Category: Brain / Memory Health

Abstract

Epileptic Encephalopathy is an epileptic condition. It is associated with progressive dysfunction of the cerebral. An Epileptic Encephalopathy is a group of age-related disorders. In this condition multi-form of seizures happens to the patient.

We have discussed important points in this article like; different types of seizures, 8 types of epileptic encephalopathy syndrome, common cause, and symptoms with some effective home and herbal remedies for which will be very useful in this condition.

Introduction

Epileptic encephalopathy is a severe brain disorder. It is referring to a group of disorders in which continuous epileptic activity plays a part in progressive cerebral dysfunction. It is a specific age-related brain reaction of excessive neocortical excitability to different pathological conditions, which are focal or diffuse, of symptomatic or idiopathic cause.

Epileptic encephalopathy is characterized by

• seizures that are in multi-form,
• electrographic EEG activity that is often aggressive
• Cognitive, neurological, and behavioral defects.
• Often early death

The Ayurvedic aspect of Epileptic Encephalopathy:

Ayurveda is an ancient and traditional form of medicine. The Ayurveda word means knowledge of life. Ayurveda believes in the balance between mind, body, and soul. This balance helps in maintaining health because Ayurveda’s ultimate goal is to provide health to a healthy person and alleviate diseased person disorders. The balance between the mind, body, and soul is maintained by the balance between body and mind Dosha. Body Dosha is of three types Vata, Pitta, and Kapha each dosha had its dominating factors like Vata have Air dominating factor Pitta had a fire and Kapha had water.  The balance between these Dosha helps in maintaining health and the imbalance causes various problems. Mind Dosha are also of three types Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas each dosha has its properties like Sattva having intelligence, wisdom, Rajas having movement, passing and ability to act, and Tamas is responsible for darkness, sleep, slowness. The imbalance of any dosha can harm the body.

According to Ayurveda epilepsy is known as ‘Apsmara’. Due to stress, depression, anger, and unhealthy food, the mind and body Dosha suppresses the Sattva Dosha, and Rajas and Tama dosha increase and get accumulated in the heart. This accumulation of Dosha blocks the Sanjanvaha Srotus and can lead to damage to memory and intellect and finally results in Apasmara.

Seizures commonly occurring in Epileptic Encephalopathies:

• Myoclonic seizure or myoclonus: it is a shock-like jerk of a muscle or group of muscles. It is usually not more than one or two sec.
• Astatic seizure: A loss of straight posture that results from an atonic, myoclonic, or tonic mechanism.
• Epileptic spasm: An epileptic spasm is a sudden flexion, an extension of predominantly the proximal and truncal muscles that is usually more sustained than myoclonic movements. It usually occurs on wakening.
• Atonic seizure:  a sudden loss of muscle tone that is caused by a temporary alteration in the brain. It is usually less fifteen seconds.
• Clonic seizures: during clonic seizures, jerking of the body are the main symptom. It involves the same muscle group.
• Myoclonic-atonic seizures: it is symmetrical myoclonic jerks of arms and irregular twitching of the face lead to more or less loss of tone.
• Negative Myoclonic seizures: interruption of tonic muscular activity for less than 500 ms. it is associated with the high voltage slow wave.
• Tonic seizure: increased muscle contraction lasting a few minutes.

Syndromes of epileptic encephalopathy will appear in the neonatal period, infancy, and early childhood:

1. Early myoclonic encephalopathy
2. Ohtahara syndrome
3. West syndrome
4. Dravet syndrome
5. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
6. Landau-Kleffner syndrome
7. Epilepsy with continuous spike-waves during slow-wave sleep
8. Myoclonic status in nonprogressive encephalopathies

1. Early myoclonic encephalopathy

It is a rare epilepsy syndrome mostly seen in neonates and infants that’s why it is also known as neonatal myoclonic encephalopathy. It is diagnosed before 2 or 3 months of age. The first seizure could be felt towards the last trimester or mostly seen during the first 10 days of life. Motor and cognitive problems can be seen in infants and can get progressively worse. Early myoclonic encephalopathy affects both boys and girls equally.

