Epilepsy, Electricity and Chinese medicine

[Guest guest]

Dear friends and  colleagues,

 

As you may know, my dear wife has been suffering from seizures for 19 years.

Each seizure is the body's attempt to discharge electricity, often,

unsuccessfully.  Such has been the case with my wife.  Imagine if you will, a

seizure every 25 days or so, followed within the next few days,  by 5-8

post-ictal seizures, for 19 years.  Do the math, and you will realize that the

number of seizures she has endured numbers well over 1000!  Besides the obvious

damage they have done, one other consequence has been a rawness, and an

inability to concentrate.  How could you expect someone who harbors and is

distracted by so much electricity, to be able to focus, concentrate or engage in

any relaxation technique?   Believe me, we tried, but the cumulative sequelae of

the seizures have just been too overwhelming for her to engage in any active

relaxation--at least until recently. 

 

But now that B " H it appears that the seizures have stopped, I am very hopeful

that slowly and gradually the body will naturally discharge the electricity and

simultaneously heal. 

 

Anecdotally, I will tell you that some years ago, she was seen by Dr. John

Upledger, the developer of CranioSacral therapy.  An interesting therapy that

Dr. Upledger suggested was that daily, for an hour, we connect a metal wire to

Chana's leg, and attach it to a ground, to discharge the electricity.  It was

yet another interesting idea, but had little effect.

 

Personally, as a practitioner,  I feel that the most important approach that we

can take when treating any patient, is to thoughtfully  determine the

pathogenesis of the patient's condition, (in addition, of course, to determining

the differential diagnosis).  By considering all contributing factors, and

by determining its origin, we go back to the root of the problem, and that

knowledge can make all the difference in knowing how to proceed, and with which

appropriate therapy or therapies.  I used to  naively  believe that if I was

good enough at it, that Chinese medicine could resolve any condition.  This in

spite of hearing from my professors, time and time again, that some conditions

could only be treated with herbs, some early in their onset, and some not at

all.   Yet, my experience has taught me that sometimes, a condition can manifest

as a mineral or vitamin deficiency (consider, for example, peripheral neuropathy

is a

common symptom of diabetes, but it can also  result from a 

deficiency of Thiamine or B12, or even from Guillain-Barre Syndrome;  Muscle

spasms, insomnia, bone spurs and/or osteoporosis can result from a simple

magnesium deficiency), and may not be successfully treated by acupuncture, moxa,

herbs, diet, Qi gong or tuina.  Yet when using complementary treatments,

the treatment can often be amazingly successful.     

 

Which brings me to my wife, Chana.  Western Biomedicine was unsuccessful in

treating her, as she was pan-allergic to western pharmaceuticals,  and almost

died from a reaction to Lamictal.  Chinese medicine has been helpful in

ameliorating accompanying symptoms, and building her up month to month,  but has

been completely unsuccessful in stopping the seizures.  (you name it we've tried

it, believe me!)  Oh, BTW, in case you're wondering, she has had 5 MRIs in

addition to CTscans, PETscans and EEGs.  No evidence of hot foci or scars(

though the PETscan did pick up a cold focus)  as usually present with seizure

disorders. Recently, a lumbar puncture was performed to rule out the presence of

bacteria, virus or fungus in the cerebral spinal fluid.  Negative. 

But after the LP, our neurologist suggested trying  a new

anti-convulsant, Keppra (Levetiracetam) which promisingly has presented  with

limited side effects.   I immediately  recognized the name as being similar to

the Nootropic (cogniscent enhancing) drug Piracetam, and indeed Keppra is

derived from it.  Anyway, the first month, we used Keppra alone.  Low and

behold, no seizures!  Yet there were 2 unpleasant side effects:  reduced

appetite and asthenia.  Also, though  seizures  did not occur, her

spasms,  irritabililty and lack of focus seemed unchanged.  After a month, we

added Piracetam, and immediately noticed increased focus, mood enhancement  and

less weakness.  We are now playing with the doses, and she continues to take

Chinese herbs and specific nutraceuticals based upon her signs/symptoms.  I am

very hopeful that the long struggle is close to being over.

 

As I mentioned previously, all along, I considered all the various factors that

could have contributed to her condition, in order to determine the

pathogenesis.  I am now absolutely convinced that a series of ECT treatments

given to her to treat post partum depression after the birth of her first

daughter, (from her first husband), left a microscopic lesion, probably in her

temporal lobe, which no scan was able to pick up, and which set in motion the

electrical inbalance that eventually caused the seizures.   So it seems that

 the intense unnatural potency of the ECT,  can only be counteracted  by a

Western pharmaceutical.

 

As time goes on, I suspect that her tremor, spasm and irritability will

dissipate, as the electricity is slowly discharged.  As this happens, Chinese

medicine and other accompanying therapies will be more effective, in my

opinion.  But it will take time and patience. 

 

I will keep you informed as to her progress. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Yehuda,

Thank you for the update and your heart-felt diary,

which continues to inspire many.

I'm sure that your wife's plight has made you a deep healer,

so she is your teacher, as well as beloved patient.

 

There is a story about a sick man who comes to a woman's house.

She was the only one in the village who took the stranger in.

Every night, she would get a dream about an herb growing in the forest

and the next day she would pick it and administer it for the sick man.

He would get better and then a new illness would arise.

She would have another dream and pick another herb.

 

Several years passed and finally the man was whole without illness.

He walked into the forest, looked back and turned into a ....bear.

 

The bear was teaching the village woman with a pure heart

how to use the herbs in the forest.

He was her teacher and she was his healer.

 

Much respect,

K

[Guest guest]

Yes indeed, healing is a process that requires a connectivity, with all

the aspects of oneself, with those one is connected with, with one's

environment, and with one's Creator.  And to be a successful agent, one must

learn to let go of one's ego and pride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--- On Mon, 9/7/09, <johnkokko wrote:

 

 

<johnkokko

Re: Epilepsy, Electricity and Chinese medicine

 

Monday, September 7, 2009, 6:26 AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yehuda,

Thank you for the update and your heart-felt diary,

which continues to inspire many.

I'm sure that your wife's plight has made you a deep healer,

so she is your teacher, as well as beloved patient.

 

There is a story about a sick man who comes to a woman's house.

She was the only one in the village who took the stranger in.

Every night, she would get a dream about an herb growing in the forest

and the next day she would pick it and administer it for the sick man.

He would get better and then a new illness would arise.

She would have another dream and pick another herb.

 

Several years passed and finally the man was whole without illness.

He walked into the forest, looked back and turned into a ....bear.

 

The bear was teaching the village woman with a pure heart

how to use the herbs in the forest.

He was her teacher and she was his healer.

 

Much respect,

K