Part of "Self-help to Good Health" ($19.95)
Chapter 18 - by Willis S. Langford
Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder resulting from abnormal
electrical activity in the brain. Usually its cause is unknown, but in some
cases a physical cause can be found. An injury to the brain at birth, a blow
to the head, a brain tumor, or an endocrine disorder can result in epilepsy.
Less commonly, seizures may be from some 20 to 80 metabolic disorders that
prevent assimilation of certain nutrients. A failure to assimilate and
utilize vitamin B1, B6 and folic acid is a frequent cause. If not a cause,
then a contributing factor which the drugs being administered will make
worse. This condition will usually show up in childhood. Epilepsy is usually
classified as Grand Mal (major seizures) or Petit Mal (minor seizures) though
there are other localized variations.
Those with this disorder must deal with the nutrient deficiencies causing or
contributing to the disorder, and that the prescribed drugs exacerbate. Among
the offending drugs are birth control pills and estrogen. These deficiencies
will manifest in mental confusion, memory loss, lack of concentration,
depression, mouth and gum problems, and other "side effects". A deficiency of
vitamin B6, and B12, and folic acid created by these drugs causes a build up
of homocysteine, and can cause birth defects, heart disease or stroke, and is
now being related to Alzheimer's Disease. Dilantin™ also interferes with
assimilation of potassium, and depletes biotin, calcium, and vitamin D and K.
Do not take this warning lightly, you must supplement these nutrients!
Nevertheless, supplementing folic acid may cause breakthrough seizures by
altering drug serum concentrations, so check with your doctor on this.
Side Effects of Dilantin™: Constipation, dizziness and drowsiness may occur.
If these effects continue or worsen, inform your doctor. It may cause soft,
spongy, bleeding gums, or enlargement of the gums, and nails will become thin
and weak. (Gum problems can be minimized by maintaining good oral hygiene
with regular brushing, flossing, and massaging of the gums.) Less likely are
blurred vision, unsteadiness, nausea, mood changes or confusion, slurred
speech, rash, insomnia or headache. Very unlikely are vomiting, stomach pain,
uncoordinated movements, tingling in hands or feet, fever, yellowing of the
eyes or skin, trouble breathing, swollen glands, sore throat or unusual
bleeding or bruising. If these very unlikely things occur, call your doctor
and tell him you are discontinuing the drug.
Overdose symptoms can include: low blood pressure, slurred speech, hand
tremor, jerky eye movement, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, shallow
breathing, stupor, and coma. If these occur call your doctor immediately, and
call your area poison control center too. If you have several of these
symptoms, do not let your doctor lull you into continuing medication by
saying your blood levels are within range. You are being poisoned! Other
drugs will have similar horrors that you must protect yourself against. I
wish to emphasize that "side effects" are most usually actual nutrient
deficiencies induced or exacerbated by the drug. You can indeed protect
yourself against them.
Several things are basic to helping the epileptic:
1. Eliminate all possible allergens from diet and environment. To do
this effectively, obtain The Pulse Test—Dr. Arthur F. Coca, M.D. This is a
simple self–help test for allergy;
2. Place the person on a diet proven successful for hypoglycemia (low
blood sugar); as this condition often mimics epilepsy. Obtain Nutrition Guide
for the Prevention and Cure of Common Ailments and Diseases—Carlton
Fredericks, Ph. D. Dr. Fredericks includes a self–test to determine if you
are troubled by this malady;
3. Do not eat large meals near bedtime;
4. Use two tablespoons of flax seed oil daily added to sour milk or low
fat cottage cheese (see Cancer? Chemotheraphy? Radiation? Self–help Method
#14), and two tablespoons of olive oil—perhaps as salad dressing;
5. Use 1 or 2-1300 mg capsules of Evening Primrose oil for six weeks then
reduce it to one 500 mg capsule, and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of cod-liver oil
(adults). Children can use 2 to 4 teaspoons. Gamma linolenic acid has been
reported to aggravate temporal lobe epilepsy, and probably should be avoided
in this case. Supplement with the antioxidants of vitamins E, and C, and
selenium to neutralize fatty acid induced free radicals;
6. Use two or three raw egg yolks, preferably from fertile eggs, each
week—perhaps in soy milk drinks;
7. Avoid all refined foods, no sugar, only a little raw honey for
sweetener. Sugar dramatically raises blood levels of calcium, depressing
phosphorus and magnesium. (Calcium is an excitor and contractor of muscles.
Calcium overload of cells will put muscles in spasm. Magnesium is the natural
balancer here for it regulates calcium in the cells.) Other mischief is done
by sugar as well;
8. Ensure the diet is especially high in foods providing magnesium. This
mineral is extremely effective in controlling all types of seizures.
