ACUPUNCTURE’S ROLE IN MANAGING EPILEPSY

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ACUPUNCTURES ROLE IN MANAGING EPILEPSY

• Presented by
• Maoshing Ni, Ph.D., D.O.M., L.Ac.
• Ban B. Wong, M.S., L.Ac.
• TAO OF WELLNESS

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Can Acupuncture Help Epilepsy?

• Acupuncture May Reduce the Frequency and Severity
  of Epileptic Seizures
• Acupuncture May Decrease Post-Seizure Symptoms
• Acupuncture May Also Reduce Side-Effects of
  Anti-Seizure Medications

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Research 1

• A study of 1,315 patients treated with
  acupuncture along with herbal medicine over a two
  year period, conducted by Fushan Epilepsy
  Hospital in China, as published by its director,
  Dr. Shoyin Wei

• Results
• 1,087 (82) cases received complete remission.
• 170 (13) cases experienced substantial decrease
  in frequency and rate of seizure episodes.
• 58 (4) cases experienced no change.

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Research 2

• One German study involved 98 people with epilepsy
  over 12-18 months, 65 people showed marked
  improvements with an absence of seizures during a
  one-year period without drugs. Afterwards,
  patients received acupuncture maintenance
  treatments once a week over 2-3 months. Relapses
  occurred in 5 cases.
• Epilepsia, May/June 1991, pp. 289-302. 2. Fisher,
  M.V., "Acupuncture Therapy in the Outpatient
  Department of the Heidelberg University Clinic."
  Anaesthetist. 31(1)25-32, 1982.

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Research 3

• One U.S. study of acupuncture on 5 dogs with
  seizure disorder, all had decreased numbers of
  seizures after being treated with acupuncture.
  Three continued to have fewer seizures with lower
  levels of anticonvulsants the other two dogs
  also had a reduction in seizures.
• Klide, A.M. et al. "Acupuncture Therapy for
  the Treatment of Intractable Idiopathic Epilepsy
  in Five Dogs." Acupuncture Electrotherapy
  Research, 12 (1), 1987, pp. 71-4.

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What is Acupuncture?
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How Does Acupuncture Work?

• Studies have shown acupuncture to produce
  endocrine and neurological responses as well as
  helpful in counteracting the effects of stress
• fMRI study of P6 at Harvard Medical School showed
  direct hypothalamus activities
• fMRI study of G37 at UCI showed direct visual
  cortex activities
• Studies show acupuncture increases
  cholecystokinin level in the central nervous
  system--a deficiency of which can cause seizure

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Acupuncture Meridians
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Case Study

• A 7-year-old female patient in the pediatric
  intensive care unit with intractable seizures for
  6 weeks.
• ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF PEDIATRIC STATUS
  EPILEPTICUS
• Y.C. Lin, MD, MPH, Dept of Anesthesia, Stanford
  University School of Medicine
• and G. Hong, MD, Oregon Academy of Medical
  Acupuncture,

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Treatment

•    Acupuncture 3 treatments for the first week,
  then 2 times weekly for 4 weeks. Each treatment
  was 10 minutes long, and electrical stimulation
  was performed at low frequency.

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Outcome

• Before Acupuncture EEG showed periods of burst
  suppression alternating with periods of
  continuous seizure activity.
• After Acupuncture EEG showed moderate
  generalized cortical dysfunction with no
  electrographic seizures, and no overt seizure
  activity was noted more obvious change at the
  second treatment.
• Result Patient was weaned off phenobarbital
  drip and was transferred to the regular ward.
  Following discontinuation of her tracheotomy
  tube, she was transferred to a rehabilitation
  facility.

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Discussion

• Seizure is viewed in Traditional Chinese
  Medicine (TCM)
• 1. One of the four major disorders affecting
  children
• 2. The first known documentation of epilepsy
  appeared in the Yellow Emperor's Classic of
  Medicine (700-221 B.C.)
• 3. TCM considers Seizure as Wind generated by
  extremes of Heat or Cold

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Recent Development

• Complementary and Alternative Therapies for
  Epilepsy were the topic of a recent three-day
  course at New York University School of Medicine
  in New York City

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Seminar Continued

• There are many approaches to complementary and
  alternative therapies and that many patients
  with epilepsy benefit from the additional
  treatments.
• Orrin Devinsky, M.D., Professor of Neurology,
  Neurosurgery and Psychiatry at NYU School of
  Medicine, Director NYU-Mount Sinai Comprehensive
  Epilepsy Center

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Seminar Continued

• Alternative therapies can include .
  aromatherapy to yoga, hypnosis to massage
  therapy, pet therapy to magnetic stimulation, or
  acupuncture to herbs.

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Massage Therapy
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Meditation
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Herbal Medicine
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Traditional Chinese Herbs

• Gastrodia
• Anticonvulsive effects
• Raises Seizure Threshold and inhibits development
  of epilpsy signs on EEG
• Duration of effect in stopping seizure after
  halting treatment is longer than phenobarbital

• Uncaria
• Anticonvulsive effects
• Stopped seizure in induced epilepticus in guinea
  pigs
• Regulates blood pressure
• Calming effect

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Current Research on Herbal Medicine

• Dr. Steven Schachter, Professor of Neurology at
  Harvard Medical School (HMS), and Associate
  Director of Clinical Research at the HMS Division
  for Research and Education in Complementary and
  Integrative Medical Therapies, recently received
  a research grant from The Epilepsy Project to
  lead a study on East Asian herbs as a potential
  source of new anti-seizure medications.

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Dr. Steven

• The main goal of the study is to scientifically
  study herbs and combinations of herbs that have
  traditionally been used over a number of
  centuries in East Asia to treat seizures.The
  ultimate goal is to discover new compounds that
  could possibly undergo further testing in people
  with epilepsy.
• - Steven Schachter, MD

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International Collaboration

• China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine,
  Beijing, China
• Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
• Keio University, Japan.
• Harvard Medical School Division for Research and
  Education in Complementary Integrative Medical
  Therapies (David Eisenberg, M.D., Steve
  Schachter, M.D.)
• Ban B. Wong, M.S., L.Ac., Tao of Wellness, U.S.

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The Future Model for Epilepsy

• An Integrative Approach
• Lifestyle Management
• Meditation/Stress Management
• Dietary Therapy
• Massage Therapy
• Herbal Therapy
• Acupuncture
• Drug Therapy
• Surgery

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Our Contact Info

• 1131 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 300
• Santa Monica, CA 90401
• 310-917-2200
• Info_at_taoofwellness.com
• Taoofwellness.com