Epilepsy refers to a chronic condition in which repeated fits or attacks of unconsciousness occur with or without convulsions. It is a serious disorder of the central nervous system. It occurs in both children and adults. Most attacks, however, occur in childhood and in early adult life. Attack rates show a progressive decline in frequency with age. Epilepsy is a very ancient disease, which afflicted some of the world`s greatest personalities, including Napoleon, Alexander and Julius Caesar. The actual word "epilepsy" comes from the Greek word, which means, "to seize upon".

Symptoms of Epilepsy:
Epilepsy is recognized by recurrent sudden attacks at irregular intervals. The patients twitch convulsively and fall unconscious to the ground during these attacks, which cause tremendous nervous upheaval. There are two main types of epilepsy known as petit mal and grand mal. Each follows its own specific pattern.

In a less serious form of epilepsy, an attack comes and goes within a few seconds. The patient has a momentary loss of consciousness, with no convulsions except sometimes a slight rigidity, or there may be slight attack of convulsion such as a jerk, or movement of the eyes, head, trunk or extremities, with no perceptible loss of consciousness. The patient may not fall, but he may suddenly stop what he is doing and then resume it when the attack is over, without even being aware of what has happened, thus between the epileptic attacks, their brain functions normally. Petit mal attacks may occur at any time in life but are most frequent in children.

Causes of Epilepsy:
Epilepsy denotes electrical malfunctioning within the brain due to damage of brain cells or some inherited abnormality. Thus, there are many causes of epilepsy, viz. Digestive disturbances, intestinal toxaemia and a strained nervous condition are very often the main cause of petit mal. Grand mal usually results from hereditary influences, serious shock or injury to the brain or nervous system. Meningitis, typhoid and other diseases attendant with prolonged high temperature can also lead to grand mal.

Epilepsy may be caused by several other factors. It may result from allergic reaction to certain food substances, especially some particular form of protein, which is the main constituent of meat. Circulatory disorders such as hardening of arteries leading to the brain may also cause epileptic seizures. This type is rare and occurs only in very aged people. Chronic alcoholism, lead poisoning, cocaine and other such habits can also lead to this disease. Other causes of epileptic seizure include mental conflict, deficient mineral assimilation, particularly of magnesium and calcium and wrong vitamin metabolism. According to some researchers, hypoglycemia or low blood sugar is also involved in most cases of epilepsy.

Treatment of Epilepsy by Nature Cure:
In the natural form of treatment, the sufferer from epilepsy has to follow a rigorous regimen consisting of a strict dietary, complete relaxation and optimum exercise in the open air. He must adhere to a simple and correct natural life by being cheerful, having an optimistic attitude and refrain from mental and physical overwork and worry. If the sufferer from epilepsy has taken strong drugs for many years, he should not leave off entirely all at once. The dosage may be cut to half to begin with and then gradually reduced further until it can be left off completely. An epileptic should strictly observe all the natural laws of good health and build and maintain the highest level of general health. He should remain active mentally but avoid all severe mental and physical stress. And above all, he should avoid excitements of all kinds.

Diet:
The most important aspect of the treatment is the diet. To begin with, the patient should be placed on an exclusive fruit diet for first few days. During this period, he should have three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits such as oranges, apples, grapes, grapefruit, peaches, pears, pineapple and melon. Thereafter, he may gradually adopt a well balanced diet of three basic food groups, namely, (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits with emphasis on sprouted seeds such as alfalfa seeds and moong beans, raw vegetables and fruits. The diet should include a moderate amount of raw milk preferably goat`s milk and milk products such as raw butter and homemade cottage cheese.

The diet should eliminate completely all-animal proteins, except milk, as these, lack in magnesium and also rob the body of its own magnesium storage as well as of vitamin B. The best food sources of magnesium are raw nuts, seeds, soyabeans, green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, beetgreasy food etc. The patient should avoid all refined foods, fried and greasy food, sugar and products made with it, strong tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages, condiments and pickles. The patient should however, avoid overeating and take frequent small meals rather than a few large ones. He should not eat large meals before going to bed.

Water Treatments:
Mud packs on the abdomen twice-daily help remove toxemic conditions of the intestines and thereby hasten removal extremities. The application of alternate hot and cold compresses to the base of the brain that is at the back of the head will be beneficial. The procedure is to dip the feet in a bucket of hot water and apply first a hot towel and then a cold one to the base of the brain. The alternate hot and cold towels should be kept for two or three minutes about four times. The process should be repeated twice every day. Full Epsom-salt baths, twice a week is also beneficial.