I am sure cannabis can be very beneficial and I have nothing against it -really- however, my experience of cannabis from my 20s is that it alters the mind and ultimately slows it down.
My experience of Magnesium sulphate (epsom salts) has been very beneficial and I would encourage anyone with epilepsy to try them (I use 1/4 teaspoon twice a day). Don't drink it during the night though-it keeps you awake.
My main aim in writing on this forum really is to share my experience with other people who are looking for alternative remedies, or are simply looking to lower their dose of AEDs. Anyone who has been on a high dosage of AEDs will know that the side effects can be horrific. My experience generally with neurologists is that they really aren't interested in anything natural, or even examining the root causes which is a shame. Which makes forums so important. I wouldn't have discovered epsom salts without this and over forums.
I have reduced my dose of sod valporate (very gradually) from 1500mg a day to just 300 mg a day. For anyone who is interested I also use natural progesterone cream towards the end of the month, 1000mg taurine, vit B complex and now 1/4 teaspoon of epsom salts twice a day. However, even if my epilepsy disappeared overnight I would continue with the mgso4 as it has had such a good effect on my concentration and general feeling of alertness. The only thing I would caution against is drinking it during the night, as it can actually keep you awake (in my experience) but even then I didn't feel dreadful, and surprising it didn't precipitate a full grand mal fit.
Last edited by llanarth; 01-18-2014 at 03:40 AM.
Reason: to add information
I am sure cannabis can be very beneficial and I have nothing against it -really- however, my experience of cannabis from my 20s is that it alters the mind and ultimately slows it down.
My experience of Magnesium sulphate (epsom salts) has been very beneficial and I would encourage anyone with epilepsy to try them (I use 1/4 teaspoon twice a day). Don't drink it during the night though-it keeps you awake.
My main aim in writing on this forum really is to share my experience with other people who are looking for alternative remedies, or are simply looking to lower their dose of AEDs. Anyone who has been on a high dosage of AEDs will know that the side effects can be horrific. My experience generally with neurologists is that they really aren't interested in anything natural, or even examining the root causes which is a shame. Which makes forums so important. I wouldn't have discovered epsom salts without this and over forums.
I have reduced my dose of sod valporate (very gradually) from 1500mg a day to just 300 mg a day. For anyone who is interested I also use natural progesterone cream towards the end of the month, 1000mg taurine, vit B complex and now 1/4 teaspoon of epsom salts twice a day. However, even if my epilepsy disappeared overnight I would continue with the mgso4 as it has had such a good effect on my concentration and general feeling of alertness. The only thing I would caution against is drinking it during the night, as it can actually keep you awake (in my experience) but even then I didn't feel dreadful, and surprising it didn't precipitate a full grand mal fit.
my wife is knocked out by a paracetemol! we all have different capabilities when taking whatever substance it is. I am on morphine for pain relief which can knock some people out, but not me!
its the (false) demonisation of the Sacred Herb which does annoy me - because its done for various reasons, and a big reason is certain industries care more for their profit margins than for the well being of the planet and the planet's occupants.
If I ever am in that much pain, cannabis will be my first drug of choice. Finding what works is important, and none of the neurologists or anyone else truly understand the workings of the brain or even how these drugs work in some cases. In fact if the specialists actually listened more to their patients they would certainly start to learn more about the complexity of the condition. Yes, some do, but the number of times my views have been dismissed have been infinitely more than the times I've been really listened to.
And I'm with you 100% about the drug companies. In fact, don't start me on drug companies...I'm just so happy that the internet now exists so I can do my own research.
I seem to have grown very sensitive to any drugs-this definitely was not the case 20 years ago. Even a glass of wine has the effect of knocking me out!
On demonisation-well that's a fascinating subject in itself, and on reflection anything which mankind enjoys has probably been demonised! Food, alcohol, sex, riches, people....I'm afraid it's human nature to look for something to demonise -shame more energy isn't put into examining the benefits. But I agree that cannabis has more than its fair share of demonisation and because of this, its medicinal qualities has been overlooked or worse, dismissed. And nothing with medicinal benefits should be overlooked-this is certainly a crime.
