Epilepsy: Scientific Foundations of Clinical Practice (Neurological Disease and Therapy)

Book Description

The most up-to-date reference on the topic, Epilepsy analyzes the most relevant research developments in parallel clinical issues impacting modern therapeutic regimens-defining the scientific basis of current clinical practices and posing a set of challenging questions and considerations that may impact the future of clinical epilepsy research and investigation.

Customer Reviews:

Must Read Cutting Edge Scientific Thinking About Epilepsy.......2005-04-01

I am a physician with a personal interest in epilepsy. (I am neither a primary care provider nor a neurologist)

There is much new thinking about epilepsy and many new treatment options available. This book nicely lays out much of that material. Neurologists as well as primary care providers will find this book useful. For primary care providers that treat epilepsy, it will be useful to be aware of the latest thinking. This will benefit their patients in getting them to the best treatment options sooner. For neurologists that read this book, they will come away with a more systematic way of thinking about the scientific basis of epilepsy. Most of the material is likely too specialized for the lay public to get much out of it but there may be exceptions. Those with some technical or health care background and education and a strong personal interest may find some chapters intriguing.

I found the following chapters to be particularly useful and helpful for me:
1) Chapter 2 (receptors and pathophysiology)
2) Chapter 4 (genetics of epilepsy, mutations in ion (sodium, etc) channel components)
3) Chapter 5 "Targets of Antiepileptic Drugs" is particularly brilliant in its explication of how understanding drug mechanism of action at specific targets can help a physician to make an educated choice regarding the potentially best anticonvulsant for a particular patient
4) Chapters 8 and 9 contain a marvelous explanation of interactions of various anticonvulsants and theoretical approaches to minimizing toxicity and idiosyncratic reactions. These may be the most useful chapters in the entire book.
5) Chapter 14 gives a lucid description of the Ketogenic Diet and some of the effects of diet in general on epilepsy
6) Chapters 17 and 18 deal with neurosteroids and neuroendocrine issues including catemenial epilepsy and the effects of stress on seizures
7) Chapter 19 on "sleep and epilepsy" is interesting
8) Chapter 20 on psychopathology in epilepsy I also found fascinating
9) The final chapter on "Arresting Epileptogenesis" was a nice way to point the reader's attention to possible future therapy modalities

I intend to read all of the above mentioned chapters at least a second time.

The other chapters which I have not specifically mentioned above are also very good, including outstanding descriptions of various imaging and diagnostic procedures, surgical options, special treatments, vagal nerve stimulators, and even experimental modes that are not yet ready for clinical application.

For the money, this book is an outstanding bargain. In fact I bought a second copy and donated it to my institution's medical library. Few medical texts are worth reading cover to cover. This book is truly an exception. Most of the chapters held my interest to the last word. In fact, I was "snarfing" up the information just like a hungry puppy dog eats its food.

I highly recommend it for any physician who wants to understand current thinking regarding scientific theory underlying the modern treatment of epilepsy. It increased my level of understanding by at least an order of magnitude.

FROM ONE OF THE AUTHORS AND CO-EDITOR.......2004-07-02

The co-editors of this medical textbook, Drs. Rho (UC-Irvine), Sankar (UCLA) and myself (UTHSCSA) are among the few clinician-scientists in the field of epilepsy. The textbook aims to bridge the gap between scientific developments in research laboratory (bench) with the insights obtained at the bedside caring for thousands of patients with epilepsy. The textbook is unique in many aspects, including: 1) the selection of contributing authors, who are young investigators or at mid-career, and 2) the provocative nature of their discussion. Authors were asked to describe the scientific foundation of their area of expertise, but also to provide educated insights about potential future developments. The book is divided in six sections: I) Scientific Foundations (3 chapters), II)Antiepileptic Drugs (5 chapters), III) Epilepsy Surgery (3 chapters), IV) Alternative Therapies (5 chapters), V) Other Modulators of the Epileptic State (3 chapters), and VI) The Future of Epilepsy Therapy (5 chapters). Advances in epilepsy have come from many fields in anatomy, biophysics, genetics, molecular biology, neuroscience, pharmacology, etc. We are hoping that this book will educate physicians, health care providers, and investigators increasing their Scientific Foundations to improve Clinical Practice in Epilepsy.

