What are the traditional treatments for epilepsy?
Many drugs are available to treat epilepsy. They function primarily by suppressing the activity of the nerve cells in the seizure focus. All have various side effects which may be significant. Why is epilepsy amenable to oxygen therapy? The seizure focus may be identified with Magnetic Source Imaging (MSI). On SPECT scan there is reduced blood flow to the area. PET scanning clearly demonstrates a reduced metabolic rate in the same area. Neurologists agree that the seizure focus is hypoxic (low oxygen). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) grows new blood vessels (angiogenesis) into the seizure focus thereby treating the basic underlying problem. What benefits can I expect from oxygen therapy for epilepsy? Since every patient is different it is hard to predict the result in each individual case. A large number of cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injured patients – many of whom have seizures – have seen improvement or complete eradication of their seizures with HBOT. We know from 50 years
