KICKIN LIFE

Epilepsy and Hypoglycemia are usually thought of as two seperate entities, requiring two seperate treatments. Although not a new concept, many epileptics have never been told by their physicians about the possible link between the two. Diet is not frequently discussed in the treatment of epilepsy, yet it seems to be an important aspect in the control of seizures. It is absurd how physicians can prescribe anticonvulsants, but rarely question the diet of an individual. So, many epileptics face a life of unnecessary anguish and despair, due to uncontrollable seizures that have caused many problems in their lives. For many, the anticonvulsants are taken faithfully, but the seizures continue. Medication must be absorbed in the body in order to work, but how can it be, if the person’s diet is poor. And what happens when individuals eat foods that the body sees as allergens or ones in which the body does not need? Hypoglycemia diets have been helpful to many epileptics. It is not sure what is the cause and effect of the two, or which precedes. But, it seems that it should not really matter, as long as the individual benefits. Allergens may be the culprit of not only hypoglycemia and epilepsy, but also every other disease and symptom that plagues mankind.

Hypoglycemia has been found to be a factor in epileptic seizures. Therefore, it is significant that some women that suffer from uncontrollable seizures appear to improve during pregnancy, when the blood glucose levels are higher. In addition, many epileptics have been given the Blood Glucose Tolerance Test, which revealed low sugar tolerance curves. Brain wave patterns of epileptics are similar to those with hyperinsulin. Although these facts alone do not prove association between epilepsy and hypoglycemia, it seems to warrant further study. Balance of the body is necessary for optimum health. Thus, by recognizing and treating low blood sugar, the rest of the body will most likely adjust itself to restore balance. Drugs have been used in the treatment of both hypoglycemia and epilepsy, but when these drugs are withdrawn, the body must once again work to restore balance. So, perhaps diet alone can be beneficial in the treatment of epilepsy and low blood sugar, thus allowing the body to achieve balance in a natural way.

Constant and adequate glucose levels in the body is one of the most important functions of the biochemical being. The brain needs sugar in order to think clearly; muscles need sugar for strength and action; and the entire body needs glucose in order to maintain life. A delicately regulated process maintains proper glucose levels in the body. The pituitary gland produces hormones that elevate blood sugar. The adrenal medulla, produces adrenalin, which in turn, stimulates the breakdown of stored glycogen. The adrenal cortex produces a number of hormones called glucosteroids that are necessary for the metabolism of carbohydrates. all of the above work together in the metabolism process in order to provide an adequate level of glucose in the body. The pancreas produce insulin which prevents the blood sugar levels from getting too high.

Some causes of hypoglycemia are the body burns sugar too rapidly because of an overproduction of insulin, excessively slow burning of sugar, slow absorption of sugar from the digestive tract, lack of an enzyme needed to utilize sugar, psychomatic process: lifestyle may involve boredom from lack of challenge or a sense of accomplishment, allergy to foods, molds,hydrocarbons, and other chemicals may depress blood sugar, sensitivity to amino acids on a genetic basis, smokers sensitive to nicotine, lack of glucagen, adrenal gland problems, continuous stress, liver problems, or glucagen may be blocked by excessive production of an inactive type of hormone, synthesized in the stomach.

