Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine for Epilepsy Treatment Should Be Administered According to the Seizure Type and Epileptic Syndrome

Cai, Lu

doi:10.4236/health.2017.98087

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Traditional healing practices for epilepsy in Kilifi, Kenya and in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso have also been reported [35,36]. Treatment of epilepsy with herbs, acupuncture, and massage is common in Chinese traditional medicine [37,38].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Traditional practices and perceptions of epilepsy among people in Roma communities in Bulgaria

Antimov

Tournev

Zhelyazkova

et al. 2020

Epilepsy & Behavior

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Purpose: We attempted to identify cultural aspects of epilepsy among the Roma community in Bulgaria by elucidating cultural beliefs, traditional treatments, and potential markers of stigma.Methods: We established representative discussion groups among five distinct Roma subgroups (Lom, Kalderas, Thracian Tinsmiths (Tinkers), Kyustendil Xoroxane and Kopanari) from different Bulgarian regions. Data about local beliefs and treatment strategies were gathered.Results: Most people were familiar with convulsions but non-convulsive focal seizures were seen not as epileptic but mainly as a "mental problem". Beliefs about putative etiologies for epilepsy were not uniform as some considered environmental and external factors such as high environmental temperatures, electric shocks, loud music, and fever as causes of seizures while others listed bad experiences, stress, trauma, fear and fright as possible causes. Epilepsy was seen by some as a divine punishment or resulting from black magic. Most considered epilepsy shameful and an obstacle to children attending school. Despite local differences, there was a uniform belief that epilepsy is incurable by Western medicine and people usually resort to traditional healers. A variety of rituals performed by local healers to treat epilepsy were described.Discussion: Misconceptions about epilepsy may contribute to stigmatization in this population; this may in turn contribute to a high treatment gap in this group. As a result, the majority of Roma children with epilepsy leave school early, are greatly limited in their choice of spouse (particularly girls), and marriages often occur between people with epilepsy or those with a family history of epilepsy.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Traditional practices and perceptions of epilepsy among people in Roma communities in Bulgaria

Antimov

Tournev

Zhelyazkova

et al. 2020

Epilepsy & Behavior

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“…In China, numerous herbal medicines, such as Ginkgo biloba (Maiden hair tree) and Huperzia Serrata (firmoss), are commonly used to treat epilepsy. 11 , 12 In Kilifi, Kenya, and Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, traditional therapeutic treatments for epilepsy are popular. 13 For a first seizure, a nail is swiftly located and hammered into the spot where the person’s skull was initially touched during the seizure, with the healer exclaiming, “It shall stay here!” The person then grasps the trunk of a young tree.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnosis of Epilepsy by Traditional Healers and Its Implications on Management in the Selected Rural Communities of Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces: A Qualitative Study

Nemathaga¹,

Maputle²,

Makhado³

et al. 2023

NDT

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Introduction Epilepsy is a neurological disorder which causes seizures and may be accompanied by loss of unconsciousness and control of bowel or bladder function. However, other types of epilepsy are only characterised by rapid blinking or a few seconds of staring into space. Many people living with epilepsy in rural communities consult traditional healers as their first line of treatment for epilepsy. Second preference is given to medical practitioners which causes unnecessary delay in the early diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. This study aimed to explore how traditional healers diagnose epilepsy and its implications on management in the selected rural communities of Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces. Methods A qualitative approach using explorative, descriptive and contextual designs was adopted. Purposive sampling was used to sample six villages in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces. Snowball sampling was used to sample twenty traditional healers. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews at the participant’s homes. Data were analysed using Tesch’s eight steps of open coding data analysis. Results This study found that traditional healers have varied beliefs and misconceptions regarding the causes and diagnosis of epilepsy, hence this greatly influencing the management. The misconceptions on the causes include a calling by ancestors, urine contents, snake in the stomach, contaminated digestive system and witchcraft. The management included using herbal plants, insects, foam excreted during seizures and urine of the person living with epilepsy. Recommendation It is recommended that for effective management of epilepsy, there should be coordination between traditional healing and western medicine. Future research should look at the integration of traditional medicine and western medicine.

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“…A recent review study summarized four challenges for AEDs: general side effects, economic challenges, psychological challenges, and social challenges ( Mutanana et al, 2020 ). Severe mental, cognitive, behavioral, endocrine, and dermatological illnesses are common adverse effects of AEDs ( Cai, 2017 ; Chen et al, 2017 ). Although new AEDs have been developed in recent years, the prevalence of IE has remained constant ( Schmidt and Schachter, 2014 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined With Antiepileptic Drugs for Intractable Epilepsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Zhao

Zhou²,

Liu³

et al. 2022

Front. Pharmacol.

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Background: Intractable epilepsy (IE) is still a major concern in neurology, and existing therapies do not adequately control symptoms. Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) has been widely used as an adjunct to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for IE. However, because of the contradictory findings reported in previous studies, it is uncertain if the present evidence is robust enough to warrant its usage. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to systematically evaluate the efficacy of the combination of CHM and AEDs for IE.Methods: From inception to September 2021, Medline, Ovid, Embase, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Database, and Wanfang Database were searched. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the efficacy of the combination of CHM and AEDs for IE were included. We defined monthly seizure frequency as the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes included the abnormal rate of electroencephalogram (EEG), seizure duration, quality of life (QoL), and adverse events (AEs).Results: Twenty studies with 1,830 patients were enrolled. Most trials had poor methodological quality. The meta-analysis showed that the combination of CHM and AEDs was more efficient than AEDs alone in reducing monthly seizure frequency [MD = −1.26%, 95% CI (−1.62, −0.91); p < 0.00001], the abnormal rate of EEG [RR = 0.66%, 95% CI (0.53, 0.82); p = 0.0002], and improving the QoL [MD = 6.96%, 95% CI (3.44, 10.49); p = 0.0001]. There was no significant difference in seizure duration between groups. Moreover, the combination of CHM and AEDs significantly reduced the AEs [RR = 0.45%, 95% CI (0.32, 0.64); p < 0.00001].Conclusion: The combination of CHM and AEDs could improve seizure control by reducing monthly seizure frequency and abnormal rate of EEG with a decreased risk of adverse events in patients with IE. However, these findings must be interpreted carefully due to the high or uncertain risk of bias in the included trials. To provide stronger evidence for the use of CHM combined with AEDs in IE, high-quality RCTs will be urgently warranted in the future.

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Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine for Epilepsy Treatment Should Be Administered According to the Seizure Type and Epileptic Syndrome

Cited by 4 publications

References 28 publications

Traditional practices and perceptions of epilepsy among people in Roma communities in Bulgaria

Traditional practices and perceptions of epilepsy among people in Roma communities in Bulgaria

Diagnosis of Epilepsy by Traditional Healers and Its Implications on Management in the Selected Rural Communities of Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces: A Qualitative Study

Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined With Antiepileptic Drugs for Intractable Epilepsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

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