It's legal medicinally and for recreation now where I live, and many people have moved here for the cannabis to help with their medical conditions, like mothers of children suffering with cancer and the harsh standard chemo/radiation treatments. Some have just made the trip to purchase a small amount to relieve their conditions. It should be legal all over, IMO. A lot less dangerous than the pharmaceutical drugs with the laundry list of side effects. But the powers that be want to make all the money, and will try to ban the marijuana, hemp, etc.
It should certainly be legal for medicinal purposes, IMO it's just ridiculous what people have to go through. And I would certainly try cannabis rather than be on the 1500mg of sodium valporate which plunged me into a horrible depression and very nearly returned me to hospital. It does exceedingly nasty things to your liver, not to mention your appendix at that dosage (I'm around 55kg). The specialist's answer was to put me on anti depressants! Although I have to say that same specialist was quite open minded about me reducing the meds.
I generally agree that 9 times out of 10 there are much gentler things available which do the same or a better job without the side effects. Or at the very least can be combined with a significantly lower dose of the 'nastier' drug. There should be much greater of availability of results where people have successfully used alternative remedies be it mineral or with alternative medicines such as cannabis.
In modern life there is always additional complexity. Many people need to work and need their condition (say it is epilepsy) controlled now-they have bills to pay, children to support. I at least have had the luxury of defining my hours of work so I have had no early morning hours (I have waking epilepsy). This has given me the luxury to experiment and to try different things. Though I'll probably never be rich!
I would like to know how this has worked for people who have epilepsy similar to my own. I have grand mal seizures with a non-coherent after spell that lasts maybe 20-40 minutes, no previous head trauma, nothing on imaging at hospital or any reaction to pulsing lights. Once my neurologist suggested it could be the way my "brain" deals with stress and other neurologists laughed at the notion. (I have had many odd and uncaring neurologists) However within the 12 years of having epilepsy starting at puberty, I have noticed when I do have an "episode" it tends to be the day of-before-after or closely to my menstrual cycle leading me to believe it's hormonal (leading back to the stress thing). They almost always occur in the morning within 3 hours of waking up. Currently I take 500 mg twice daily of the generic keppra. Any answers or thoughts to hormones and this remedy?
I will definitely keep a stash for emergencies either way!
Ian, I am 40 years old but my epilepsy also started when my hormones kicked in. Stress and epilepsy are known to be linked (at least I have read numerous books which mention this link) so the reaction of the neurologists surprises me.
However, progesterone is a known anti convulsant and Estrogen a known trigger for epilepsy. Proof of this was when I was pregnant I gave up my AEDs- progesterone as you know rises through the roof when you are pregnant-no seizures. My consultant was absolutely furious. Actually I managed to keep of AEDs for 10 years but as I've grown older I think my progesterone has naturally lowered and my epilepsy has returned. I currently take 500mg valporate a day which is a very low dose, but I do have an occasional seizure around my menstrual cycle which I am trying to control now through various means-to soon to measure success yet. But probably magnesium salts won't be the only supplement that you need.
As mine happens on waking I am now experimenting with a variety of things (magnesium sulphate, taurine, B complex and breathing exercises https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhK549uGvhc buteyko-watch here if you're interested.) I have also read the vitamin D can be helpful.
Don't let neurologists put you off. Often epilepsy isn't their specialty and they may not be interested in this area. I stopped going to neurologists to be honest because so many of them were just not interested in you as a person, and some have such blinkered perceptions it really put me off. Anyway, you may have to try several. I did go on he progesterone coil which controlled my seizures for a time, and then they broke through again, although this is not always healthy method of control either.
Oh the cannabis! I'm not with it today. No, personally I haven't tried it. It might be worth trying but it might have an detrimental effect on your memory. I would try the breathing first-it's free and it's relaxing. I'm going to see if the breathing works first. Personally I would save up your money for biofeedback
But the powers that be want to make all the money, and will try to ban the marijuana, hemp, etc.
Linear Mode
