The Potential Benefits and Effect of Herbal Drug In Treatment of Epilepsy

Abstract

The many people with epilepsy who use and have access to herbal treatments run the risk of experiencing negative side effects. Herbal sedatives such as kava, valerian, chamomile, and passionflower have the potential to enhance the sedative and cognitive benefits of antiepileptic drugs. Although they have shown some antiseizure benefits in animal models, their efficacy has not been shown and they should not be used in place of prescription seizure drugs. Anecdotal, uncontrolled observations indicate that the combination of ephedrine (ephedra or ma huang) and caffeine (cocoa, coffee, tea, maté, guarana, cola or kola) found in herbal stimulants may worsen seizures in epileptics.The data supporting the possibility that ginseng and ginkgo could worsen seizures is both speculative and anecdotal. St. John's wort may change the seizure threshold and the pharmacokinetics of medications. Numerous plants have chemicals known to cause epilepsy in their essential oils. The idea that borage and evening primrose lower the seizure threshold is supported by conflicting data. The best defence against inadvertent and needless adverse responses to herbal medicines is patient and healthcare provider education.