Seizures :
Various types of seizures may occur but Myoclonic seizures (brief, sing or repetitive, very frequent, and nearly continuous body jerks). Some may have tonic, motor, focal seizures, which appear later.

Cause: in some cases cause for EME is not found, a possible cause may include metabolic causes are common like non-ketotic hyperglycinemia, urea cycle disorders, Menke syndrome, and many others, Gene mutation, or rarely brain mutation.

2. Ohtahara syndrome

It is mostly seen in infants and also known as early epileptic encephalopathy or early infantile epileptic encephalopathy with burst suppression pattern. Infants show severe developmental challenges and abnormal neurological examinations, even before the start of a seizure. Seizures begin before 3 months of age. Motor and cognitive problems can get worse with increased seizures. This syndrome has affected both boys and girls equally.

Seizures :
various other seizures may occur but Tonic seizure (stiffening of the arms or legs) is seen more often. This seizure lasts for a few seconds may occur alone or in clusters, they one side of the body more prominently, it is seen when the baby sleep or awake. Infants with ohtahara syndrome may develop infantile spasm.

Cause :
most cases of this syndrome are caused by brain malformations or gene mutation, metabolic causes are less likely.

3. West syndrome

West syndrome is also known as an infantile spasm or epileptic spasm. Spasms may be flexor, extensor, lightning, or nods, but commonly they are mixed. It occurs between the age of 4 and 7 months and always occurs before the age of 1 year. Boys are most commonly affected by this syndrome. Various other types of seizures may occur but Myoclonic seizures (brief, sing or repetitive, very frequent, and nearly continuous body jerks.

Seizures :
Various other types of seizures may occur but Myoclonic seizures (brief, sing or repetitive, very frequent, and nearly continuous body jerks) are seen more often. The spasm is often motionless and diminishes responsiveness lasting up to 90s. A cry or laughter often follows the end of the attack.

Cause :
Most cases of this syndrome are caused by metabolic disorders or structural damage in the brain, the cause for many cases cannot be determined. Most infants with this syndrome show some significant underdevelopment of part or all of the cerebral hemispheres.

4. Dravet syndrome

It is a rare genetic epileptic encephalopathy (dysfunction of the brain). It begins in the first year of life in healthy infants and is life-long. Most children develop some developmental disability.

Seizures: Many seizures can occur but myoclonic, tonic-clonic seizure is common. The first seizure is associated with fever. Seizures can be lasting more than 10 mints, seizures occurring on one side of the body.

Cause:  The gene mutation is the common cause of this syndrome.

5. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

The Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) causes multiple different types of seizures. Their seizures are difficult to control and they will need lifelong treatment. The intellectual and behavioral problems add to the complexity of this syndrome.

Seizures: many seizures can occur like a tonic (stiffening) and atonic (drop) seizures.

Cause: cause of this syndrome is not known in 1 out of 4 children.

6. Landau-Kleffner syndrome

Verbal auditory agnosia was the language disturbance but some patients may expressive aphasia (deprived oxygen in the body) early in the course. In some cases the disorder progress to the point where the child can even recognize sounds, so total auditory agnosis develops. Only 70% of patients have seizures. The seizures usually begin in children between 5 to 10 years of age. After age 10, only a few patients have seizures. Most patients have behavioral and psychomotor disturbances that may suggest autism.

Seizures:  various types of seizures occur but tonic, clonic seizures occur more often.

Cause: in some cases, Landau-Kleffner syndrome is caused by a gene mutation.

7. Epilepsy with continuous spike-waves during slow-wave sleep

CSWS may start in children 2 and 12 years of age, more often between 4 to 5 years. Boys are seen as more affected than girls. This syndrome is characterized by spike-wave complexes that occur most continuously during slow or non-rapid eye movement sleep.

Seizures: common seizure type seen in this syndrome is a focal motor seizure. Other seizures are atonic seizures, atypical absence.

Cause: a family history of these seizures or epilepsy is not usually seen. Genetic mutation is the cause is involved for this syndrome.