Product Description

Epilepsy is a difficult illness to control; up to 35% of patients do not respond fully to traditional medical treatments. For this reason, many sufferers choose to rely on or incorporate complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into their treatment regimens. Written for physicians, knowledgeable laypersons, and other professionals, Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Epilepsy bridges the worlds of traditional medicine and CAM to foster a broader perspective of healthcare for patients. The book respects cultural differences that may incorporate alternative medicine into a medical management program, and encourages patients to safely continue receiving necessary medical treatments. Wherever possible, scientific evidence supports the choice of treatment modalities, as well as the effectiveness of a combined traditional and CAM approach. Readers will find incisive discussions in sections on: Learning to Reduce Seizures; Asian, Herbal and Homeopathic Therapies; Nutritional Therapies; Alternative Medical Therapies ; Oxygen Therapies; Manipulation and Osteopathic Therapies; and Music, Art, and Pet Therapies. From stress and epilepsy, to acupuncture, massage, craniosacral therapies, homeopathy, ketogenic diets, aromatherapy, hypnosis, and more, the book is all-inclusive and enlightening. Additional commentary by the editors provides a critical vantage point from which to interpret the data and viewpoints of the contributors, all experts in the therapies presented. This balanced, scientific approach will appeal to even those most skeptical of alternative therapies, making the book essential for every professional who seeks to provide the broadest range of effective patient care.

Customer Reviews:

A must read!!.......2006-04-16

If you are diagnosed with Epilepsy, this IS the book to read, especially if you do not want to be on medication the rest of your life or if you do not want seizures (and who does?). There is a wealth of information in this book that has not been published before. Especially the work of Donna J. Andrews is worth considering, since she has a 80% successrate with lowering the amount of seizures in her patients. But there are others. Biofeedback is a great tool as well for some. A friend of mine got her seizures way down with this method. She had many a day, now she has none. I am so proud of her because she refused to be on meds from day one. It is invaluable to know you can do something about epilepsy by understanding and working with your triggers. There is a lesson here to be understood. You can improve the quality of your life. And there are many options. Read this book and find out. This book is worth every penny!

Very Enlightening and Long Overdue.......2005-07-26

I am a physician with a personal interest in epilepsy. To read about complementary and alternative therapies for epilepsy in a medical text that is edited by recognized experts has been a real joy. They have done us all a great service by presenting the information in a respectful but scientifically critical manner.
This book should be on every neurologist's shelf. It should also be on the shelf of all other physician practitioners that treat epilepsy. Drs. Devinsky, Schachter and Pacia have produced a work that is long overdue.
Treating epilepsy can be frustrating since traditional medicine is not always successful in delivering the ideal result (no seizures and no side effects). Patients in desperation are looking for something that will work. Some patients may just want another option because of any one of a number of reasons including fear of potential long-term side effects of medications, or because they harbor a general mistrust of modern medicine for example.
With the advent of the Internet, patients and their families are discovering that there are options available which their physicians have not told them about. Some of the options may have merit and some may not. Most patients do not have the medical sophistication to tell the difference. Many doctors do not have the time or the interest to find out. The problem is that when patients go to their physicians with their new-found knowledge, and they are met with total ignorance, indifference or worse yet, arrogance, the physicians immediately lose credibility with their patients.
By reading and understanding this book that covers a broad range of "alternative and complementary therapies for epilepsy," physicians will be able to better understand what their patients are talking about and will be able to speak with knowledge and credibility when these ideas are brought up by patients. Having this knowledge will also prompt physicians during the intake interviews to ask if any of these alternative approaches are being used. That information may help with drug dosages (some herbs or supplements can affect enzyme induction) and help to explain treatment failure.
Medical practices that serve many well informed patients may see increasing numbers of people asking about these things. That type of patient is expecting more than just a prescription refill and a follow-up in 3-6 months. It could be that some physicians will suggest some of these ideas on their own if they seem right for a particular patient. Spending the extra time and effort may be hard to do because physicians are pushed harder and harder to do more and more in less time, and most practices don't have time during a visit to do more than just the basics. Just the same some people are expecting more.
The chapters are generally concise and mostly well referenced and are organized in a very interesting fashion; an expert that champions a particular form of alternative or complementary therapy writes the chapter, and the editors in a very respectful fashion make comments on the ideas presented. They often point out how well the available scientific evidence may or may not support the assertions of the chapter authors. The editors' comments range from very encouraging to highly doubtful, especially when judged by the standard of the double-blind study.
Chapter contents include: 1) Relation of Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Epilepsy to Western Medicine, 2) The standards for clinical trials to prove effectiveness of a therapy (the Double Blind trial), 3 Treating epilepsy with stress reduction, 4) The neurobehavioral approach, 5) Self control, eliminating triggers etc., 6) Neurofeedback, 7) Autogenic training, 8) Massage, 9) Aromatherapy and Hypnosis, 10) Meditation, 11) Exercise and Yoga, 12) Ayurveda, 13) Herbal therapy, 14) Phytotherapy (more herbal therapy), 15) Homeopathy, 16) Naturopathic Medicine, 17) Traditional Chinese Medicine, 18) Acupuncture, 19) Nutrition, 20) Fatty acids in the diet, 21) The Ketogenic diet, 22) Hormonal therapy, 23) Trancranial magnetic stimulation, 24) Hyperbaric oxygen, 25) Rebreathing to use CO2 to dilate cerebral vessels to increase cerebral oxygen delivery, 26) Chiropractic, 27) Osteopathic Approach, 28) Craniosacral Therapy, 29) Music Therapy, 30) Art Therapy, 31) Pet Therapy
Particularly enlightening chapters are numbers12-22, where herbs, vitamins, food supplements and other nutritional approaches are described rather nicely. Two somewhat disturbing chapters for me are the ones on Naturopathic Medicine (16), and the Osteopathic approach in children (27). The part of the naturopathic medicine chapter that disturbs me the most is the philosophy that epilepsy is possibly a result of lifestyle, diet or habits of the individual and can be cured if the practitioner can find the correct cause and effect a change. Fully subscribing to such an approach could lead to spending big bucks on food supplements and other things that have no proven value or could actually complicate standard medical treatment. In spite of that problem, naturopaths have many fascinating ideas that are worthy of further investigation. The Osteopathic chapter is largely anecdotal. The references are quite dated as well. From modalities that purport to be scientifically oriented I expected better.
The greatest value of the book for me is, understanding how others besides those in mainstream medicine think about epilepsy. I highly recommend this book.

