Epi-Life.com

APPROACH TO EPILEPSY
PERSPECTIVES FROM INDIAN MEDICINE*

'If more or less, three humors cause disease, the learned count the wind is the first of these.' - Medicine, Thirukkural

The various aspects of epilepsy have been viewed based on the etiology, pathology and treatment by holistic approaches. The three main systems of Indian medicines, Siddha, Ayurveda and Unani have defined their respective orthodox approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy.

Siddha system
Ayurveda system
Unani system

The Indian systems of medicine are based on empirical medicine .The wisdom of our ancients who delved into the mysteries of the human body, observed meticulously and prepared medication following the treasure formulae with utmost precision have given us a trove of knowledge. Modern research into these Indian systems of medicine is being pursued all over the country. Isolating the active ingredients, for example alkaloids of many plant based formulations, has been successful and lead to a better understanding of the how these medications may work. Much research is on going. While these Indian systems offer alternative approaches, the evidence base for their utility is still questionable in the modern context. It is important that patients do not switch from one system of medicine to another at random.

Allopathy has several advantages at present:

	It offers several technological tools to diagnose and treat epilepsy
	Recently developed anti-convulsants are tailored to target specific chemical systems in the brain
	Brain stimulation procedures and epilepsy surgery are viable alternatives for intractable seizure disorder

However, as allopathy does not necessarily have all the answers, and Epilepsy continues to disrupt the social functioning, our awareness about alternative systems in our own culture is important, and merits further exploration.

* The information about Indian systems is provided as a public service. Users of this website must not change their treatment before consulting their specialist. Further, the present evidence that is available clearly supports allopathic medicine as the primary mode of treatment for epilepsy.