Supplement that diet with additional magnesium of 1000 mg for adults (500 mg
for children). More than 500 mg may cause a loose bowel. When supplementing
calcium, ensure that an equal amount of magnesium is used. Use only the
"mineral transporter" chelated forms such as Nature's Plus Brand Dynomins®
Magnesium. This brand provides vitamin C as a chelator giving two–for–one
value.
9. Be aware that epileptics often assimilate minerals poorly. You must
work at enhancing assimilation, and in supplying an overabundance of minerals
in the diet. Nature's Plus Bioperine® is an effective nutrient enhancer.
Study carefully Digestion and Utilization: Self–help Method #1 especially as
it applies to the need of hydrochloric acid.
10. Eliminate most all animal proteins from the diet, except sour milk,
yogurt, cottage cheese, and butter, because animal proteins rob the body of
magnesium and vitamin B6 stores, both of which are needed in large amounts by
epileptics. Buy only non–sweetened yogurt that guarantees live cultures. Many
brands have been pasteurized, killing the beneficial bacteria;
11. Seventy years after its introduction, a high diet has been proved
effective in controlling hard to treat epilepsy. Forty percent of the
children showed a 50% improvement while upwards of 10% were free of seizures
after one year. This diet contains up to 80% fat. Such a diet should be
undertaken only under supervision of a health professional, and must be
supplemented with several antioxidants, particularly vitamin E, to counter
the free radicals such a diet generates. A high fat meal also causes clumping
of red blood cells reducing oxygen flow to the brain and other tissues. To
offset this, one must supplement the lipotropic vitamins (B-Complex) and
vitamins C and E which prevent the clumping. These must be taken with or just
before each meal. See Blood Sludge? Self–help Method #12.
12. The amino acid taurine seems to inhibit and modulate various
neurotransmitters and depress the central nervous system. This action is
thought to benefit epileptics, and is recommended by naturopathic healers.
Its apparent role is normalizing the balance of other amino acids, which in
epilepsy are thoroughly disordered. In epilepsy, serum levels of over half
the amino acids are lowered, while the serum level of taurine is high and the
cerebro–spinal fluid level of taurine is low. Taurine is produced from
methionine and cysteine if the body is metabolizing these normally. (See
Healthy Healing—Linda G. Rector–Page, Naturopath. Dr. Robert C. Atkins, MD,
of New York, states that he has been able to get at least 40% of patients
with seizures off medication by using taurine. Taurine is available at the
health food store. Supplement 500 mg daily, reducing to 100 mg for taurine
accumulates rapidly since it metabolizes slowly. Serum taurine excess may be
seen when Vitamin B6 or zinc is deficient, in Rheumatoid Arthritis, and liver
disease. Taurine levels, whether high or low, indicate further lab work is
needed. For example, if Taurine levels are low, and the clinical picture is
suggestive of candidiasis, one should test for candida through comprehensive
stool analysis and/or anti-candida antibodies. If taurine levels are high,
zinc and vitamin B6 levels are probably low, and should be tested. P5P, an
important form of vitamin B6 is necessary for many amino acid reactions to
take place. Taurine's function and effectiveness are controlled by vitamin B6
and zinc. Zinc and vitamin B6 are almost universally deficient, and they are
reduced still further by diarrhea;
13. Avoid all severe mental or physical excitation, especially those
provoking anger, fear, or hate;
14. Avoid constipation, even if an enema is necessary to regular
movement. It is better to use prunes, rough raw foods, bran, or psyllium
seeds. Mannatech™ Manna• Cleanse™ will supply needed probiotics, fatty acids,
fiber, and other aids to establish a balanced population of beneficial
bacteria in the gut and restore intestinal health;
15. Use a broad based, natural food concentrate of vitamins and minerals
such as Nutrilite Double X™ Food Supplement, Amway® Corporation, or better,
use one formulated to your own metabolic type such as Profile by Mannatech™,
Inc. Add to that base these additional supplements—children should take
one–half or less:
a. Magnesium orotate, 1000 mg; (One may increase magnesium by
bathing in an Epsom salts bath twice weekly.);
b. Calcium 500 mg; Most epileptics have trouble with calcium
metabolism. Get in the sun for adequate vitamin D to assimilate the calcium;
c. Potassium, 1600 mg; These are available only in 99 mg capsules or
tablets. Nutrilite's vegetable base is high in potassium as is Mannatech's
Phyt•Aloe®. You may wish to ask your doctor for a prescription of potassium
so you need fewer pills;
d. Folic Acid, 2–3 mg; Use 5 mg if taking the anti–convulsants
Dilantin™, Phenobarbitol™, or primidone for they destroy folic acid. Inform
your doctor before undertaking this for it may require adjustments of
medications. When using this amount of folate, supplement vitamin B12, and
check for an induced vitamin B12 deficiency;
e. Vitamin E, start with 400 I.U., and gradually increase to 1200
mg. or until control of seizures is satisfactory. Ten of twelve children
improved more than 60%. Six of these had a 90–100% improvement. Ensure
adequate folic acid (2–3 mg) and selenium (200 mcg) to aid the vitamin E.