Forced Normalization and Alternative Psychoses of Epilepsy

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Forced Normalization and Alternative Psychoses of Epilepsy
Trimble
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1871816378

Seizures and Epilepsy in Childhood: A Guide (Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)

Average customer rating:

Good Overview for Anxious Parents
A "must have"
Helpful, specific, & optimistic
Calmed, reassured, and prepared our family
Invaluable

Seizures and Epilepsy in Childhood: A Guide (Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)
John M. Freeman , Eileen P. G. Vining , and Diana J. Pillas
Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

ASIN: 0801870518

Book Description

The award-winning Seizures and Epilepsy in Childhood is the standard resource for parents in need of comprehensive medical information about their child with epilepsy. Now in its third edition, this highly praised book has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect the latest approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy in childhood, including the use of the ketogenic diet as a treatment for children who either do not respond to traditional drug therapy or who suffer intolerable side effects from medications.

In addition to providing up-to-date information about new diagnostic techniques as well as new drugs, diet, and surgical treatments, the authors have included a chapter addressing routine health care for children with epilepsy and a new chapter on complementary and alternative therapies. Also new to this edition are discussions of the progress made in the evaluation for surgery, a chapter on insurance issues, and a section detailing additional resources.

"No child's life should be defined by seizures. If we understand how the brain works, what happens during seizures, and how to cope with epilepsy, we can overcome the mythology of epilepsy and fight society's prejudices, allowing every child with epilepsy to reach his or her full potential." -- From Seizures and Epilepsy in Childhood

Customer Reviews:

Good Overview for Anxious Parents.......2007-03-08

This book is full of straight-forward information about epilepsy and its effects on the brain. It addresses initial medical evaluations and diagnoses, and discusses various treatments--traditional and complementary therapies--in depth. The authors handle these potentially complicated topics with simplicity of language and great compassion.

In fact, the best part of this book is the authors' ability to recognize and allay parental fears by dispelling myths surrounding the illness. A substantial section of the book offers suggestions to help a family (not just the patient) cope with epilepsy--at home, school, in extended family settings, and so on.

This is a well-researched and documented book. I highly recommend it for any parent facing a dignosis of epilepsy for the first time.

