Home Health Center Epilepsy   Epilepsy - Home Remedies

Home Remedies for Epilepsy

 Home remedies for epilepsy are generally concerned with reducing effects of seizures. To this end, the best self-treatment one can administer is to follow a special epilepsy diet. Also known as the Ketogenic diet, the diet helps reduce the number of seizures but should be carried out only under the supervision of trained dieticians or specialists. Children (from age of one year) are especially receptive to this type of diet and treatment.

The ketogenic diet consists of high fat, low carbohydrate foods along with a controlled intake of protein. Under normal circumstances, the body uses glucose derived from food as a source of energy. The ketogenic diet causes the body to derive energy using fats. This is seen to lessen the number and severity of seizures in children.

Foods in the ketogenic diet include naturally fatty products such as butter, oil, and cream. There is a strict balance of protein, carbohydrate and fat in each meal that is prescribed by your dietician. Another version of the ketogenic diet includes an MCT supplement. MCT refers to Medium Chain Triglyceride and is available only on prescription.

To check if the diet is working, constant checks on ketone levels in the blood are carried out using urine or blood tests. Clinical trials have shown favorable results in children who have followed this diet but more medical research is still required. 

Frequently asked questions

• Is There Any Natural Medication For Epilepsy?
• What To Do When Someone Has An Epileptic Seizure?
• How Is Epilepsy Treated?
• Is Garlic An Aphrodiasic?

References

1. Danielle A.J.E. Lambrechts, Laura H.P. Wielders, Albert P. Aldenkamp, Fons G.H. Kessels, Reina J.A. de Kinderen, Marian J.M. Majoie, The ketogenic diet as a treatment option in adults with chronic refractory epilepsy: Efficacy and tolerability in clinical practice, Epilepsy & Behavior, Volume 23, Issue 3, March 2012, Pages 310-314, ISSN 1525-5050, 10.1016/j.yebeh.2012.01.002. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525505012000066)
2. Srishti Nangia, Roberto H. Caraballo, Hoon-Chul Kang, Douglas R. Nordli, Ingrid E. Scheffer, Is the ketogenic diet effective in specific epilepsy syndromes?, Epilepsy Research, Volume 100, Issue 3, July 2012, Pages 252-257, ISSN 0920-1211, 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2012.01.015.