Publisher Summary This chapter explores complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatment of epilepsy with botanicals or diet therapy. The use of ketogenic diet in children is shown to be the most effective natural treatment for epilepsy and in women patients, natural progesterone has a powerful anticonvulsant effect and melatonin has been considered as an adjunct to anticonvulsant treatment. An account of the various CAM for epilepsy is described that includes western herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, ayurvedic medicine and anthroposophic medicine and homeopathy among others. The extract of Ginkgo biloba is commonly used for preventing cognitive impairment and can be used as treatment for epilepsy due to its antioxidant effects. The high fat, low carbohydrate ketogenic diet is used in children with medically refractory seizures and recently, a modified Atkins diet has been evaluated for control of seizures. The role of the amino acid, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in epileptic seizures is discussed and its potential as a target for anticonvulsant drug design. The anticonvulsant activity of the pineal gland hormone, melatonin is elaborated.