A "must have".......2007-01-12

I did read a lot of books about epilepsy, but this one is the best!
You get all the informations you need to have a good picture about this illness. It is very well written, very easy to understand and covers all the basics and also the more deeper informations about for example side effects etc..
I can recommend this book as a standard book you should have.

Helpful, specific, & optimistic.......2006-09-26

I agree with the other reviewers that this book is parent-friendly, clear, and hopeful. My baby had seizures for two weeks after he was born and it took a while for me to understand what had happened and what to do next. I read two other books before finding "Seizures and Epilepsy in Childhood," and this one was certainly the best. It is thorough and does a great job of explaining that there are many different kinds of seizure disorders and therefore different types of treatment. It dispels many of the myths out there about seizure disorders and says that many children grow out of it. Neurology has grown leaps and bounds in this field in the past 10-15, and it's important to be up-to-date, since many doctors have differing opinions about how to treat seizures. If you're at all confused (like I was), this book is for you.

Calmed, reassured, and prepared our family.......2005-07-28

What an excellent resource! My child had his first non-febrile tonic clonic seizure and I didn't know how to cope with the unexpectedness of a recurrent seizure. This book truly informs and reassures in parent-friendly terms.

Invaluable.......2003-12-30

This book provided straightforward, invaluable information to our family when faced with our child's seizure disorder. It explains all the medical terms that our neurologist seemed to throw around without explanation (thereby scaring us!). It is optimistic and practical. It spans everything from how to deal with seizures, the pros and cons of different treatment, and how your child can live a full life. Most of all it put us at ease and educated us as to how to proceed with our child's medical treatment. It also helped guide us with what to tell others - the school, babysitters, grandparents. Definitely a must read for parents dealing with a child with seizures!

Canine Epilepsy: An Owner's Guide to Living With and Without Seizures

Average customer rating:

disappointed
Helpful
Canine Epilepsy
Great Help for dealing with seizures
Canine Epilepsy

Canine Epilepsy: An Owner's Guide to Living With and Without Seizures
Caroline D. Levin
Manufacturer: Lantern Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0967225337

Book Description

"Canine Epilepsy" is a comprehensive guide to nervous system function, seizure activity, medical, and alternative treatments. This book covers related healthcare concerns such as thyroid and liver disease. It also teaches owners ways to help their dogs before and after seizures. Perhaps most importantly, however, "Canine Epilepsy" examines seizure triggers, such as diet, vaccines, and chemical use and their very clear links to brain activity.

Topics include: normal canine metabolism, digestion, and brain function. Easy-to-understand explanations of the disease processes. The effects of cortisol, the stress hormone, on seizures. Treatments: medications, diet, acupuncture, and more. Alternatives to flea and tick pesticides. Vaccines, boosters, and titres. Homemade diets vs. commercial diets. Liver, bladder, thyroid, and ophthalmic issues. How to interrupt a seizure. Seizure alerts. Caring for the dog after a seizure. Emotional support for owners. Additional resources and suppliers section.

Customer Reviews:

disappointed.......2007-07-27

I was disappointed in the book as a whole. Coming from working at a vet clinic as a certified veterinary technician I was looking for a book to tell owners about who had epileptic dogs. I thought this book was not owner friendly and would only confuse pet owners. Having my own epileptic dog gives me insight to their concerns and fears. I think that overall this book will confuse owners and make them question their veterinarians, when they need to have complete faith that the vet is choosing the right combo for their pets.While the idea was good, I would not recommend this book.

Helpful.......2007-05-14

This book was very easy to read and understand. If your dog has just been diagnosed with Epilepsy this book is a good source of information to help you better understand the disease and how to deal with it.

Canine Epilepsy.......2007-03-21

This is a very informative book, the only one on the subject I have been able to find. The initial section on diet seemed over long and complicated but the rest of the book I found very helpful. It is distressing to see your dog have a seizure but I found the content encouraging and felt comforted that the condition can be managed without resort to drugs. Some of the tips I have started to use.

Great Help for dealing with seizures.......2007-01-09

My older dog began having seizures, other than this problem she is a healthy girl. I ordered this book when she was hospitalized for a cluster. I read the book as soon as it arrived and found it unbelievably helpful. There is life with seizures and this book helped me learn how to deal with and prevent them. Great book. Knowledge is power and I feel like I have a handle on this now.

