How to Control Seizures Without Medication

Seizures are a debilitating condition in which the brain experiences violent fits of electrical activity. This may cause spastic physical movement or a temporary lapse in consciousness. Fortunately, seizures have become very treatable with a combination of anti-seizure medications. However, if you choose to avoid medication as a course of treatment, several other therapies are available.

Instructions

• 1

  Receive vagus nerve stimulation. The vagus nerve passes through your neck and is responsible for a great deal of communication between the brain and the organs. For reasons that are still unclear, electrical stimulation of this nerve can significantly reduce seizures. Talk to your doctor about receiving a vagus nerve stimulator. This tiny device is installed under the skin in chest and is attached to wires that stimulate the vagus nerve.

• 2

  Eat a ketogenic diet. A ketogenic diet is high in fats and low in carbohydrates. When on such a diet, patients often see a significant drop in seizure frequency. Foods high in fats include eggs, meat, and cheese; avoid high-carb foods such as pasta, sugar, and cereal. This kind of diet is not particularly heart-healthy, so ask your doctor if this kind of diet is right for you.

• 3

  Undergo brain surgery. Surgery is performed to control seizures when the cause of the seizures is local and easily identified. In such instances, a brain surgeon may remove or cauterize the offending brain tissue, eliminating the incidence of seizures. This can only be performed if this section of the brain does not control an essential human function, such as language, vision, or motility. Brain surgery should be considered a last resort.