Over 2 million people in the United States alone
have epilepsy, a disorder characterized by recurring seizures.
Seizures are a symptom of epilepsy, but not all people who have
seizures have epilepsy, and even those who do may also have seizures
that are not epileptic in nature. An epileptic seizure is a temporary
malfunction of the brain caused by uncontrolled electrical activity
from the nerve cells in the cerebral cortex. The seizures rarely
damage the brain, but they can make life difficult. The underlying
cause(s) of epilespy are relatively unknown. Seizures may occur for no
apparent reason or may be triggered by a wide range of things,
including exposure to an allergen, drug or alcohol withdrawal, fever,
flashing lights, hunger, hypoglycemia,
infection, lack of sleep, metabolic or nutritional imbalances; or
trauma, especially head injury. Note nutritional supplementation is very
important for people with epilepsy.
Seizures in children can be particularly disturbing. They are the
most common neurological problem affecting children-indeed, one-third
of people with seizure disorders are children. lodiopathic epilepsy
(seizures of unknown cause) or febrile seizures (nonepileptic seizures
induced by fever) affect about 3 percent of children. Angelman
syndrome (a rare congenital disorder seen in children) is associated
with seizures or tremors. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is a severe seizure
disorder that usually develops in children between the ages of one and
eight. Seizures in very young children often stem from brain injury
before birth, damage to the central nervous system, or metabolic
inconsistencies. In older children, epilepsy is more likely to result
from genetic factors, infections of the central nervous system, or
head injury. Nutritional supplementation is important for people with
epilepsy.
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
Multi-vitamin
and Mineral Supplement |
10 |
vitamin B complex, inositol, zinc, vitamin A,
and vitamin E all serve to
help lower blood pressure and reduce its effects as well as
helping with both Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis. A
daily supplement provides nutrients needed for general good
health and well being. |
L-Carnitine |
10 |
is an amino acid the
is needed to deliver essential fatty acids to cells and it is
also required to make protien. |
Coenzyme Q10 |
10 |
increases oxygenation to the heart and
brain |
Magnesium |
10 |
needed to calm the nervous system
and reduce spasms |
Calcium |
10 |
this mineral works with
magnesium |
Essential
fatty
acids |
10 |
important for increasing blood circulation as well as preventative aid on
general health. Fatty acids are found in
omega fatty acids from fish and flax and borage seed oils from
plants. |
Selenium |
10 |
low levels of this
mineral causes a deficiency in an enzyme that detoxifies
peroxides in the body. |
Niacin |
9 |
vitamin B3 improves
circulation and helps with many brain disorders |
Pyridoxine |
9 |
vitamin B6 required
for good brain function |
vitamin
B12 |
9 |
aids in the
maintenance of the myelin sheaths that cover and protect nerve
endings |
Pantothenic
acid |
8 |
is an anti-stress
vitamin |
Folic
acid |
9 |
is a brain food that
is very important for health and nervous system |
Alfalfa |
8 |
herb that is natural
healing mineral source |
vitamin
A |
8 |
important antioxidant
needed for the brain |
Carotenoids |
8 |
work with vitamin A |
vitamin
E |
8 |
helps with circulation
and vitamin depletion |
vitamin C |
8 |
vitamin C helps high blood pressure,
hypertension, heart, and cardio-vascular problems
by improving adrenal function. Can be taken in a
good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. |
Potassium |
6 |
needed for electrolyte balance |
Different types
of Seizures
Absence also known as petit mal - This type of seizure
is most common in children and teenagers. It is characterized
by a blank stare lasting about half a minute; the person
appears to be daydreaming. During this type of seizure, the
individual is unaware of his or her surroundings. Staring or
daydreaming in children should not be confused with absence
seizures. If a child is daydreaming, he or she can be aroused
by a simple touch or someone talking to him or her. A child
having an absence seizure cannot.
Atonic or drop attack - A childhood seizure in
which the child loses consciousness for about ten seconds and
usually falls to the ground because of a complete loss of
muscle tone.
Complex partial or temporal lobe - A blank stare,
random activity, and a chewing motion are characteristic of
this type of seizure. The person may be dazed and unaware of
his or her surroundings, and may act oddly. There is no memory
of this seizure. A person may experience a distinctive warning
sign called an aura before this type of seizure. The aura is
itself a form of partial seizure, but one in which the person
retains awareness. The aura may be experienced as a peculiar
odor, "butterflies" in the stomach, or a distorted
sound. One man with epilepsy, an ardent racetrack gambler,
said he always heard the roar of a crowd, followed by the name
of a favorite racehorse, just before he lost consciousness.
Generalized tonic-clonic also known as grand
mal - This type of seizure is characterized by sudden cries, a
fall, rigidity and jerking of the muscles, shallow breathing, and
bluish skin. Loss of bladder control is possible. The seizure usually
lasts two to five minutes, and is followed by confusion, fatigue,
and/or memory loss. It can be very frightening to witness, especially
for the first-time observer.
Myoclonic - Brief, massive muscle jerks occur.
Simple partial or Jacksonian - Jerking begins
in the fingers and toes and progresses up through the body. The person
remains conscious.
Simple partial sensory - The person may
see, hear, or sense things that do not exist. This may occur as a
preliminary symptom of a generalized seizure.
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|