Canine Epilepsy.......2006-10-02

In July of 2005, we rescued two dogs that were 9 years old. They were a brother and sister team and couldn't be separated. We fell in love with them immediately. Two weeks afer bringing them home, the male began having the most intense grand mal seizures that I have ever seen. We put him on medication and it slowed the number of seizures but had no effect on the intensity.
I began looking on the internet to see what information I could find and there it was "An Owner's Guide to living with or without seizures". It took me several months to go through the book, as I found it difficult to understand the relationships between all the parts of the body, hormones, etc. However, it got me extremely interested in a natural food diet and alternative therapies.
It took another month or so to do more research and then actually put the natural food diet into place. Now, after 6 weeks of feeding natural foods to both dogs, the male has seizures that sometimes aren't recognizeable. They are mild and the duration is less than a minute.
The purpose of this narration is that if it weren't for Caroline Levin's book and love for animals, our dog would still be suffering with grand mal seizures, not to mention my husband and I and his sibling. Not only that, but their skin is so soft, whereas it was always rather brittle before.
I would recommend this book to anyone who needs help with canine epilepsy and were as frustrated as we were. Thank you so much for the time that it took you to research this disease and offer your knowledge to us. It truly was a "godsend".

Childhood Epilepsy: Language, Learning and Behavioural Complications

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Childhood Epilepsy: Language, Learning and Behavioural Complications
William B. Svoboda
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Seizures and Epilepsy in Childhood: A Guide (Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)

ASIN: 0521823382

Book Description

William Svoboda channels a lifetime of clinical experience into three areas--language, learning, and behavior--that encompass the major difficulties of children "growing up with epilepsy." In each area he looks at why the problems arise and assesses potential treatments. The focus of this comprehensive work is on the complete care of the child rather than on diagnosis, classification and medication alone. More than half of all epileptic children have interrelated language, learning, and/or behavior complications that persist beyond seizure control and present problems for health and educational systems. This reference makes a significant contribution to furthering the knowledge of clinicians, educators, and language specialists about the needs of this special pediatric population.

The Ketogenic Diet: A Treatment for Children and Others with Epilepsy

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Thought provoking information
The Ketogenic Diet 4th Edition 2007
Very highly recommended as a top alternative to medication for kids with epilepsy.
The Ketogenic Diet: A Treatment for Children and Others with Epilepsy
The Ketogenic Diet: A Treatment for Epilepsy, 3rd Edition

The Ketogenic Diet: A Treatment for Children and Others with Epilepsy
John M. Freeman , Eric H. Kossoff , Jennifer B. Freeman , and Millicent T. Kelly
Manufacturer: Demos Medical Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1932603182

Book Description

Sometimes called the “miracle diet,” the ketogenic diet has helped doctors treat difficult-to-control epileptic seizures in thousands of children. Coauthored by two respected Johns Hopkins neurologists, The Ketogenic Diet continues to be the definitive guide for parents, physicians, and dieticians wanting to implement this strict diet. This fourth edition is extensively updated to reflect current advances in understanding how the diet works, how it should be used, and the future role of the diet as a treatment. The best-seller also includes sample meal plans, a food database, a section on how the Atkins and modified ketogenic diet can be used as alternative diets to control epilepsy, and much more.

Customer Reviews:

Thought provoking information.......2007-03-25

I'm interested in unusual therapies, and know someone who has a child with multiple disabilities including a seizure disorder. I found a videotape about this diet at a rummage sale a few years ago, and while it makes the diet sound relatively simple, this book says otherwise and goes into detail about people who are good candidates for the diet and those who are not. Many testimonials and case studies are presented as well.

The woman I know was given this option and said, "We don't want to starve our child." After reading this book, I can see where she was coming from. The restricted calories don't concern me as much as the fluid restriction, which could potentially be very dangerous and the book addresses this problem as well.

For the proper person, this diet could potentially be a lifesaver and it's worth trying if all factors are appropriate.

The Ketogenic Diet 4th Edition 2007.......2007-03-20

This book contains up to date information in relation to the ketogenic diet and other seizure control options that is also easy to read and understand by non professional people.

