Overview

There are many different types of seizure disorders, including:

  • Partial / focal
  • General
    • absence (petite mal)
    • myoclonic
    • tonic
    • tonic-clonic
    • atonic

Please see conventional, complementary, and alternative medical treatments for important background information regarding the different types of medical treatments discussed on this page. Naturopathic, Complementary, and Alternative treatments that may be considered include:

Etiology

The cause of most cases of seizure disorders is unknown; although it is known that exposure to certain toxic chemicals can induce seizure activity.

Although a causal relationship has not been definitively established, increased use of oral antibiotics to treat Otitis Media is associated with increased incidence of childhood seizures [Shaw2008].

Elevated urinary levels of 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxypropionic acid (HPHPA) and other markers of dysbiotic overgrowth with Clostridium spp. are common in seizure disorders [GP2008].

Tapeworm ( <&LOCAL_INLINE ../microbiology/Taenia_solium.html : Taenia solium ) infestations has been associated with seizures and stroke-like symptoms [Tabers2013].

Diagnosis

  •  >   
    Organic Acid Test (elevated markers for gut dysbiosis).

Differential Diagnosis

Treatment

Naturopathic, Complementary, and Alternative Treatments

Nutritional Medicine - Ketogenic Diet

Conventional medicine has been aware of the benefits of the ketogenic diet for treating intractable childhood seizures, but seems use this approach only as a last resort. Dr. Weyrich feels that the ketogenic diet is under-utilized for treating a wide variety of neurological complaints. See, for example: [Bergin2016] [Bosworth2018] [Caraballo2014  🕮 ] [Felton2015  🕮 ] [Kelley2016  🕮 ] [Kossoff2020  🕮 ] [Masino2011  🕮 ] [Nabbout2013  🕮 ] [Ogawa2016  🕮 ] [Shine1997] [Simeone2017  🕮 ] [Stafstrom2004] [Wheless2004]

Dr. Weyrich has been trained to use Nutritional Medicine, and has treated a limited number of cases of seizure disorders.

Please see What is Nutritional Medicine? for more information.

Please see What is Nutritional Medicine? for more information.

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)

According to the Low Dose Naltrexone home page [LDN], LDN has been seen to benefit many different neurodegenerative diseases, including Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease. [Elsegood2022] reports that epilepsy is a condition that LDN could help. Although Dr. Weyrich is not aware of any reports of treating seizure disorders using LDN, Dr. Weyrich speculates that seizure disorders may also respond to LDN.

Dr. Weyrich has been trained to use Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN). However, Dr. Weyrich has not treated any cases of seizure disorders with LDN.

Please see What is Low Dose Naltrexone? for more information.

Genomics, Epigenetics, and Nutrigenomics

A number of genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been associated with epilepsy. knowledge of the specific genetic issues may guide more specific individualized treatments. In particular, the following genes and SNPs are of potential interest:

For more information, please see Genomics, Epigenetics, and Nutrigenomics

Treat Dysbiosis

Treat dysbiosis if present.

Neuro-Gen High-Performance Neuromodulation (HPN)

HPN has been reported to be useful for treating epilepsy and other seizure disorders [Snook]. Dr. Weyrich has been trained to use Neuro-Gen High-Performance Neuromodulation system by it's inventor, Corey Snook. However, Dr. Weyrich has not treated any cases of seizure disorders with this technique.

Please see What is Neuro-Gen High-Performance Neuromodulation? for more information.

Neurotransmitter Balancing

Neuro Research [Hinz2015] reports that chronic diseases such as epilepsy can be benefited by balancing neurotransmitter levels in the body.

Dr. Weyrich has been trained in neurotransmitter balancing protocols, but has not treated epilepsy using this technique.

Please see What is Neurotransmitter Balancing? for more information.

ICD-10

References