For generations people have successfully used Ayurvedic treatment for epilepsy. Sage Agnivesha has clearly mentioned about Apasmara or epilepsi, its causes, signs, treatment etc in detail. I have seen the emergency condition of epilepsy being easily managed by ayurvedic herbs. In common terms we call it seizures, and it is definitely a tougher life for those whose disease has progressively become deteriorated over a long period of time. If you get associated with any online forum of people suffering from epilepsy, you will find the generally happy and normal looking people suffering from a serious issue underneath. More than 25 million people worldwide are facing it every day with wide range of symptoms and severity.
The sad story
While I was teaching a group of young students, one of them started suddenly giving a blank look. She was gazing right through me into something beyond. On asking I found her complete mental absence from the class. Over the next few months I found her condition deteriorating, skin becoming thickened, dark gloomy eyes with vision blurring, hairfall, always feeling tiered, panic attacks and sweating profusely. She was not getting those tremors though, but the side effects of the drugs (medicines) were devastating. She was forgetting things! There are millions suffering silently like this, and they have no idea where to go, where to look for an ideal treatment. Living with epilepsy is completely different from treating it. All I could do for her was to teach her few meditation techniques, but along with Ayurveda (which her guardians didn’t allow) I could have made a better impact.
What does Ayurveda say?
According to Ayurveda principally this disease causes memory loss. The epicenter of this disease is not the brain, but heart. Incidentally, heart is reflected as a subtle centre in brain, but ayurveda physicians did not mention the etiology starting from brain. It starts from heart! Apart from the basic Bio elements (popularly called Doshas), here the qualities of mind Rajoguna (the energy of creativity and action) and Tamoguna (force of Darkness) are also affected. When these qualities are disturbed in a way that they start dominating Satwaguna (Force of Light) and encompass the heart along with vitiated Doshas, epilepsy sets its foot. It is very similar to what the patient actually feels, i.e, entering a state of darkness, where he can’t control anything, and while silently waking up doesn’t remember anything. The bout remains till the waves of these Doshas and gunas keep surrounding the heart.
Ayurvedic Treatment for Epilepsy
The main line of treatment is Rasayana. This point is missed by many experts. According to Ayurveda Rasa is the main nourishing fluid inside the body reaching each and every cell and its components. The main place of Rasa is again heart! Rasayana is increasing the energy and dimensions of this Rasa. There are various herbs and herbo mineral compounds used for this. But before giving any Rasayana therapy, the body must be made ready to receive it properly by doing Ayurvedic detoxification popularly known as Panchakarma. So first one has to undergo thorough Panchakarma and then go for Rasayana therapy. This is a detailed treatment and requires many months including pre and post treatment time. It’s a procedure where you need to be constantly supervised by the physician and can’t be done at home. Let me reclarify that Ayurvedic Panchakarma is not just oil massage, but includes Vamana (therapeutic emesis), Virechana (therapeutic purging) and Basti (medicated enema). These are very strong procedures, and yes, the results are marvelous. Consider the treatment given by an Ayurvedic physician genuine only if he mentions all this to you. After the body is detoxified through panchakarma, the following medicines can be used as further treatment:-
Second line of treatment in Ayurvedic Treatment for Epilepsy
One can use the second line of treatment once the body is detoxified with panchakarma. These are basically herbs that act on your central nervous system .
Panchagavya ghrita and Mahapanchagavya ghrita can be used as Nasya, i.,e to be put two drops in each nostril two times a day.
Saraswatarishta has to be used as a carrier for Smritisagara rasa And Brahma rasayana which both of which are to be taken after food.
You can also try to grow the following herbs in your backyard, since the treatment is long term, and it might be a source of free herbal medicines for you . These are Vacha- Acorus calamus Linn.
Shankhapushpi- Convolvulus pluricaulis Chosis.
Kooshmanda-Ash gourd– Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.
Jyotishmati- Celastrus paniculata Linn.
Yastimadhu- Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.
Jatamamsi- Nardostachys jatamansi Dc.
Tagara- Valeriana jatamansi Jones.
Lashuna-Garlic- Allium sativa Linn.
Amalaki-Gooseberry- Emblica officinalis Gaertn.
Rasna- Pluchea lanceolata C. B. Clarke.
Hingu-Asafetida- Ferula narthex Boiss.
Choraka- Angelica glauca Edgew.
Kushta- Saussurea costus (Fale.) Lipsch.
Phalgu-Fig- Ficus carica Linn.
Brahmi- Bacopa monnieri (Linn.) Pennell.
You can always get in touch with me if you need any further detail of the treatment
Music,Yoga and Meditation
Music plays an integral part in healing someone. Indian classical music has proven its positive results in various researches on curing a wide range of diseases. Dr Arun Apte had recorded more than 100 cases of curing diseases through music therapy. Kindly note that Indian classical music needs some time for the listeners to develop its fondness. Introducing someone abruptly to any different kind of music brings shock. Further its linked with particular hour of the day/night and particular season. Raag Durbari will bring peace to the listener at night while Raga pilu in the third part of the day especially in monsoons. Keeping all this into consideration, musical therapy through Indian Classical music tends to improve the condition of epileptic patients.
Precautions
The patient should always be cautious of things which might trigger an epileptic attack. He should be in a safe zone, because he can’t control his body when the seizures happen. It might be life threatening for few. Sage Agnivesha has documented that an epileptic patient should be cautious in near big water bodies, mountains, tree or heights, fire because these trigger an epileptic attack. The chances of morbidity are very high if an epileptic seizure happens and the patient is alone in these areas.