Very highly recommended as a top alternative to medication for kids with epilepsy........2007-02-08

If you have or know a child with epilepsy, THE KETOGENIC DIET: A TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN AND OTHERS WITH EPILEPSY is a 'must' for your consideration: it offers a solution beyond medication which provides a doctor-supervised diet high in fat and low in carbs and proteins, which limits calories - and is proven to control seizures. There've been many advances in the field, so this updated 4th edition is essential even for library holdings with prior editions. Besides the latest research, this book includes a new section on the Atkins diet and other alternative nutritional therapies. Very highly recommended as a top alternative to medication for kids with epilepsy.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

The Ketogenic Diet: A Treatment for Children and Others with Epilepsy.......2007-01-09

I bought this book for my daughter who has a child with epilepsy. It was very imformative and helpful. Reading the case histories and the mistakes that were inadvertently made, diet-wise, helped us lookout for the same pitfalls. I would highly recommend this book.

The Ketogenic Diet: A Treatment for Epilepsy, 3rd Edition .......2005-10-05

A great book for healthcare professionals and parents who are planning to use this diet for epilepsy treatment.

Treating Epilepsy Naturally : A Guide to Alternative and Adjunct Therapies

Average customer rating:

Reading this book was like finding burid treasure.
Interesting
EXCELLENT SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR THOSE WITH OR CARETAKERS OF THOSE WITH EPILEPSY
I have a new life.
Be careful when reading this book

Treating Epilepsy Naturally : A Guide to Alternative and Adjunct Therapies
Patricia A. Murphy
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0658013793

Book Description

Hard-to-find information on epilepsy, presented by an author living successfully with the condition

Drugs commonly used to treat epilepsy have some extremely harmful side effects. Treating Epilepsy Naturally is an empathetic, practical, empowering look at treatment options, lifestyle choices, and ways of living well. Written by an author who has been successfully living with it herself for most of her adult life, this comprehensive guide offers alternative treatments to replace and to complement traditional therapies and sound advice to find the right health practitioner for you.

Customer Reviews:

Reading this book was like finding burid treasure........2007-10-05

I used to believe an epileptic (like myself) just went to his doctor every 6 months, had a brief visit, and gave me a prescription for more pills.

Little did I know that there a number of things I can do to improve my condition on my own in addition to taking my pills. I do not have all day to list them but if you want to learn for yourself take a few hours of your life and read this book.

It can improve your condition dramatically buy it. If you want to continue on without hope and having seizures don't bother. Just go to your doctor every 6 months and keep taking your pills so you have as few as possible.

If you don't have your health you don't have anything. If you would like to buy the supplements listed in this book in one bottle (which are all safe) please go to a website by Dr. Balch.

Go to google and as the subject type in DR BALCH EPILEPSY.

Interesting.......2007-01-22

The whole concept of the benefits of ketosis is very mysterious. This book does a good job of explaining the benefits to epileptic children and others. It lays out the diet and gives recipes. I believe that it has merit for some sufferers and if I had a child experienceing seizures I would certainly recommend reading this.

EXCELLENT SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR THOSE WITH OR CARETAKERS OF THOSE WITH EPILEPSY.......2006-11-10

I read the entire book and I have implemented some of the nutritional suggestions which Ms. Murphy made to help control my son's epilepsy, which has never been well-controlled by medication. I have found that these changes seem to be reducing his seizures. I thought her complete review of vitamins and nutrients and how they interact with neurological processes was very well-written and easy to understand. Additionally, her assertions are backed up by other well-known medical professionals whose books I have read, so I think her research was thorough.

I have a new life........2006-01-15

I have a new life now. After reading this book and Epilepsy: A New Approach by Adrienne Richard and Joel Reiter, M.D. I have a new life. Words cannot not express my gratitude or how this book has changed my life in just a matter of weeks. I've never gone this long without a seizure since I was 13. Usually every week. I think it has almost been 6 weeks now. I can't believe how simple it was. And all I did was the basic things. I still haven't employed everything. I still have my auras but they are changing and I am incorporating more of the strategies to reduce them. I have a new life. If you want to change your life, read these two books. I don't know how to express my thanks to these authors. It has changed my entire outlook and my confidence and my hope for my future.

Be careful when reading this book.......2005-08-23

I am not a neurologist but have a strong personal interest in epilepsy. I read this book with great care. There are many chapters of significant merit including chapters 10-20. These chapters include the seizure taming effects of relaxation and certain types of music, doing things to prevent seizure progression when an aura is felt, lots of general information on epilepsy that is organized on a gender or age basis, the challenges of finding employment, and advice on a whole host of life issues that people with epilepsy often face. These are even more thoroughly covered in a number of other references which I have also read that come from the medical community.

