EPILEPSY is a chronic neurological disorder in which clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain sometimes signal abnormally and cause seizures. Seizures are uncontrolled bursts of electrical activities that change sensations, behaviours, awareness and muscle movements.  

Seizure symptoms can vary widely. Some people may lose awareness during a seizure but others don't. Some people stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure. Others may repeatedly twitch their arms or legs, movements known as convulsions or spasms.

Having a single seizure doesn't mean you have epilepsy. Epilepsy is diagnosed if you've had at least two unprovoked seizures at least 24 hours apart. Unprovoked seizures don't have a clear cause.

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT FOR EPILEPSY

Homoeopathy provides treatment for seizures in a natural way. The homoeopathic medicines for epilepsy are completely safe and have no side effects. An inquiry is to be made regarding the type of seizure, aura, triggering factors, finding other causes and individual characteristic symptoms in each and every case. This is done with the help of intricate case taking procedure by a qualified homoeopathic doctor. 

The results of the treatment vary in every case depending upon the duration and type of seizures. Homoeopathy is based on the principle of individualisation and symptom similarity by using holistic approach. Several medicines are available to treat epilepsy but can only be selected by individualisation of the case. For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified Homoeopathic doctor in person. 

KNOW YOUR DISEASE

Epilepsy is a long-term (chronic) disease that causes repeated seizures due to abnormal electrical signals produced by damaged brain cells. A burst of uncontrolled electrical activity within brain cells causes a seizure. Seizures can include changes to your awareness, muscle control (your muscles may twitch or jerk), sensations, emotions and behaviour.

What are the types of epilepsies and their seizure symptoms?

Seizure categories are based on where they start in your brain, your level of awareness during a seizure and by presence or absence of muscle movements.

There are two major seizure groups.

Focal onset seizures

Focal onset seizures start in one area, or network of cells, on one side of your brain. This seizure used to be called partial onset seizure. There are two types of focal seizures.

Focal onset aware seizure means you’re awake and aware during the seizure. Symptoms may include:

• Changes in your senses — how things taste, smell or sound.
• Changes in your emotions.
• Uncontrolled muscle jerking, usually in arms or legs.
• Seeing flashing lights, feeling dizzy, having a tingling sensation.

Focal onset impaired awareness seizure means you’re confused or have lost awareness or consciousness during the seizure. This seizure type used to be called complex partial seizure. Symptoms may include:

• Blank stare or a “staring into space.”
• Repetitive movements like eye blinking, lip-smacking or chewing motion, hand rubbing or finger motions.

Generalized onset seizures

General onset seizures affect a widespread network of cells on both sides of your brain at the same time. There are six types of generalized seizures.

• Absence seizures. This seizure type causes a blank stare or “staring into space” (a brief loss of awareness). There may be minor muscle movements, including eye blinking, lip-smacking or chewing motions, hand motions or rubbing fingers. Absence seizures are more common in children, last for only seconds (usually less than 10 seconds) and are commonly mistaken for daydreaming. This seizure type used to be called petit mal seizures.
• Atonic seizures. Atonic means “without tone.” An atonic seizure means you’ve lost muscle control or your muscles are weak during your seizure. Parts of your body may droop or drop such as your eyelids or head, or you may fall to the ground during this short seizure (usually less than 15 seconds). This seizure type is sometimes called “drop seizure” or “drop attack.”
• Tonic seizures .Tonic means “with tone.” A tonic seizure means your muscle tone has greatly increased. Your arms, legs, back or whole body may be tense or stiff, causing you to fall. You may be aware or have a small change in awareness during this short seizure (usually less than 20 seconds).
• Clonic seizures. “Clonus” means fast, repeating stiffening and relaxing of a muscle (“jerking”). A clonic seizure happens when muscles continuously jerk for seconds to a minute or muscles stiffen followed by jerking for seconds up to two minutes.
• Tonic-clonic seizures. This seizure type is a combination of muscle stiffness (tonic) and repeated, rhythmic muscle jerking (clonic). This seizure once called as grand mal seizure. Tonic-clonic seizures are what most people think of when they hear the word “seizure.” You lose consciousness, fall to the ground, your muscles stiffen and jerk for one to five minutes. You may bite your tongue, drool and lose muscle control of bowels or bladder, making you poop or pee.
• Myoclonic seizures. This seizure type causes brief, shock-like muscle jerks or twitches (“myo” means muscle, “clonus” means muscle jerking). Myoclonic seizures usually last only a couple of seconds.

