Content

• Steps
• Warning

The term epilepsy covers neurological disorders that range from relatively mild to severe and can be life-threatening. In all types of epilepsy, nerve cells (neurons) in the brain suddenly discharge abnormally, leading to disturbances of the senses (sight, touch, hearing, smell), emotional changes, random muscle contractions and loss of consciousness. Any factor that changes the discharge pattern of neurons can cause seizures and convulsions. You can alleviate the symptoms of epilepsy with a variety of treatments related to diet and lifestyle. However, your first reaction to the disease should still be consulting your doctor and considering anti-epileptic drugs.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Making lifestyle changes to control triggers

1. 

   
   
   Identify stimulants. Seizures can be triggered by forgetting to take medications, lack of sleep, bright light, high fever, changes in hormones and hormone cycles, stress, alcohol and stimulant abuse, hypoglycemia, caffeine and drug number.
   • In addition, hormone levels can change due to the effects of some antiepileptic drugs. If you have a seizure caused by the stimulation of the menstrual cycle, you may have a seizure called catamenial epilepsy, which makes it difficult for you to conceive that month. Talk to your neurologist for advice on the best treatment for this type of epilepsy.
   • Stimulants in some people are very specific and specific. Keep a seizure journal and try to find out which triggers are most dangerous to you, if any. Record every seizure, time of day, and surroundings when it occurred. You also need to record any feelings you feel when you experience a seizure (smell, taste, image, pain, pressure). These notes can help you and your doctor narrow the scope of your triggers.

2. 

   
   
   Get enough sleep each night. Lack of sleep or interrupted sleep can increase the frequency of seizures. Adolescents are especially at risk. Practice “sleep hygiene” by following the advice of the National Health Care Organization of the United States (NSF):
   • Avoid naps. Naps can disturb your normal sleep routine.
   • Avoid stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol when it's almost time to sleep.
   • Get enough exercise
   • Avoid eating full when it is time to sleep, and eat dinner at least two hours before bedtime.
   • Get out in the sun. Sunlight can help maintain the cycle of melatonin - a hormone that aids in sleep.
   • Establish routine or routine. Set up your pajamas, take a shower, read a book (don't read in bed), meditate or pray - whatever you like to make a habit of.
   • Try to leave trouble outside the bedroom door.
   • Attach your bed to sleep. Don't watch TV, listen to the radio, use a laptop or read books in bed.

3. 

   
   
   Drink more water to stay hydrated. Try to drink enough eight glasses of water a day. Electrolytes such as sodium and potassium can help transmit electrical signals to cells. An electrolyte imbalance can cause seizures. So keeping the body hydrated is very essential.

4. 

   Reduce stress. Not only does it affect sleep, but stress can also increase the frequency of seizures. The American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommend the following steps to reduce stress:
   • Take a break to get rid of the stressors - just 20 minutes of rest can give you an unexpected change.
   • Do exercise. Those twenty minutes of rest are valuable time for you to go for a walk or run, and the results will be effective in reducing stress over hours.
   • Find social support. Call, text or email a friend. Take a few minutes to relax and have fun.
   • Practice meditation. Studies have shown that meditation, yoga, and prayer have similar effects as exercise in reducing stress, and the effects can last for hours.

5. 

   Do exercise. Exercises like walking, swimming, jogging, and cycling have been shown to reduce the number of seizures. With just increased exercise, you can reduce the frequency of seizures.
   • There are simple things you can do like park your car a little further away or take the dog for a walk two or three times a day.
   • You can also do yoga, tai chi, or work out with guided videos that match your pace and timing. Any increased mobility is beneficial, the more active the better.
   • Research has shown that exercise can also help people with epilepsy improve mood.
   • There are often some sports that people with epilepsy are advised to avoid. Talk to your doctor about sports in addition to the ones he recommends.

6. 

   Use cognitive-behavioral therapies. Behavioral therapy is a relatively new treatment and is increasingly recognized as a form of epilepsy treatment. One of them is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT therapy includes methods such as:
   • A conditioning is a process in which specific behaviors are increased or decreased with both positive and negative reinforcement.
   • Aura interruption: may be effective in reducing the frequency of seizures in a patient with seizures caused by visual, sound or taste effects.
   • EEG biofeedback (EEG biofeedback), is a method of training patients to monitor and respond to the electroencephalogram in real time.
   • Systematic desensitization, in which the patient is exposed to increasing stimulants and learned to relax during the procedure.

7. 

   Use mind-body therapy. Brain-body therapy is often used in combination with cognitive-behavioral methods, to enhance mood and well-being.
   • Yoga, deep breathing and meditation are also considered to be effective mind-body methods in treating epilepsy.
   advertisement

Method 2 of 3: Changing your diet

1. 