Selenium has proven helpful in controlling seizures for it is a necessary
ingredient in glutathione perioxidase, a powerful antioxidant. Country Life
or Solaray Brand combines vitamin E and selenium in a formula. Do not take
vitamin C and inorganic selenium together. They are antagonistic. Benefits of
these supplements will be apparent after three months;
f. Vitamin B6, 300 mg for a few weeks, then reduce to 150 mg,
divided in three doses per day;
g. Vitamin B12, 1000 mcg, sublingually; Epileptics do not assimilate
minerals, proteins, B–vitamins, or vitamin C readily for want of hydrochloric
acid (HCl). Sublingual use will ensure the necessary B12 is absorbed. A new
product, Source Naturals' Coenzymate™ B–Complex (from Swanson Health
Products, 800-437-4148), is a coenzyme form of the B–complex in a sublingual
tablet. It bypasses the faulty digestive system, being absorbed directly into
the blood from the mouth. Country Life® offers Coenzyme B–complex capsules;
h. Niacin, in total of 50 mg daily, in divided doses to avoid
flushing;
i. Vitamin C (Ester C™), 2000 mg divided in four doses;
j. Zinc, in total of 15–30 mg; daily. Zinc must be balanced with
manganese (30 mg), iron (30 mg), and copper (1–3 mg). Manganese is needed to
normalize permeability of cell membranes in the brain. Serum zinc has been
found low in epileptics which may result in losses of the amino acid taurine
in the urine. Dilantin™ tends to cause the body to retain zinc and copper, so
have your doctor check your blood levels;
k. Lecithin, six 21 grain capsules daily, or a tablespoon of
lecithin granules added to foods. I prefer the granules;
l. Raw thyroid tablets, 3 per day to strengthen the thyroid.
Supplement iodine also.
m. Chromium picolinate (400–600 mcg) and vanadyl sulfate 5000 mcg
(Country Life Brand Biochem™ vanadyl sulfate). These aid in handling sugar
levels being specific to the pancreas;
n. Cystine, an amino acid; Vitamin B6 may not be utilized adequately
because of a certain enzyme deficiency. Cystine aids in producing that
enzyme, which will then allow adequate amounts of B6 to be absorbed. If
cystine is not available, use cysteine—some of which is converted to cystine;
o. Octocosanol, if the epilepsy was caused by trauma to the head,
this will enable the repair of damaged neurons;
p. DMG (n, n-dimethylglycine), available at the health food store.
Take 125 mg twice daily, early morning and at bedtime. Drs. E. Steve Roach
and Lane Carlin of the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North
Carolina, observed that though they had failed to control three seizures
daily, when the mother gave her son DMG, the seizures reduced to three
weekly. DMG also depletes folic acid, so supplement Folic acid;
q. Betaine Hydrochloride (HCl); Use three 600 mg tablets (Country
Life or Solaray Brand) after each meal to ensure digestion of proteins,
vitamins, and minerals. (See Digestion and Utilization: Self–help Method #1,
and make the HCl test. You may need more.);
16. Do drink one–half your body weight in ounces of pure water each day.
Coffee, tea, colas, liquor, and other fluids don't count. These dehydrate the
body. For every cup or glass of these, you must drink one additional glass of
water! Milk and soup are foods. Please, just drink water. Elderly, sedentary
persons, especially, should note their water intake and drink adequate water.
Drink a glass of water 20–30 minutes before eating, but do not drink during,
or for two to three hours after, eating. Do not drown your digestive juices
in water. If you must take water to satisfy thirst, or to swallow pills, put
a tablespoon of lemon juice in it to avoid dilution of the stomach acids.
If you have a kidney problem, or tend to retain water, increase your water
intake gradually and observe that the extra water is being passed through. If
it is accumulating in the legs or showing as puffiness of the eyes, back off
until the kidneys reduce these symptoms, and then slowly increase the intake.
After increasing your water intake for a few days, increase your salt intake
(1/2 teaspoon), especially if it is hot, or you are exercising and losing
salt, or if you have been on a salt–restricted diet. A salt deficiency is
serious. If water begins to accumulate in the legs or arms, reduce the salt
intake for a few days, but increase your water intake until the edema
disappears.
