diverse alternative, but i have never stopped taking my medication. Complementary and alternative medicine is considered and used by many people with. There are many varied symptoms and widely differing degrees of severity. The position of the epilepsy foundation landover, md is that alternative therapies are acceptable as long as the patient continues with the traditional therapies, and the alternative and traditional therapies do not conflict.
Although there are many pharmacological treatments for epilepsy, some patients. Unlike antiepileptic drugs aeds, many cat therapies have not been rigorously tested for. Summary people with epilepsy may consider complementary and alternative medicine cam for many reasons. Feeney adds that patients react to medications in different and sometimes unpredictable ways. The most common reason for inadequate aed therapy and higher dependence on cam was the patients belief that epilepsy had a spiritual or. Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders characterized by recurrent epileptic seizures. Although i havent finished reading it completely, the authors appear to give an unbiassed view of alternative therapies that. Complementary and alternative treatments by baxendale, sallie isbn. Other alternative treatments include the ketogenic diet, vagusnerve stimulation, hormonal therapy in women, behavioral therapy, and a number of new and still experimental therapies. I know from experience that the disorder of epileptic seizures can be cured. Complementary and alternative treatments for epilepsy the. Use of complementary and alternative medicine and adherence to. The use of complementary and alternative medicine in children with.
Epilepsy action is a charity that improves the lives of everyone affected by epilepsy. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Although the most commonly used therapeutic approach to control seizures is pharmacological, nonpharmacological therapies, including complementary and alternative medicine, are often used by people with epilepsy. Holistic alternative medicine acupuncture epilepsy. In people with this condition, brain cells create abnormal electricity that causes seizures. You should talk to your doctor if you are considering trying any alternative treatments for your epilepsy, no matter how simple or basic the alternative treatment seems. Complementary and alternative medicine cam is a diverse group of health care practices and products that fall outside the realm of traditional western medical theory and practice and that are used to complement or replace conventional medical therapies.
Use of complementary and alternative medicine in epilepsy. Alternative therapy epilepsy treatment intractable. Definitions of what constitutes a complementary or alternative medicine cam vary, but. Epilepsy health, alternative complementary treatments and therapy for epileptic seizures. We give advice, improve healthcare, fund research and campaign for change. This information explains what some of the most used complementary treatments are, and whether there is any evidence about their usefulness in treating epilepsy. Alternative treatments often help a dog without relying on expensive, potentially harmful medications. Cultural perception and traditional or alternative medicine. Treatment epilepsy action australiaepilepsy action. Are there alternative treatments for seizure disorders.
Use of complementary and alternative therapies in epilepsy. Perception and use of complementary and alternative medicine. For a more comprehensive evaluation of each treatment, readers are directed towards epilepsy. Alternative therapies for epilepsy by orrin devinsky. Although initially very popular, as new anticonvulsants such as phenytoin became introduced, the popularity of the dietary therapies for epilepsy eric h. Finally, many people with epilepsy, and their families, are compromised or disabled by the psychological and social consequences of epilepsy. Neuroprotective and antiepileptogenic approaches have been extensively explored for preventing and treating epilepsy. Epilepsy alternative treatment, diet, vitamins, supplements june 15 2019 by ray sahelian, m. This article discusses the prevalence of cam use for seizures and epilepsy.
Alternative therapies in treating epilepsy introduction. Publications of the pan american health organization are available on the. Parental knowledge and attitudes towards epilepsy a study from. Other people with epilepsy want to try complementary treatments for things not related to epilepsy. In all cases, however, it results from electrical activity in the brain. Aeds are the most commonly used treatment for epilepsy. When a person starts a new epilepsy drug, according to the ninds, its important to tailor the dosage to achieve the best results. It is also important to discuss any alternative therapies with your neurologist as there are some that have been shown to be detrimental when used in conjunction with anticonvulsants. For this reason, many sufferers choose to rely on or incorporate complementary and alternative medicine cam into their treatment regimens.
