Epilepsy is widely associated with the presence of seizures. However, it is important to understand that the presence of seizure activity does not necessarily mean the person experiencing this condition has epilepsy.
Frequency and severity of these episodes can vary widely from person to person. For those that experience epilepsy, increase of certain other health conditions may also occur, depending on the symptoms experienced and affect on the body.
What is epilepsy?
The definition of epilepsy is “an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures” by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24730690
In many cases, causes of epilepsy can remain unknown. Seizures, the primary symptom that may lead to a diagnosis of epilepsy, are caused by interruptions or changes in the functionality of the central nervous system (brain, neurons and spinal cord), which amounts to electrical activity in those regions.
The following are listed as possible causes of epilepsy:
Newborns:
- Brain malformations
- Lack of oxygen during birth
- Low levels of blood sugar, blood calcium, blood magnesium or other eletrolyte problems
- Inborn errors of metabolism
- Intracranial hemorrhage
- Maternal drug use
Infants or children:
- Fever (febrile seizures)
- Brain tumor (rarely)
- Infections
Children or adults:
- Congenital conditions (Down’s syndrome; Angelman’s syndrome; tuberous sclerosis and neurofibromatosis)
- Genetic factors
- Progressive brain disease (rare)
- Head injury
- Tumor
Seniors:
- Stroke
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Trauma
Source: https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/about-epilepsy-basics/what-causes-epilepsy-and-seizures
Source: https://www.everydayhealth.com/epilepsy/preventing-epilepsy-seizures.aspx
Source: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/strokeaha.111.000220
Source: https://juniperpublishers.com/jpcr/pdf/JPCR.MS.ID.555607.pdf
Source: https://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/guide/epilepsy-causes
Other causes of epilepsy and seizure
Certain types of vaccines have also been associated with adverse neurological events including seizure activity. The increase in likelihood of seizure rises when multiple vaccines are administered at the same time:
- MMR (mumps, measles, rubella)
- DTP (diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and whole-cell pertussis)
- PCV – pneumoccocal conjugate vaccine
- Influenza
- Chicken pox (Varicella combination vaccine, MMRV)
The following vaccines administered in combination have higher rates of fever compared with its separately administered component vaccines. Fevers can be associated with the occurrence of seizure: DTaP, HepB, IPV (Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, and Influenza)
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC320893/
Source: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/138/1/e20160320
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/febrile-seizures.html
Source: https://www.learntherisk.org/seizures/
Symptoms of epilepsy
If you experience two or more seizures in a 24-hour period, you may have epilepsy. It becomes important to distinguish between an isolated seizure incident and an ongoing, chronic seizure condition by the evaluating physician or practitioner. Identification and management of a triggering event or substance for seizure is critical.
Symptoms that can accompany seizures can include:
- Numbness in the body
- Tingling
- Changes in sensory experience such as sound, taste, or sight (visual disturbance)
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or upset stomach
- Sudden or out-of-the ordinary change in mood, thoughts, or feelings
- Dizziness
- Convulsions
- Hallucinatory sensation
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Racing heart
- Drooling
- Tremor, twitching
- Confusion
- Memory loss
- Sudden onset fatigue or sleepiness that comes and goes or may persist for longer than normal periods of time
- Unusual thirst
- Increase in and/or strong urge to urinate or eliminate
Source: Source: https://juniperpublishers.com/jpcr/pdf/JPCR.MS.ID.555607.pdf
Conventional treatment for seizures
Since some who experience seizures don’t have chronic recurrence or experience seizures often enough to warrant medication, drug prescriptions are not always necessary to treat the condition. Use of anti-seizure medications can introduce certain side effects, including:
- Weight gain
- Changes in mood
- Speech changes
- Skin rash
- Fatigue or malaise
- Dizziness or confusion, loss of balance or motor skills, coordination
Conventional health authorities generally agree that treatment for epilepsy can help, there is no cure for the condition. Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride, M.D. states that seizures can be a method for the brain to deal with an overload of toxicity in the body. A seizure would clear out some of this toxicity, which is why you may notice an epileptic person exhibiting “clear-headedness” or lucidity following a seizure. However, the root cause of the problem, which could range from leaky gut to toxin overload, etc. must be addressed to resolve the issue.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-TupRO7qjc
Sometimes a combination of drugs is required to manage seizures. As each person’s health profile and needs are unique, this process can be challenging to determine dosage and precise combination, and requires time and trial and error.
Ways to prevent and alleviate epilepsy or seizures
- Consume real, nutrient-dense, organic foods that support health and well-being.
- Eliminate gluten (gliadin-containing foods such as wheat, barley and rye – gliadin is the protein found in these foods)
- Avoid packaged, processed foods
- Avoid GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) consumption of these foods has been associated with a variety of health issues including seizures
- Avoid use of pharmaceutical drugs and vaccines
- Avoid alcohol use
- Find ways to reduce stress and anxiety. Don’t over-commit yourself to obligations and activities, when possible find ways to avoid situations that provoke confrontation or emotional strain and find ways to manage effective interaction and communication techniques with those in your life whom you experience ongoing challenges. Use prayer and meditation to mitigate stress.
- Obtain regular, moderate exercise such as walking, hiking and stretching to support healthy movement, circulation and relaxation.
- Obtain regular, adequate sleep and avoid going to bed after 10 p.m.
- Reduce or eliminate exposure to electronic and EMF (electromagnetic frequency) emitting devices including televisions, computers, tablets, cell phones, routers, SmartMeters, modems, etc.
- Consider vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can affect brain function. Magnesium is a critical nutrient that maintains function of many organ systems in the body, and is especially important for the brain and nervous system. Recommended: magnesium spray which can also be taken in capsules orally from 12foru. Magnesium and dead sea salt baths are also effective in replenishing the body’s magnesium stores and enabling detoxification, which can be effective in alleviating symptoms of various health conditions including toxicity-induced epilepsy or seizures.
Source: http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index1.html
Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891061815000599
Source: https://www.epilepsy.com/sites/core/files/atoms/files/Does%20What%20I%20Eat%20En.pdf
Source: https://www.jpands.org/hacienda/article27.html
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=39&v=j4GL_z5W9EI
Source: https://drcarolyndean.com/2011/07/settling-seizures/
As with any health approach or recommendation: implementing only one or a few strategies typically will not result in changes you may be seeking in your health. A holistic and systemic approach to health that considers all aspects that may be affecting your health condition is optimal. Dietary and environmental as well as lifestyle habit changes that occur in combination are the most effective way to observe desired improvements.