There are multiple symptoms of hypoglycemia, including both mental and physical disturbances. The brain uses 30% more glucose than any other tissues. Lack of this fuel may push a panic button. The emotional brain is even more sensitive than the thinking brain, thus a deficit in fuel causes an array of emotional and mental symptoms. Also affected is the brain structure, which houses the controls for the autonomic activities of the body, such as heartbeat, breathing, peristalsis, and other functions that do not require conscious control. So, it makes sense that a deficiency in blood sugar will cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, gastric pain, and much more. Many of these symptoms can cause the body to go into seizures.
Studies have revealed that hypoglycemia can be evoked in a person who has ingested food or come into contact with any chemical to which he/she is allergic. The foods and chemicals causing this reaction are specific to the individual. Carbohydrates lead in symptom-precipitating substances. The central problem in hypoglycemia is not that a general type of food or chemical, but that of an individual maladaptive allergic reaction which in turn interferes with proper blood sugar levels.
The answer to knowing which foods or chemicals a person may be allergic to, is in trial and error. The key points are recognition of allergy, elimination of these substances from diet, and rotation of all foods. The hypoglycemia diet is one consisting of as little sugar as possible. All sugars from all sources needs to be eliminated. Caffeine is eliminated for it stimulates the liver into releasing stored sugar;and when this glycogen reaches the blood as glucose, the overactive pancreas will react to it. Alcohol is also eliminated in the hypoglycemia diet. It is not sure whether low blood sugar or an allergy to alcohol is responsible for this reaction. If it takes very little to intoxicate the drinker, there may be low blood sugar levels, or allergy, one possibly causing or aggravating the other. So, many alcoholics lose their desire for hard liquor when blood sugar balance is restored, exactly as hypoglycemics who are under control lose their cravings for sweets. In order to minimize the swift changes in blood sugar, it is necessary to divide meals into 6 small ones instead of 3 large ones. Low blood sugar can not be regulated when the intervals between meals is too long. Multiple vitamins, trace minerals, and Vitamin B complex supplements also aide in the regulation of blood glucose.
Epilepsy comes from the Greek word, epilambanein, which means to seize upon, or to be seized. The latter meaning is how people prior to the fourth century described the sudden way in which people appeared to be overtaken by forces outside of themselves. Seizures seemed to be the work of demons and epileptics were shunned. In the fourth century, B.C., the Greek physician Hippocrates began to take a look at epilepsy as a medical issue. He believed epilepsy to be a sacred disease, for he thought the brain to be the most powerful organ of the body. Hippocrates presumed that seizures resulted from vapors or from pneumatic substances passing from the limbs and trunk of the body to the head. He named the premonitory sensations that people experienced prior to seizures as auras. Auras, according to Hippocrates, were simply the sensation of a rising vapor or epileptic mist. By the sixteenth century, physicians still believed that seizures were afflictions that arose outside the brain and traveled to it.
Attempts to treat epilepsy included religious ceremonies, superstitious potions, confining epileptics to asylums, and performing barbaric surgeries in which the patient’s head was beaten, squeezed, or pierced. By the eigteenth century, epilepsy was often treated with elk’s foot, peony root, and mistletoe.
By the nineteenth century, physicians associated the onset of seizures with major brain trauma, tumors, and lesions. Clinical evidence supported the notion that epilepsy had its genesis solely in the brain. Seizures are the visible effects of brain cells not working properly. Neurons for some mysterious reason, spike in sychrony, causing the electrical system of the brain to malfunction, producing bizarre effects in the body. What causes neurons to fire randomly, which at other times appear to function normally? Once the seizure begins, what causes it to stop? Why do some people who are not prone to seizures, have one, and never have another one? These are among many questions left unanswered in today’s medical field.
Presently about 2 million people in the U.S. have epilepsy. 100,000 new cases are reported each year. In about half the cases, there is no known cause. Among the rest, causes are attributed to head injuries or lack of oxygen which damage the brain’s delicate electrical system; brain tumors, genetic conditions, lead poisoning, problems in development of the brain before birth, illnesses like menigitis or encephalitis, or severe cases of measles.
Treatment for epilepsy has advanced over the years, giving most epileptics a manageable life. But, though these methods may seem a marvelous feat, the long-term effects may prove to be far more harmful than the seizures themselves. Allopathic medicine has long been interested in treating the symptoms of disease with little regard to the underlying cause. And in doing so, has dispensed miracle drugs and procedures that produce numerous side-effects and long-term problems. Why are so many people so apt to take anything that will bring relief to an illness, with little or no concern for the future? For instance, the drugs that control seizures have many side-effects which impair functioning of some sort in most individuals. The long-term effects of these drugs can be severe or even fatal. New advances in medicine has now brought surgery for epileptics. this procedure entails lobectomies, hemispherectomies, and corpus callosotomies. Although many benefit from these surgical procedures, others suffer permanent damage.
There are numerous drugs on the market to treat epilepsy. These drugs basically affect the transmission of electrochemical information by influencing neurotransmitters. Some for instance, mimic neurotransmitters so that neurons that would basically remain at rest are charged. Others lock onto receptor sites and block neurotransmitters that would otherwise stimulate an electrical charge. Anticonvulsants seem to act on both inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters. It is still amystery as to how most drugs work and whether there are yet undiscovered neurotransmitters involved in the complex seizure process. The question of whether seizures are the result of some still unknown mechanism whose action is halted by anticonvulsants is still pondered.
Perhaps anticonvulsants could be eliminated, and by feeding the brain a proper diet, the neurons could function normally. The ups and downs of the sugar cycle and allergens may be the culprits in the mystery of epilepsy. Studies do reveal that epileptics are relieved of seizures when adhering to a hypoglycemic diet. In addition, epileptics taking B vitamins, and calcium/magnesium supplements seem to improve with frequency and severity of seizures. Also, it is important to reduce sodium intake. Foods high in magnesium include greens, wheat germ, apples, figs, corn, almonds, and soybeans. Those high in calcium are sesame seeds, alfalfa, borage, and comfrey. Vitamin B-6 can be gotten from bananas, wheat germ, advocados, whole grains, and brewers yeast. There also is a low level of manganese found in epileptics. Manganese can be gotten from kelp, peppermint, watercress, walnuts, spinach, and oats.
In conclusion, the link between epilepsy and hypoglycemia is not completely understood. But, keeping them both in mind regarding treatment may prevent many epileptics undo stress and suffering. It is unfortunate that many physicians do not believe what they can not fully understand. But, what difference does it make whether hypoglycemia is the cause or effect of epilepsy in some people, as long as better seizure control is achieved? The hard way to discover truth need not be the only one. The body often talks, but few people listen. It is a sad aspect of today’s society. Madicine is limited in the knowledge of how certain illnesses manifest and produce symptoms that modern medicine can not control. Drugs seem to help many individuals now, but what happens years down the road. Diet is natural, and there is food that provides what traditional medicine does not.