Review: Treating Epilepsy Naturally

At the time however I just wasn’t ready to take the information given in the book to heart. I was 19 or 20 at the time and thought all these remedies were straight quackery and witchcraft.  I was content to just brush it off in favor of taking pharmaceuticals and living a very unhealthy lifestyle.

Funny how over 10 years later when I read Treating Epilepsy Naturally for a second time, it all made sense to me and I was ready to really take in the wealth of information contained in the pages.  So even though this book is over 10 years old, I feel like the information is still relevant today.  It’s important to get this stuff out there to help as many people as possible and let them know that there could be more options out there other than pharmaceuticals.

For me, I finally understood a lot more about epilepsy when I read Treating Epilepsy Naturally with the mentality of actually healing myself.  This book not only covers the more well known ‘alternative’ therapies like the typical Ketogenic Diet, but it also delves lifestyle changes like sleep and stress management.

Among the great info found in this book, my favorite topic covered is what sets off a seizure.  These include:

1. Stress ~ As mentioned in an earlier post, stress is one of the major contributors to causing a seizure.  Stress management techniques like meditation, yoga, exercise, massage and aroma therapy can help keep the mind calm and thus limit the neuro excitability in the brain that can induce seizures.
2. Lack of Sleep ~ This is also a major factor in seizure control.  I know for myself, I need to try and get 10 hours minimum while I’m tapering off medication.  If I get any less, I definitely feel foggy headed and my cognitive function decreases big time.
3. Hormone changes ~ Particularly those related to estrogen can lower the seizure threshold.  This could be why the phytoestrogen in soy is so troublesome for people with epilepsy.
4. Excito-toxins like MSG and Aspartame ~ These can cause neuro-excitability and toxicity leading to seizures.  These toxins are also linked to causing migraines
5. Nutrition ~ Everything is covered here from food allergies to the Ketogenic Diet.  Also mentioned are food groups to be avoided by people with epilepsy such as: flour, dairy and sugar (paleo template perhaps?)
6. Nutrient Deficiencies ~ Epileptics tend to have deficiencies in the B-vitamins, folic acid, calcium and magnesium.
7. Body Manipulation ~ Body work like chiropractic, craniosacral, rolfing, deep tissue massage and acupuncture can have a positive effect on the seizure threshold.

There are also many aspects that are covered that I never would have thought were related to epilepsy like mood disorders.  I knew from previous conversations with my neurologist that people with epilepsy are much more likely to suffer from mood and/or sleep disorders.  What I didn’t know until reading this book was that men with epilepsy are far more likely to suffer from depression than women.

I plan to read and refer to Treating Epilepsy Naturally quite often as I continue through my journey to treat myself utilizing not only a paleo nutrition template but also try to adopt some of the lifestyle aspects mentioned in this book.  I think it’s important to get this book out there so it can help as many people as possible.  We don’t have to be limited to just pharmaceuticals.  You can find it on Amazon here.  If you’re going to get just one book on alternative therapies for epilepsy, make it this one.

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