   Consult a registered dietitian. There are a number of special diets that can help control seizures, but you should only do this when working with a registered dietitian. Talk to your neurologist and dietitian, especially if you are taking anti-epilepsy medications that have the potential to lose some nutrients, especially those that are essential for bone and heart health .

2. 

   Talk to a registered dietitian about the ketogenic diet plan. The ketogenic diet is primarily based on foods high in fat and very low in carbohydrates (starches). This is a diet that requires close calculation and monitoring, may initially require fasting and hospital stay for monitoring. This regimen is commonly used in the treatment of epilepsy in children. Calorie, fluid and protein allowances will be calculated based on the patient's current weight. The menu is also formulated depending on the type of epilepsy and the child's age.
   • This diet requires the body to use fat as its main source of energy instead of starch.
   • The ketogenic diet can cause long-term side effects such as kidney stones, increased cholesterol levels, growth retardation, and weight gain. Therefore, it is very important to discuss carefully with your doctor and dietitian when using this diet.

3. 

   Talk to a registered dietitian about the “modified” Atkins diet. Recent studies have shown that the modified Atkins diet can reduce the rate of seizures by nearly half among the adults participating in the trial. It is also a low-carb, high-fat diet, but adapted for the adult population and requires no fasting, no calorie calculations, and no hospital stay like the diet. abstain from ketogenic. However, this diet also needs to be based on your weight and a number of other factors, so seek advice from a registered dietitian.
   • This is a diet developed by Johns Hopkins in 2002, specifically designed to aid in the treatment of epilepsy.
   • Usually patients who switch to this diet will see results within a few months.
   • Recommended fats include bacon, eggs, mayonnaise, butter, hamburgers, whipped cream and vegetable oils like canola oil and olive oil. Limiting carbohydrates (10-20g a day, but not as strict as the ketogenic diet regimen.

4. 

   Increase your daily zinc intake. Epilepsy patients often have a zinc deficiency. Therefore, incorporating zinc-rich foods such as legumes, nuts and seafood into your diet will help. advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Treating symptoms with herbs

1. 

   Consult with your doctor before trying any of these herbal remedies. Whether it's a tea or a supplement, you should always consult your doctor before adding herbs to your treatment regimen. Your doctor can check if the herb is likely to interact with any medications you are taking, and tell you about any side effects if any.

2. 

   Try bacopa. This herb has long been used in traditional Indian medicine. Several studies have demonstrated that bacopa works to reduce the frequency of seizures. Use caution if you have a history of lung, kidney, or bladder disease.

3. 

   Use chamomile chamomile. Chamomile can be used as a sedative to reduce stress-related seizures. Check with your doctor for the correct dosage, as chamomile can increase the effects of other sedatives and interact with some medications.

4. 

   Ask your doctor about kava trees. This herb is often used as a sedative to help relieve seizures. Kava can interact with many other drugs and can cause liver damage, so you should only take it with your doctor's regular liver function tests.
   • Do not take kava if you have Parkinson's disease.

5. 

   Try valerian. This herb has two ingredients with anticonvulsant and sedative effects. As with many other herbs, valerian can interact with other drugs (and alcohol), so check with your doctor before using it.
   • Valerian can be combined with lemon balm, another herb that has a sedative effect.

6. 

   Use passion flower. The passionflower has a very mild sedative effect and the research shows very promising results, although it has only been tested mainly on rats. The passionflower can interact with sedatives that increase drowsiness.

7. 

   Avoid herbs that can increase seizures or counteract other epilepsy medications. In addition to some herbs that may help reduce epilepsy symptoms, others have been shown to increase the frequency of seizures or are compatible with anti-epileptic medications. These herbs include:
   • Ginkgo (ginkgo)
   • Ginseng (ginseng)
   • Gamma-linolenic acid (a fatty acid found in primrose and borage oils)
   • St. John's wort
   • White willow
   • Ephedra
   • Mate
   • Guarana
   • Cocoa
   • Caffeine

8. 

   Avoid essential oils that can increase epileptic symptoms. In addition to herbs, certain essential oils can also increase epilepsy symptoms or interact with epilepsy medications. You should avoid the following essential oils:
   • Eucalyptus (eucalyptus)
   • Fennel (fennel)
   • Incense (hyssop)
   • Penny mint (pennyroal)
   • Rosemary (rosemary)
   • Sage bucket
   • Wormwood (tansy)
   • Chewing cypress (thuja)
   • Wormwood (wormwood)
   advertisement

Warning

• This article provides medical information regarding epilepsy, but should not be used as a substitute for advice in medical treatment. Be sure to always consult your doctor for help in following a regimen that is appropriate for your medical condition.
• Call the ambulance immediately if you see someone having a seizure (the emergency number in Vietnam is 115), and follow these steps as directed by the Mayo Clinic.
• There are many different types of medical and surgical treatments, depending on the specific type of seizure. You should always consult your doctor about appropriate treatment regimens while using a combination of natural therapies (under the supervision of a doctor).