8. Myoclonic status in non-progressive encephalopathy:

This type of syndrome is seen in the children of day 1 to 5 years of age, mostly at 12 months. The myoclonic jerks involve eyelids, face or limbs are mostly straight and asynchronous, become more rhythmic and synchronous during the absences. It is mostly co-related with recurring motor, cognitive, or behavioral disturbances.

Seizures: myoclonic seizures most occur in this syndrome

Cause: genetic defect, brain malformation is the main cause of this syndrome.

Causes for epileptic encephalopathy

There are several causes for epileptic encephalopathy:

1. Single gene mutation
2. Neuronal injury
3. Early life events such as fever, infection, or stress
4. Cortical brain malformations
5. Metabolic disorders- Nonketotic hyperglycinemia, organic acidemias, Zellweger syndrome, molybdenum cofactor deficiency
6. Mitochondrial disorders
7. Severe prenatal hypoxic-ischemic injury

Symptoms

Some common Symptoms of Epileptic encephalopathy in infants:

• Stiffening of the body
• Staring
• Jerking movements of the arms and legs
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Periods of rapid eye blinking
• Not responding to noise or words for brief periods
• Appearing confused or in a haze

Some common symptoms of epileptic encephalopathy in adults:

• Short blackout
• Sudden stiffness
• Sudden falling
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Fearfulness for no reason
• Pain or anger
• Jerking arms, legs, or body

Herbal remedies for Epileptic encephalopathy by Planet Ayurveda

Planet Ayurveda provides treatment according to Ayurvedic principles. They provide herbal remedies which are derived from natural herbs. These herbal remedies are prepared according to the Ayurvedic principle. These Herbal Remedies for Epileptic Encephalopathy are 100% safe and secure. These herbal remedies have no side effects on the patient’s health.

For epileptic encephalopathy Planet Ayurveda provides herbal remedies:

1. Brahmi Capsules

Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) is one of the oldest and powerful brain tonics in Ayurveda. The active compound bacosides works impressively on brain health. Brahmi is known as neurological tonic bacosides A & B is a chemical compound that is present in Brahmi which improves neurotransmission among brain cells which helps in treating epilepsy, hysteria, etc. it is also known as a stress buster and helps in Improving the Concentration.

Dosage: 1-2 Capsules twice daily with plain water after meals.

2. Ashwagandha Capsules

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) contains anti-oxidant properties which help in boosting the immune system. It helps in improving strength and stamina in the body. It is also known as a nervine tonic. It helps in boosting the nervous system and helps in managing stress, anxiety, insomnia, etc.

Dosage: 1-2 Capsules twice daily with plain water after meals.

3. Stress Support Capsules

It is a combination of brain tonic herbs like Brahmi, Ashwagandha, Tagar. These herbs help in boosting the nervous system and helps in managing problems like stress, anxiety, and depression. It helps in improving mental and physical performance.

Dosage: 1-2 Capsules twice daily with plain water after meals.

Home remedies

Home remedies in epileptic encephalopathy

• Mulethi: mulethi is used as a brain tonic. One can have a pinch of mulethi powder with a glass of water or can add a pinch of mulethi powder in ghee and have it.
• Pumpkin juice: pumpkin promotes brain health. One can have a glass of pumpkin juice.
• Almonds: Almonds are high in brain-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and brain-protecting Vitamin E. one can have soaked almonds every morning.
• Green leafy vegetables: these leafy vegetables are rich in B-Vitamins, Vitamin E, and magnesium which are important for the nervous system. One can have green leafy juice.

Lifestyle modification:

• Noise: try to use earplugs in noisy or crowded places. Listen relaxing music
• Bright, flashing lights: use tinted glasses, use natural lighting indoors, avoid discos, strobe lights, or flashing blubs.
• Sleep: try to regulate sleeping habits and get enough sleep.
• Exercise: it is good for thinking, memory, and helps in improvements in attention, memory. A Relaxing exercise, deep breath, yoga will help in relaxing the mind

Conclusion

Epileptic encephalopathy is a brain disorder that can be healed by home and herbal remedies. Herbal remedies from Planet Ayurveda provide proper strengthening to the brain and help in healing from this disorder.