17. Have a good chiropractor or cranial therapist evaluate the patient. A
skilled chiropractor or therapist can often alleviate pressure on sensitive
nerves that might be producing epileptic symptoms;
18. Use Mannatech™'s Man• Aloe® and Plus which, in combination, have been
very effective in restoring normal body functions even where drugs failed.
These supply natural plant substances not found in the other recommended
foods;
19. Avoid aspartame (Nutrasweet™, Equal™); These have been fre-
quently reported to cause seizures;
20. Avoid coffee, tea, and alcohol; These deplete nutrients and cause dehydration.
21 Supplement vitamin K which is depleted by Dilantin™
leading to unusual bleeding or bruising.
.
I urge upon you five books:
1. How to Get Well—Paavo Airola, Ph. D.;
2. The Pulse Test—Dr. Arthur F. Cocoa, M.D.;
3. Nutrition Guide for the Prevention & Cure of Common Ailments &
Diseases—Carlton Fredericks, Ph. D.;
4. Food in Your Best Medicine—Dr. Henry G. Bieler, M.D
.
5. The Liver Cleansing Diet, Love Your Liver and Live Longer, by Dr.
Sandra Cabot, M.D.
The best sources of magnesium are: nuts, soybeans, raw and waterless–cooked
green vegetables (kale, endive, chard, celery, beet tops, alfalfa), figs,
apples, lemons, peaches, almonds, whole grains, sunflower seeds, brown rice,
and sesame seeds.
The best sources of potassium are: almonds, apricots, artichokes (globe or
French), beans, avocados, bananas, beets, beet greens, Brazil nuts, broccoli,
Brussels sprouts, buckwheat, carrots, cashew nuts, chard, coconut meat
(dried), collards, dates, figs (dried), garlic, molasses (very high),
mushrooms, oatmeal, mustard greens, parsley, parsnips, peanuts, pecans,
potatoes (baked, eat the skin), raisins, rice bran (very high), rye, sesame
seeds, soybeans, spinach, sunflower seeds, walnuts, wheat bran (very high),
wheat germ, yams, brewer's yeast (or tortula), zucchini, avocados, and
watermelon.
Dr. Bieler states that the "common type" epilepsy arises from toxemia of the
blood causing the swelling of and pressure on the pituitary gland. He
describes epilepsy as "acid intoxication" whose natural antidote comes from
the vegetable kingdom.
Our endocrine glands determine how we assimilate our foods, where we store
our weight gain, our disposition, our body build, and many other things about
how we respond to our environment. Medical men soon became disenchanted with
the idea of manipulating the hormones as an aid to healing because it didn't
work too well. That was because they overlooked the largest gland, the liver.
Many disturbances of the endocrine system will clear up spontaneously when
the liver is restored to proper function. (Food is Your Best Medicine)
The herb, milk thistle, is the most documented specific for liver health.
Other herbs are powerful "blood cleansers" freeing the body of toxins and
restoring liver health. Overlong use may enhance activity of Phase 1 liver
detoxification enzymes, and deplete of fatty acids, Prostaglandins, steroids,
estrogen, body alcohols, and make drugs less effective, so consult with your
doctor before using. Flax seed oil taken with a protein does much the same
work. This combats many ailments, including cancer. (See Cancer?
Chemotheraphy? Radiation? Self–help Method #14)
Sir Jason Winters used three herbs to cleanse his system and heal a throat
cancer which chemotherapy and laetrile had fail to cure. He has lived in
vigorous health, cancer free, for nearly twenty years. He has made a name for
himself marketing his tea worldwide. Obtain it from Swanson Health Products,
1-800-437-4148. Jason Winters Tea (#TS004, bulk, use one rounded teaspoon per
cup), or (#TS003, 16 bags), or Tribalene (#TS008, 100 capsules, the herbs
with added capsicum). For healing, six cups daily is recommended.
Taking these herbs causes the body to throw off toxins into the blood. This
may make you feel worse at first. If this is too severe for you, stop for a
day or two, then begin at a lower intake. This should pass shortly, allowing
larger amounts with no negative feelings. Increase the amounts once the toxin
level is reduced, and the negative feelings are bearable.
One or more of these three approaches to liver cleansing should be helpful.
Finally, walk vigorously each day, breathing deeply, to oxygenate all tissues
and the brain. One may find an oxygen supplement such as Cell Food™ and
Electrox™ useful. Call (760) 439-7884 four sources.
The above recommendations are just that, and are not meant to be a cure for
these conditions. Each person must take personal responsibility to research
these ideas, and make his own decisions of what he will use.
5/13/00
Correspondence
Willis S. Langford |
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