Botanicals and Herbs: A Traditional Approach to Treating Epilepsy

<i>Gastrodia elata</i> modulates amyloid precursor protein cleavage and cognitive functions in mice

“…Traditional herbal medicine is especially attractive for disease prevention, health maintenance, and sicknesses that are non-responsive to current Western medicine and thus has potential benefits that attract worldwide attention and interests. The use of medicinal herbs has a long history in Asia and is commonly used to treat various neurological diseases including stroke, epilepsy and VD (1,2). A total of 365 plants including several orchids are listed in the earliest known Chinese Materia Medica (Shennon bencaojing (~ 100AD) or Divine Husbandman's Classic of the Materia Medica).…”

Evaluation of the Effect of Naringenin on Pentylenetetrazole and Maximal Electroshock-Induced Convulsions in Mice

“…Side effects such as chronic toxicity and teratogenicity have limited the use of anticonvulsant drugs (4,5). Thus, recently herbal medicines have played an important role in human health and preclinical evaluation for seizures or recognized mechanisms of action that are related to epilepsy (6). Flavonoids are a class of naturally polyphenolic compounds present in a broad variety of human nutriment and possess a wide range of biological effects including a variety of neuroprotective activities (7).…”

Anticonvulsant profile of nardostachys jatamansi roots in albino rats

“…Hypericum perforatum, piper methysticum, actaea racemosa and erythrophleum ivorense are among plants that have been used to treat seizures. 9 The advantages of indigenous medicinal treatment would include its complementary nature to the conventional treatment making latter safer, well tolerated and economical remedy for epilepsy. Nardostachys jatamansi DC (valerianaceae) is widely used in ayurvedic medicine.…”