So here is the real issue; what is in chapters 1-9? These chapters are loaded with information on diet, food supplements, vitamins, minerals, oriental medicine and other alternative and complementary approaches to treating epilepsy. As I read the Forward by Russell Blaylock MD and chapters 1-9 I had a growing sense that the author's thesis or belief is that traditional American medical treatment of epilepsy on the whole may do more harm than good and should be avoided if possible and that the natural approach is without risk and should be used preferentially. The real problem with this philosophy is that there are many people out there that will believe such nonsense. Any natural approach has risks as well as possible (if unproven) benefits. I certainly do not want to deny that there are problems associated with traditional medical treatment of epilepsy. Side effects are a real issue and can not be ignored.

The book has many unsubstantiated assertions that would make people think that the medical profession as a whole is uninformed. That is most unfortunate. Here is one example from the Forward;

("Doctors in general have difficulty with biochemistry in medical school......If your doctors do not understand these molecular events how can they efficiently treat your disorder? In addition to this lack of knowledge......" p. iv

Chapter 1 is a testimonial by the author on how she dealt with her epilepsy by eliminating junk food from her diet, switching to wholesome foods, adding herbs to the mix (skullcap and goldenseal), exercising and losing weight. She also decreased the amount of Phenobarbital she was taking. At that point she endorses a definition of drugs as being "poison(s)." The reader is also introduced to Robert Fried Ph.D. (a neuropsychologist?) Dr. Fried allegedly has come to the conclusion that "Seizures are metabolical, (sic) not neurological." Dr. Fried also allegedly feels that seizures are more like a regulatory body-process, like vomiting, rather than a disease process. The seizures are, allegedly according to the author, in a way readjusting the individual's metabolism to attempt to achieve homeostasis. My understanding is that there are some seizures that have a metabolic origin but they are in the minority. Certainly eating better and taking care of one's body should make a difference in overall health. Whether that will cure epilepsy is far from proven.

Chapter 4 starts by stating that if you have seizures it is imperative that you see a physician. That is good advice. An implication is made that hypoglycemia may be a major cause of seizures. Such an assertion ("major cause")is a little bit irresponsible in my opinion. It is correctly pointed out that anticonvulsants can have long-term adverse effects on calcium metabolism and bone health. It is then pointed out that phenytoin (an increasingly infrequently used old line anticonvulsant) contains "Drano" and "antifreeze." Puleeeze give us a break. Most readers should know better than to believe that. The real problem with this book as I see it is that there are people out there that will actually believe these assertions that are thrown in for effect, and may avoid the medical profession and thus deny themselves of the benefits that modern medical science has to offer. I in fact know of one mother that read this book four years ago and then took her daughter off of her medication feeling that it was too toxic to tolerate. The daughter's seizures that had been completely controlled for 9 months returned after 3 weeks and have never been under good control since then, in spite of restarting and then trying other medications. A reference should have been included, to the important studies that show that people that achieve complete control on medication for at least 2 or 4 years, have a high likelihood (better than 50/50) of not needing medications after that point, but that those that go off medication early and relapse are often difficult to control. On the whole this book is not balanced and this is one example where the other side of the picture should have been presented.

Chapter 5 on nutrition is interesting and useful. It is smart to eat right.

A lot of chapter 6, "Foods that Harm" makes sense.

Chapter 7 "Foods that Heal" has some interesting ideas. There is information on food supplements as well. I think a more scientific approach to the use of food supplements could have been taken. The issue of the blood brain barrier is not dealt with. There are many unsubstantiated assertions in this chapter. The section on GABA is a good example of both of these problems. GABA does not cross the blood brain barrier and so orally ingested GABA will not end up in the central nervous system. The section ends by stating that "daily supplementation of 500 to 1,000 mg of GABA has been shown to help prevent seizures." This is an irresponsible statement, that if taken and followed, could cost the individual several hundred dollars a year, and all for naught.

Chapter 8 is about the Ketogenic Diet. Although it can help in those with seizures that are particularly difficult to control, I think that most neurologists would not routinely recommend it. The chapter fails to point out the downside of the ketogenic diet and fails to point out that it will not work unless the patient is truly ketotic. Adding fats to a regular diet to try and achieve some of the benefits of the ketogenic diet will only result in weight gain, elevated serum cholesterol and triglycerides, and possibly exacerbation of seizures. Studies have shown that simply losing weight correlates with better seizure control.

