Epilepsy – Causes, Nutrition and Holistic Therapy

Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic diseases. It involves short-term dysfunction of the brain. Many people ask themselves: CBD for epilepsy? Can CBD be of help here? More on that later.

Epilepsy encompasses a whole spectrum of diseases. 

Symptoms:

• uncontrollable seizures
• jerky movements
• sudden seizures

We distinguish two types of epilepsy:

• generalized epilepsy (epilepsy that affects the entire brain and has a hereditary cause)
• focal epilepsy (epilepsy in one area of ​​the brain)

The types of epilepsy and the severity of the symptoms can vary greatly. Many sufferers experience seizures more or less frequently. Others suffer from seizures several times a day, some of which are very severe. These can even lead to unconsciousness. Some sufferers come to on their own. The situation is different for patients who suffer several seizures in a row and do not regain full consciousness at all. For this reason, an emergency doctor must be called immediately. Patients usually remain in this condition for their entire lives. However, it is possible for sufferers to be completely symptom-free for several years, but then have another seizure. Appropriate medication does not always help to prevent epileptic seizures. In short, many suffer from the side effects of the prescribed medication.

For example: the most common active ingredients for the treatment of generalized epilepsy:

• lamotrigine
• Topiramate
• valproic acid

Active ingredients for the treatment of focal epilepsy:

• Carbamazepine   
• Gabapentin
• lamotrigine
• Levetiracetam
• Oxcarbazepine
• Topiramate
• valproic acid
• Zonisamide

When starting medication, only low doses are usually used. These are generally well tolerated. However, if the dose is increased or combined with other medications, side effects are more likely. Interactions with other medications can also occur.

Side effects:

• sleep disorders
• Dizziness
• slowed thinking
• Nausea
• skin rash
• Osteoporosis
• sexual dysfunction
• significant weight changes

Causes of Epilepsy

The development of epilepsy is varied and very complex. Despite modern examination methods, no specific cause for epileptic seizures has yet been found. Doctors rarely or never find a precise cause for these seizures. Unfortunately, there are a very large number of causes that can trigger or worsen epilepsy.

Causes of Symptomatic Epilepsy

• Metabolic diseases
• Brain damage that occurred during birth
• Traumatic brain injuries caused by accidents
• malformations of the brain tissue
• Infections in the brain such as measles, herpes or hepatitis C
• brain tumors
• Causes of occasional seizures

There are also occasional seizures caused by things that only occur for a limited time. When these seizures subside, the seizures often disappear again. These include:

• flickering light, such as a strobe light
• Febrile convulsions, often affecting children
• hypoglycaemia
• sleep deprivation that lasts for a long time
• psychotropic drugs, etc.

What can support the treatment?

It is helpful to keep a so-called seizure calendar. This records which medications you take and when, when seizures occur and how they manifest themselves. This can make it easier for doctors to assess the course of the disease.

Many people find it difficult to take medication regularly over a long period of time. However, there are some strategies that can help:

• taking it at fixed times
• in certain places
• during daily routines (e.g. before brushing your teeth)
• reminder function of the mobile phone

If you have problems taking your medication, it is best to talk to your doctor.

Self-help groups can also provide advice and support people with epilepsy.

Nutrition & Micronutrients for Epilepsy

Micronutrients play an important role in epilepsy.

In this article, we want to look at this topic in more detail and give you helpful tips on how you can take the initiative to strengthen your body and mind holistically. Micronutrients include all vitamins, minerals, trace elements and secondary plant substances. They are effective against cramps and can reduce their intensity.

Micronutrients that can reduce seizure frequency:

• Vitamin E
• natural vitamin C
• Vitamin B6
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Coenzyme Q10
• Omega fatty acids 3

 

Many epileptics suffer from a vitamin E deficiency. Vitamin B6, in combination with magnesium, stimulates the production of the neurotransmitter GABS. If the concentration of this is too low in the brain, it can cause epileptic seizures. However, since patients with epilepsy often have a deficiency of these micronutrients, those affected should definitely take additional doses of these nutrients.

Micronutrients never occur in isolation in nature, but always in combination with countless other vitamins, minerals, trace elements and secondary plant substances. Micronutrients can be best absorbed by the cell when they are left in their natural combination, because the individual vital substances complement and reinforce each other in their effectiveness.

CBD perhaps an alternative?

CBD for epilepsy could be an alternative to conventional medication. The extract from the hemp plant cannabidiol (CBD) is said to have anticonvulsant properties. For this reason, it is increasingly in demand among people with epilepsy. There are already a number of studies that have produced astonishing results. In one scientific study, researchers were able to determine that in the CBD group, the average frequency of seizures fell from 12,4 to 5,9.

For comparison: Compared to the placebo group, the frequency of seizures only fell from 14,9 to 14,1. In addition, 5% of the subjects were seizure-free. Finally, none of the study participants could say that they had taken a placebo. The researchers also used a special rating scale to check the participants' condition. In those subjects who took CBD, at least one improvement in one category was found.

Based on the results to date and user reports, scientists suspect that CBD can have a soothing effect and influence the severity of epileptic seizures as well as the frequency of seizures. Some theories have already been developed about how CBD works in epilepsy, which say that CBD has an effect on the hippocampus. The hippocampus is a hub for information, and if this hub is disrupted, it can have an effect on epilepsy. If CBD has an effect on the hippocampus, researchers certainly see it as a potential treatment for epilepsy.

CBD summarized

CBD - The cannabis plant is one of the oldest medicinal and useful plants in the world - and there are good reasons for this. The hemp plant can be used as a raw material, food and medical product. More and more doctors appreciate the wide range of therapeutic effects and prescribe cannabis in certain cases of illness. Cannabis products are available over the counter without a prescription. One of the best known and most popular is CBD oil. In addition to the cannabinoid substance THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD (cannabidiol) is the main component of the hemp plant, but does not cause a high. The effective hemp ingredient in CBD oil is used to treat numerous complaints and problems.

Most of the time, these are varieties of Cannabis Sativa and its cultivated form Cannabis Sativa var. Sativa. If the THC content is below 0,2%, cannabis is considered hemp. Legally, CBD products are so weakly psychoactive that they are permitted. CBD oil - Made in Germany - contains less than the permitted 0,2% THC according to German regulations. CBD oil is a product that is extracted from fibers, seeds and oils. As ligands (molecules), cannabinoids dock onto a target protein and influence the reactions of certain receptors that are distributed throughout the body. The cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) in the peripheral nervous system, intestine and cerebellum influences emotions, pain perception, coordination and memory, while the CB2 receptor plays an important role in the cells of the immune system and is involved in the formation and breakdown of bone mass.

By binding to the endocannabinoid receptors, CBD can exert its calming, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Mainly without the adverse hallucinogenic effects of THC. Ideally dosed and in a balanced combination of all substances, naturally extracted CBD oil has enormous potential for effectiveness due to the entourage effect. CBD has very few side effects, so it represents a glimmer of hope for patients with epilepsy.