WHAT ARE SEIZURE TRIGGERS?

Seizure triggers are events or something that happens before the start of your seizure.

Commonly reported seizure triggers include.

• Stress.
• Sleep issues such as not sleeping well, not getting enough sleep, being overtired, disrupted sleep and sleep disorders like sleep apnea.
• Alcohol use, alcohol withdrawal, recreational drug use.
• Hormonal changes or menstrual hormonal changes.
• Illness, fever.
• Flashing lights or patterns.
• Not eating healthy, balanced meals or drinking enough fluids; vitamin and mineral deficiencies, skipping meals.
• Physical overexertion.
• Specific foods (caffeine is a common trigger).
• Dehydration.
• Certain times of the day or night.
• Use of certain medications. Diphenhydramine, an ingredient in cold, allergy and sleep over-the-counter products, is a reported trigger.
• Missed anti-seizure medication doses.

SYMPTOMS

Seizure symptoms vary depending on the type of seizure. Because epilepsy is caused by certain activity in the brain, seizures can affect any brain process. Seizure symptoms may include:

• Temporary confusion.
• A staring spell.
• Stiff muscles.
• Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs.
• Loss of consciousness or awareness.
• Psychological symptoms such as fear, anxiety or deja vu.

Sometimes, people with epilepsy may have changes in their behaviour. They also may have symptoms of psychosis.

Most people with epilepsy tend to have the same type of seizure each time. Symptoms are usually similar from episode to episode.

WARNING SIGNS OF SEIZURES/AURA

Some people with focal seizures experience warning signs in the moments before a seizure begins. These warning signs are known as aura. They might include a feeling in the stomach. Or they might include an emotion such as fear. Some people might feel deja vu. Aura also might be a taste or a smell. It might even be visual, such as a steady or flashing light, a color, or a shape. Some people may experience dizziness and loss of balance. Others may see things that aren't there, known as hallucinations.

CAUSES OF EPILEPSY

In about half of people with epilepsy, the cause cannot be determined. A variety of factors can contribute to the development of seizures, such as:

• Traumatic brain injury or other head trauma
• Brain scarring after a brain injury (post-traumatic epilepsy)
• Serious illness or very high fever
• Stroke
• Brain tumor or cyst
• Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease
• Maternal use of some drugs, prenatal injury, brain malformation, or lack of oxygen at birth
• Infectious conditions like HIV and AIDS and meningitis
• Genetic or developmental disorders or neurological diseases

DIAGNOSIS OF EPILEPSY

Technically, if you experience two or more seizures that weren’t caused by a known medical condition for example, from alcohol withdrawal or low blood sugar, you’re considered to have epilepsy. Before making a diagnosis, your doctor (or epilepsy specialist) will perform a physical exam, take your medical history and may order blood work (to rule out other causes). They may ask about your symptoms during the seizure and conduct other tests, as well.

WHAT TESTS WILL BE DONE TO DIAGNOSE THIS CONDITION?

Tests include.

• Electroencephalography (EEG): This test measures the electrical activity in your brain. Certain abnormal electrical patterns are related to seizures.
• Brain scans: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for such things as tumors, infections or blood vessel abnormalities.

CAN EPILEPSY BE PREVENTED?

Although many causes of epilepsy are out of your control and unpreventable, you can reduce your chance of developing a few conditions that might lead to epilepsy, such as.

• To lower your risk of traumatic brain injury (from blows to your head), always wear your seatbelt when driving and drive “defensively”; wear a helmet when biking; clear your floors of clutter and power cords to prevent falls; and stay off ladders.
• To lower your risk of stroke, eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly.
• Seek therapy for substance abuse. Alcohol and other illegal drugs can damage your brain, which can then lead to epilepsy.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS