Herbal and Adjunctive Therapy for Seizure Disorders

by Gene Newsome

Gene Newsome is a graduate and now professional member of the AHG. He is a pharmacist and one of my personally mentored student. I'm proud of what he has learned and accomplished. I thought you would appreciate reading this excellently presented case history. Michael Tierra

 This 47 y.o. female presented   with a 24 year history of grand mal and petit mal seizures. Despite aggressive pharmaceutical management, she averaged two seizures per month.  The drugs were making her lethargic and expressed a desire to discontinue or decrease medications. She understood that as a pharmacist, I cannot legally change drug therapy.
 
History: She had a head trauma at 3 and 11 years of age.  At 24 years of age she was diagnosed with epilepsy . Recently, she has nocturnal grand mal seizures and daytime petit mal seizures.
Seizures were clustered around her menstrual cycle and stressful events.  The drug regiment included Lamictal, Keppra and Zoloft. Her chief complaints were lethargy and lack of complete seizure control from the pharmaceuticals. She is a house wife and her husband is deployed in Iraq. She did not have a structured diet or exercise program.
 
Physical Exam: Weight 193, Blood pressure 128/76 and Heart Rate of 100. She had a slippery pulse and swollen tongue exhibiting liver wind. Denial of any Blood or Qi stagnations. Body temperatures were normal to hot.
 
Diagnosis: Phlegm Heat and Liver Wind causing involuntary neurological spasms. Phlegm Heat causing shen disturbances of anxiety and insomnia
 
Treatment  Strategy: Extinguish Liver Wind, Clear Phlegm Heat,  Soothe Liver and Calm Convulsions
 
Formula Selection: : Hu Po Bao Long Wan ( 4gms twice a day)
 
 Discussion of formula: Tian Ma comprises 17% of this formula. It calms internal wind and convulsions, soothes the liver and controls ascending yang due to deficiency. Gan Cao is 15% of this formula. It benefits the Qi and harmonizes the formula.  The herb is cautioned in dampness. Consider decreasing the percentage in the future for this patient.  Dan Nan Xing represents 11% of the formula. The herb transforms and cools phlegm,  extinguishes wind, and calms convulsions. One may consider Tian Zhu Huang to open orifices if the present formula is not sustaining. Gou Teng is 6% of the formula. It controls internal wind, calms convulsions, clear heart and soothes the liver. The author will look at Quan Xie or Wu Gong as an additive herb if appropriate.
 
Diet:   Review the ketogenic diet with all you epileptic patients . The patient was told to eat fresh fruits, juice, raw and steamed vegetables, whole grains, sprouts from seeds and grains, green drinks, and raw food to nourish the brain and nerves.
 
Supplements: Vitamin B-6 is necessary for many factors in brain function such as the production of norepinephrine and alertness. Niacin has a calming effect when used for several months. This patient could not tolerate the niacin and it was discontinued. Magnesium is naturally tranquilizing and can suppress electrical bursts of energy in the brain. Manganese is often deficient in those with epilepsy. Manganese also normalizes neuron brain activity. Taurine is a neuroinhibitory amino acid. Taurine also helps stabilize nerve cell membranes.
GABA can decrease excitatory messages to the brain.
 
Homeopathy: Natum sulphuricum for epilepsy due to head injuries
 
Accupressure points:   GV 26, K1, Lv3, and St 36
 
Follow-up:  The patient was seizure free for 3 months until her husband returned from overseas. During his visit, she had 4 seizures in one week.  A consult with Dr. Tierra resulted in the addition of Stress Free to her herbal mix. It worked.  The patient is taking bio-feedback classes to cope with stress. At present, patient is seizure free. She decided to discontinue Zoloft. Other pharmaceutical remain unchanged. All supplements are used as outlined in the protocol.
 
Gene Newsome, R.Ph, R.H. AHG