Natural treatments and home remedies for seizures

The sudden and uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain is known as a seizure. They can cause dramatic and noticeable symptoms, or they cannot cause any symptoms.

The most common symptoms of seizures are headache; an out-of-body sensation; a jerky movement of the arms and legs that may cause you to drop things; a change in vision; dizziness; a feeling of being sick to your stomach, and a sudden feeling of fear or anxiousness.

There are many causes of seizures, such as a stroke; low blood glucose levels; kidney or liver failure; head trauma; a fever; extremely high blood pressure; epilepsy; electric shock; an electrolyte imbalance; drug withdrawal; drug abuse; choking; a brain defect present at birth; a brain injury during childbirth; a brain infection, such as meningitis; stings; bites; alcohol withdrawal.

If the seizures are not treated, then their symptoms can get worse and progressively longer in duration. The extremely long seizures could lead to death or coma. Also, they can lead to injuries, such as trauma to the body or falls. It is very important to wear a medical identification bracelet that tells emergency responders when you have epilepsy.

Also, there are some natural treatments that can help you. You need to talk with your doctor if you have seizures before you start taking some of the below-mentioned home remedies.

15 Home remedies for seizures

Violet tree

This is a little tree that has aromatic purple blooms, and it is native to tropical Africa.

In traditional medicine, the roots of the violet tree are used to handle a variety of physical as well as mental disorders, such as epilepsy, pain, stress, headache, and inflammation. There are some studies in which animals were treated with the infusion of the violet tree, and the result of this natural treatment is a delayed start of seizures.

It depends on the compound which is used to cause the seizures; the results were better than those animals which were treated with phenobarbitone which is a common seizure medication. There should be studies on people who will approve of these results.[1]

Bo tree

This is a big fig tree that has been discovered throughout South Asia. This tree is holy to Hindus and Buddhists, and it is used ritually and medicinally. In the past, there were used very different Ficus species for the treatment of epilepsy.

In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, the bo tree was used for this problem. There was one study in which was found that the figs from the bo tree compromise the greatest number of serotonin compared to the figs from other Ficus species. This study examined the infusion of the figs for its anticonvulsant actions, and it was discovered that it can help a lot in the seizure problem because it increases the nerve cell’s serotonin transmission. This study has supported the utilization of bo tree figs in epilepsy, but there should be a lot more studies in the future to approve it.[2]

False pepper

This is a creeping vine that has yellow-green blooms, and it is found throughout India. In traditional medicine, the fruit, bark, and leaves of false pepper were used to handle many different problems, such as nervous debility, convulsions, psychological disorders, tumors, skin problems, stomach problems, parasites, rheumatism, and temperature.

There are some studies in which people who have convulsions were using false pepper as their natural treatment, and these studies affirmed these findings.

Passionflower

There are some studies in which is said that passionflower can help to prevent and treat seizures. But also, there are some cases when passionflower can cause some side effects, such as vomiting, nausea, dizziness, and sleepiness.

You should not take passionflower as your natural treatment for seizures if you are breastfeeding or pregnant or if you expect to undergo surgery. Also, you should not take passionflower as your natural cure for seizures if you are taking sedatives because it can cause side effects.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil has good fats, which are very important for brain functioning and brain glucose metabolism. Coconut oil can help in the treatment of dementia, but also it can help a lot in the treatment of seizures and epilepsy. There are some doctors who recommend starting with 2 tablespoons of organic virgin coconut oil on daily basis, and you should gradually work up to 5 tablespoons per day.

Avoid alcohol

You should avoid alcohol and other substances which can increase the risk of seizures. Also, you should talk with your doctor about the best for manage your stress because it can help with seizure control and can lessen the risk of mood disorders.

Chamomile

This is an herb that can soothe the central nervous system. There are some studies in which is said that there are 2 kinds of chamomile that are used to treat seizures.

German chamomile and Roman chamomile

The German chamomile is mostly employed in America, and normally it is taken as a tea. Also, it can be taken in capsule or pill form. Talk with your doctor before you start using chamomile as your natural treatment for seizures.

Keep a regular sleep schedule

You need to keep a regular sleep schedule because this can help to prevent seizures from poor sleep, and it can help in the treatment of stress and sleep disorders.

Skullcap

This natural cure has been used for over 200 as a natural treatment for nervous tension and convulsions.[3]

But this natural cure can cause some side effects, such as cardiac arrhythmias, stupor, seizures, liver toxicity, and confusion. This herb is usually used as an infusion, but also it can be found in tincture form.

Talk with your doctor about the best form and dosage in which you can use it.

Valerian

This natural cure acts as a sedative, and it has anticonvulsant properties. In some cases, it can be used as a natural treatment for epilepsy, but in traditional medicine, it is used to treat sleep disorders. But there are some studies in which are said that this is also a powerful home remedy for seizures. The short–term use of the valerian root is safe, but the long–term effects are not known. This natural cure can cause some side effects, such as headaches and sleeplessness. You should not take valerian if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Also, you should not take valerian if you are going to make surgery because, in this way, it can decrease the nervous system.[4]

Self–control

This is a natural method through which the person can gain control over the seizure activity. It is possible for the affected person to be aware of the symptoms and their occurrence of them. When you are detecting the signs in the early stage, then stopping an attack is possible for you.

There are many people who enter the state of aura before the attack takes place. The gap which is between the aura and the seizure is at least twenty minutes. During this period, the affected person can reduce the occurrence which is happening if the affected person can attain self–control. Also, there is another way that can help you a lot, and that is to improve your concentration level. You can perform this with the help of meditation, walking, saying “no” to seizures, and focusing on a specific task.

Bacopa

This is an Ayurvedic herb that is frequently used to handle seizures by creating the stimulation of a brain chemical known as GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which is responsible for functions such as convulsive movements and motor movements.[5] The extract of bacopa is considered the most powerful type of herb you can get.

Omega–3 fatty acids

There are some studies in which is said that Omega–3 fatty acids can have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. Some studies are said that Omega–3 supplements can help to reduce the frequency of seizures.

Kava

This herb has been used as a sedative for seizure disorders in traditional medicine. It is mainly used as an anxiety treatment. This herb should be utilized under the direction of a medical practitioner because it can cause liver failure in some people. You should talk with your doctor before you start using kava as your natural treatment for seizures.

Bupleurum

This is a Chinese herb, and it is the main component in the Chinese herbal formulas Saiko-keishi–to and shosaiko–to, which are frequently used as a natural treatment for seizures.[6] Pinellia root, ginger root, jujube fruit, and cassia bark and root are used in the previously mentioned formulas.

References:

[1] Spinella M. Herbal medicines and epilepsy: The potential for benefit and adverse effects. Epilepsy & Behavior. 2001;2(6):524-532.

[2] Tyagi A, Delanty N. Herbal remedies, dietary supplements, and seizures. Epilepsia. 2003;44(2):228-35.

[3] Liu W, Ge T, Pan Z, et al. The effects of herbal medicine on epilepsy. Oncotarget. 2017;8(29):48385–48397.

[4] Yuen AW, Sander JW. Can magnesium supplementation reduce seizures in people with epilepsy? A hypothesis. Epilepsy Research. 2012;100(1-2):152-6.

[5] Mathew J, Balakrishnan S, Antony S, Abraham PM. Decreased GABA receptor in the cerebral cortex of epileptic rats: Effect of Bacopa monnieri and Bacoside-A. Journal of Biomedical Science. 2012;19(1):25.