Homeopathic Remedies for Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a disorder of the nervous system which is characterized by the tendency of a person to have seizures. Seizure refers to the appearance of symptoms (depending upon the type of seizure) in a person due to abnormal and excessive nerve cell activity in the brain. The result is abnormal behavior and sensations, including loss of consciousness. There are a variety of seizures with different symptoms depending on the part of the brain involved. Homeopathy provides treatment for Seizures in the natural way. The completely natural homeopathic remedies for epilepsy are completely safe and have no side effects. These remedies are of great help in the treatment of Epilepsy.

Natural Homeopathic Remedies for Epilepsy

Epilepsy can be treated with homeopathy which helps treat acute fits as well as eliminates the tendency to have seizures. An inquiry is to be made regarding the type of seizure, aura, triggering factors, finding other causes and individual dominant symptoms in each and every case. The results of the Homeopathy vary in every case depending upon the duration and type of seizure.

1. Cicuta: Where there are Distortions of Body

Cicuta is one of the best medicines for Epilepsy where the attacks of convulsion are marked by violent, distorted body shape. The distortions are most frightful. There is present a marked Opisthotonus — which refers to the condition where the spine bends backward with the head and heels touching the ground. The person is totally unconscious. The face may be blue and the jaw appears locked. Cicuta is also one of the best herbal remedies for epilepsy following head injury. Cicuta can be used for convulsions occurring in children during dentition (development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth), in women during and after delivery and also for convulsions due to worms. But the condition to be fulfilled for using this remedy in these situations is the presence of violent body distortions. The triggering factors for using Cicuta are touch and noise. An auditory aura may show its presence.

2. Artemisia Vulgaris: For Epilepsy with Petit Mal Seizure

Artemisia Vulgaris is the best natural medicine to tackle cases of Petit Mal Epilepsy. This remedy is of great help for children with Petit Mal seizures. The main symptom is frequent brief episodes of seizures in a short time period. The triggering factor for the seizure is strong emotions, including fear. Any subjective feeling predictive of the onset of a seizure prior to an attack is absent (absence of aura).

3. Stramonium: For Epileptic Convulsions Triggered by Bright Light

Stramonium is the most suitable natural medicine where the convulsion arises after exposure to bright light or shining objects. The consciousness is preserved and jerking of muscles of the upper body part is experienced by the patient.

4. Cuprum Met: When Aura for Seizure Attack is felt in Knees

Cuprum Met is the top medicine when the seizure attack is preceded by an aura in the knee.  The symptoms marked during the attack are clonic spasm that usually begins in finger or toes and soon covers the entire body. Jerking of muscles is also noticed. The triggering factors for the attack include fright and anger. In females, Cuprum Met is used for the treatment of convulsion during pregnancy, after delivery and around the menstrual period.

5. Bufo Rana: For Epileptic Fit during Sleep

Bufo Rana is a natural medicine of great help in providing a cure for Epilepsy seizures where the attacks are present during sleep. The aura is felt in the genital area. It also works well for females who have attacks of seizures during menses.

6. Hyoscyamus: For Deep Sleep following Epileptic Attack

The best natural medicine when deep sleep follows an epileptic fit is Hyoscyamus. The other symptoms include picking at bedclothes and playing with hands and muscular twitching.

Other Important Medicines

1. For epileptic fits during fever (Febrile seizures)

Belladonna and Nux Vomica are natural medicines that are very beneficial in cases of Febrile seizures. Belladonna is the ideal mode of treatment when there is fever with marked heat. The head is extremely hot with jerking of muscles. Nux Vomica is of great help when extreme chilliness is present with seizures.

2. For Epileptic fits as per the Triggering Factor

Chamomilla and Nux Vomica are the natural medicines that are of great help for the treatment of epileptic fits triggered due to anger outbursts. For fits after a fright, Opium, Aconite are ideal remedies. In cases where alcoholic drinks trigger the attack, the most appropriate medicines are Ran Bulb and Nux Vomica.

