Acupuncture for Epilepsy
Acupuncture treatments may help people suffering from epilepsy by supporting normal neurological expression, although more research is needed to confirm the practice’s efficacy.
One of the world’s most common neurological conditions, epilepsy is believed to affect more than 1 percent of the U.S. population. The condition is characterized by sudden, unprovoked seizures that can have a major negative impact on quality of life. Treatment is aimed at reducing seizure frequency and their effects on the patient’s daily activities. Acupuncture sessions can support this goal by interfacing with the nervous system.
How Can Acupuncture Help Epilepsy Patients?
Chinese medicine has relied on acupuncture for thousands of years and in hundreds of conditions. Its versatility in this regard is due to its ability to produce system-wide effects in the body. These effects include reducing pain signaling, reducing inflammation, improving circulation, and softening the impact of stress, anxiety, or depression.
However, it’s acupuncture’s neurological benefits that are of importance in epilepsy patients. These effects aren’t completely understood, but it appears that some acupuncture points can help modulate nervous system activity. For example, acupuncture treatment can be used to stimulate the vagus nerve. Vagus nerve stimulation is associated with a relaxation response and can reduce stress in several ways – by reducing heart rate and respiratory rate, for example.
Some research also shows that acupuncture can alter neurological signaling in ways that can be measured. For instance, some studies have looked at EEGs in epilepsy patients receiving acupuncture and have noted that acupuncture (in conjunction with western medication) is better at reducing unregulated EEG discharges than medication alone. This may indicate acupuncture’s stabilizing effect on the nervous system.
Additional studies suggest that acupuncture sessions – particularly auricular (ear) acupuncture – can help regulate different types of brainwave activity – including alpha, beta, delta, and theta waves. This may also contribute to acupuncture’s efficacy in epilepsy.
What the Medical Research Says About Acupuncture and Epilepsy
Research into acupuncture and epilepsy is still evolving, and additional high quality research studies are needed. Yet, early research shows some promise and includes the following studies:
A 2023 systemic review and analysis published in Frontiers in Neuroscience. This review and analysis considered 17 randomly controlled trials and a total of 1,389 patients. This review looked at the effects of acupuncture on epilepsy from several angles and concluded that acupuncture could improve epilepsy in a variety of ways. Specifically, the researchers noted an improvement in EEG discharge frequency, brainwave expression, adverse effects, and QOLIE (quality of life in epilepsy inventory) scores. As such, the team concluded that acupuncture sessions were a viable treatment option for epilepsy patients.
A 2012 analysis of auricular acupuncture published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. This analysis was based on prior research into acupuncture’s effects on the parasympathetic nervous system and did not include a patient body. Instead, the research team built a hypothesis that auricular acupuncture was particularly well-suited for conditions like epilepsy, as auricular acupoints are used by practitioners to regulate the central nervous pathways through the peripheral nerves.
The research team’s reasoning asserted that auricular acupuncture could stimulate cranial nerves, increasing parasympathetic tone in the process and activating the nucleus tractus solitarius, a brain structure itself responsible for activating a number of neurological pathways involved in epileptic seizures. This includes cholinergic pathways (which produces an anti-inflammatory effect) and other structures that may influence EEG expression. Together, these mechanisms may be influential in suppressing epileptic symptoms.
Can Acupuncture Make Epilepsy Symptoms and Seizures Worse?
If acupuncture is provided by an experienced practitioner, it’s considered a low-risk form of therapy. There is no research that suggests acupuncture will worsen epilepsy symptoms or seizures, and the vast majority of patients report minor bleeding and bruising as side effects.
However, more serious complications are possible in patients with certain underlying health conditions, such as anemia or pregnancy. Prior to administering treatment, the physician will perform a full examination and gather a comprehensive family medical history to confirm their patient is a good candidate for acupuncture.
It’s highly recommended that patients seek out a dual-certified physician and acupuncturist to provide treatment. Board-certified physicians who are also experienced in Chinese medicine can provide an optimal mix of western and eastern therapies for epilepsy. This will help patients customize their therapeutic approach and attain better results, faster.
Contending with Epileptic Seizures? Acupuncture Treatments May Help Reduce Their Frequency and Severity
Epilepsy is a challenging condition to live with and treat, which is why many patients are driven to seek alternatives like Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Numerous case studies and an emerging body of research suggest that this may an effective approach to treatment for many.
If your epileptic seizures aren’t well controlled with medications or other anti-seizure options, acupuncture sessions may provide additional relief. A licensed Houston acupuncturist can examine the specifics of your condition and devise a treatment plan designed to reduce the severity and frequency of epileptic seizures.