Chapter 9 on herbs is interesting but readers should look to other sources before investing a small fortune on those options. A recent book by Orrin Devinsky, MD takes a critical look at herbs (and other alternative and complementary methods of approaching epilepsy) and cites relevant scientific literature (if it exists) that confirms the value of various herbs.

On the whole I do not feel that this is a balanced book. Nor do I feel that the author intended for it to be a balanced book. The sources cited as experts are too dominated by acquaintances of the author and not enough is cited from peer review scientific literature. There are far too many unsubstantiated assertions. Actually following some of the advice in the book could lead to lost opportunities to get epilepsy under control and could lead to much expense in search of the often elusive goal of effectively treating epilepsy without medication. I cannot recommend this book. I can recommend Dr. Devinsky's book "Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Epilepsy." It is a bit pricy so I recommend borrowing it from your local library unless you are a physician or a hopeless book collector that likes to buy medical texts. I give this book 2 stars because it does have some useful information. The other stuff unfortunately brings it down to a "2."

Neuropsychology of Childhood Epilepsy (Advances in Behavioral Biology)

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Review of the publishing, not of the content

Neuropsychology of Childhood Epilepsy (Advances in Behavioral Biology)

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0306465221

Book Description

While a great number of textbooks have been devoted to various medical aspects of childhood epilepsy, none have been as comprehensive and forthright as Neuropsychology of Childhood Epilepsy. Devoted to the neuropsychological description of childhood epilepsy, the editors have uncovered this neurological condition as never before. Divided into three sections, section one may be highly regarded as a necessary introduction to the neuropsychological basis of childhood epilepsy, electro-clinical patterns of various types of epilepsy and brain maturation while section two delves into the characterization of the neuropsychological profile that accompanies focal epilepsies leading to the behavioral and cognitive impairments linked to the transient events that often go unnoticed. Part three covers the medical, surgical and socio-educational management of childhood epilepsy. bsenteeism, learning difficulties, and cognitive dysfunctions may have an impact on a child's self-esteem and upon his or her quality of life. The final part of the volume therefore presents an accurate account of the vast psychological consequences of this disease. This volume is a must read for experimental and cognitive neuropsychologists, medical specialists involved in the care of children with epilepsy and professionals and caretakers dealing with the different aspects of childhood epilepsy alike.

Customer Reviews:

Review of the publishing, not of the content.......2007-07-25

The content of this book seems excellent, but I am quite dissapointed with the actual book. The binding is poor. I was reading the book for less than 15 minutes before one of the pages fell out. Moreover, the printing is poor. The book features lots of images, mostly MRI. The priniting is of such low quality that these can hardly be seen. They are too dark and appear as black blotches.

Epilepsy: A Guide to Balancing Your Life (American Academy of Neurology)

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Up-do-date, accessible guide

Epilepsy: A Guide to Balancing Your Life (American Academy of Neurology)
Ilo E. Leppik
Manufacturer: Demos Medical Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1932603204

Book Description

People diagnosed with epilepsy face many difficulties and lifestyle changes, but a proper understanding of the disease is a vital first step toward maintaining a normal life. Written in simple terms, this invaluable resource answers commonly asked questions about epilepsy and explains how it is diagnosed and treated, both with medications and other treatment options. Filled with helpful tables and illustrations, the guide offers current, reliable information on diet, surgical treatments, pregnancy, sports, and much more.

Customer Reviews:

Up-do-date, accessible guide .......2007-02-04

Ilo E. Leppik, MD (Director of Research at MINCEP Epilepsy Care Center) presents Epilepsy: A Guide to Balancing Your Life, a resource written especially for individuals diagnosed with epilepsy and their loved ones, sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology. Chapters inform the reader in plain terms about epilepsy and its types of seizures, treatment options including drugs and surgery, issues concerning epilepsy and pregnancy, quality of life concerns, and much more - including a sound debunking of myths (for example, stopping anti-epileptic drugs during pregnancy can potentially do more harm than good since seizures pose a deadly risk to both the baby and the mother). A glossary, index, and list of sources for more information round out this up-do-date, accessible guide strongly recommended for public library collections and the personal reference of epileptics and their families.

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