3. For Epileptic fit arising from Head Injury

For Epilepsy cases that mark their origin to head injury, Hypericum, Nat Sulph and Cicuta are the natural medicines that offer the best mode of treatment.

4. For Epileptic fit arising from Brain Tumours

Medicines that are of help in the treatment of fits due to tumors in the brain are Plumbum, Cicuta and Conium.

5. For Epilepsy during Dentition

Chamomilla, Kali Bromatum and Aethusa have proved their worth in treatment of epileptic fits during dentition (development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth). Chamomilla is best suited when anger triggers a fit during dentition. Kali Bromatum is the ideal remedy when there is a jerking of muscles. Aethusa is selected when the symptoms are clenched thumbs, fixed pupils and a locked jaw. Eyes are turned downwards.

6. For Epileptic fits due to Suppressed Eruptions

Zincum, Agaricus and Cicuta are natural remedies that work well when the history of suppressing eruptions is ruled out prior to the onset of convulsion history.

7. Medicines as per type of Seizure in Epilepsy

The selection of natural medicines can be ruled out only after taking a complete case history of the patient.

Petit Mal Seizures: The natural medicines for treating Petit Mal Seizures are Artemisia, Belladonna, Zincum, and Hyoscyamus.

Clonic Seizures: Agaricus and Cuprum are the best natural medicines for Clonic Seizures. Agaricus is a great nervous remedy. It is a beneficial remedy when there is a jerking of a single muscle group or the whole body. Cuprum is ideal when the problem starts in toes or fingers and spreads to the entire body.

Tonic Seizures: Cicuta and Plumbum are the best medicines for Tonic Seizures. Cicuta and Plumbum bring about a marked rigidity in the body during tonic convulsions.

Types of Seizures with Symptoms

Focal (Partial Seizure): When the seizures occur due to the involvement of one area of the brain, they are known as Focal Seizures. These are of two types: Simple Partial and Complex Partial. In Simple Partial cases, the person remains conscious, has a sudden emotional experience (feeling of joy, sadness, fear, sexual arousal), has hallucinations of hearing, taste, smell or vision, and there may also be an involuntary jerking of body parts. In Complex Partial Seizure, the person’s consciousness is altered or lost. The symptoms include staring, automatism (repeated rhythmic, purposeless movements) like eye blinking, hand rubbing, walking in a circle, mouth movements, smacking movement of lips, picking at bedclothes. After a few minutes, consciousness is regained and the drowsy feeling may remain.[toc]

Generalized Seizure: When all areas of the brain are involved, then generalized seizures occur. These are of the following types:

Tonic-Clonic (Grand Mal Seizures): The symptoms are a loss of consciousness and stiffness or rigidity of body with falling down. Respiration arrest and blueness of body also occur. This is followed by relaxation resulting in jerking of the body. The jerking is followed by regaining of consciousness but confusion, impaired memory, headache, and sleepiness. Loss of bladder control and tongue biting are common in these types of seizures. Aura precedes the attack. Aura is a subjective feeling experienced by a patient whereby he or she becomes aware that an attack is about to begin.

Tonic seizures: In these seizures, muscle stiffness mainly of back, arms and legs occur.

Clonic seizures: These seizures cause muscle jerking.

Absence (Petit Mal/Minor Seizure): The symptoms are minor like mainly staring or just a slight tilt in the head, and brief alteration of consciousness usually for seconds. There is no fall or muscle contraction. A person may have more than 20 episodes per day. It is common in childhood. The person gets normal without any confusion when the seizure is over.

Causes And Triggering Factors Of Epilepsy Seizures

The main causes of Epilepsy and resultant seizures include Meningitis, head injury or trauma, stroke, brain tumor, high fever (Febrile Seizure), and parasite infection Neuro-cysticercosis. The main triggering factors include light, noise, sleep loss, alcohol intake, and cigarette smoking.