Despite the advent of antiepileptic drugs aeds and surgical management of epilepsy, 30 40 % of patients do not become seizure free, develop resistance to their aeds, or experience major aedrelated adverse events nagai et al. Request pdf use of complementary and alternative therapies in epilepsy the use of complementary and alternative medication cam in the united states has skyrocketed in the past decade. Still others focus on avoiding certain types of food. N2 complementary and alternative medicine cam is increasingly being used for a multitude of medical problems, one of them being seizures. The use of cam has increased over the past two decades, and surveys have shown that up to 44% of patients with epilepsy are using some. Nurses have a unique opportunity to provide services that facilitate wholeness. Epilepsy is the repeated occurrence of seizures, which result from uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain. Acupuncture, traditional chinese herbal medicine, flower remedies, color therapy, homeopathy, reflexology, yoga and meditation are some of therapies that may help those who suffer epilepsy. Factors contributing to the use of complementary and.
Epilepsy is a difficult illness to control up to 35% of patients do not respond fully to traditional medical treatments. New research into epilepsy and complementary treatments. Read about the treatments for epilepsy, including the different types of medicines and. This prompted the patients relatives to consider alternative modes of therapy. The name of one doctor stood out prominently in this regard because he was widely advertised, even in leading newspapers, as a specialist in the treatment of epilepsy, having treated more than 25,000 patients over the last 15 years. The modified atkins diet is a less restrictive diet that also seems to help with seizure control. The facts and conclusions presented may have since changed and may no longer be accurate. Epilepsy, symptoms, causes, natural, complementary and. Using alternative and complementary therapies with epilepsy. Some people tell us that they find complementary treatments can help their epilepsy. Dietary therapies ketogenic and modified atkins diet.
Use of alternative medicine by patients with epilepsy. Nonpharmacological treatments for epilepsy epilepsy society. The ketogenic diet was developed for controlling seizures, particularly in children with poorly controlled epilepsy. Authored by three distinguished epileptologists, this b. Complementary and alternative therapies for epilepsy. We evaluated the use of alternative treatment methods, in various forms, by epileptic patients who had used these forms of treatment before seeking hospital treatment.
Alternative approaches to epilepsy treatment springerlink. In some cases, seizures cause only a loss of consciousness, a period of. Acupuncture for epilepsy pros and cons epilepsy talk. Children with epilepsy may benefit from alternative therapies to control seizures, study finds. This makes them an attractive alternative for those needing more than one antiseizure medication. Natural treatments for epilepsy, such as herbs, biofeedback, and acupuncture, may complement traditional treatment options. Grand mal dog collapses, moves limbs and often loses bowel and bladder control. Other alternative treatments that some people with epilepsy have tried include stress reduction techniques, yoga, herbs, and vitamin supplements. Complementary, alternative therapies for neurological.
The trend of using cam for treating epilepsy does not differ from that in other medical conditions, with nearly one half of patients using cam. This book provides really useful information for people who suffer from epilepsy exploring alternative therapies within a medical context. Many people with epilepsy find that the use of alternative therapies helps to manage their epilepsy, although comprehensive research has not proven this fact. Alternative therapy for partial epilepsy with a twist. Experimental and clinical findings from physical exercise. Kossoff1, hueishyong wang 2 since their introduction in 1921, highfat, lowcarbohydrate ketogenic diets have been used worldwide for refractory childhood. The trend of using cam for treating epilepsy does not differ from that in other medical conditions, with nearly one half of patients. We feel that we have to try out new ways becouse time is pasing by and the brain develops its most important high ways the.
Epilepsy natural ways to treat, alternative therapy. Approximately half of the children have at least half their seizures. Dietary therapies for epilepsy johns hopkins university. Others are based on the idea that the person with epilepsy has less of some vitamin or mineral in his body than is normal. Some complementary and alternative therapies for epilepsy are based on the principle that relaxation may reduce seizures. Complementary and alternative therapies for epilepsy tuberous sclerosis. Cat therapies for epilepsy include specialized diets, nutritional and herbal supplements, massage, mindbody practices, medical marijuana, energy therapies, hormones, and acupuncture. In our study in 2014, 19% n398 of children with epilepsy used traditional korean medicine tkm acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine.
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