What is The History of Epilepsy?

HealthNutritionOnline

Back-to-Directory A health article about The History of Epilepsy from Your Health Online the A to Z directory of
dealing with Health Problems & nutritional
Self Care Strategies

Epilepsy is a serious disease that currently afflicts millions of people around the world. But did you know that epilepsy has already existed and puzzled our ancestors as far back as the start of human existence?

In fact early medical writings as early as 3000 years ago, show that no disease has sparked so much interest and controversy among the early people than epilepsy. However, our ancestors believed that epilepsy was an act of supernatural beings. The Babylonians, for one, believed that seizures were caused by demons attacking the person.

The ancient Greeks on the other hand, believed that one will be afflicted with epilepsy by offending Selene, the goddess of the moon and in order to cure the disease, one has to eat mistletoe that has been picked without the aid of a blade during the time the moon is smallest in the sky.

The ancient Romans did not only believe that the disease came from demons but that it was contagious as well. To get rid of the disease, one was required to spit to expel the demons.

400 B.C.: The Greek doctor and Father of Medicine, Hippocrates, wrote the very first document on epilepsy, “On the Sacred Disease.” Contrary to the belief that epilepsy was an act of the demons, Hippocrates proved that epilepsy is a brain disease. He explained that epilepsy was caused by surplus phlegm. His prescription then was a diet that balances the hot and cold and to sleep in the temple overnight with the hopes that the god Asclepius would appear in a dream and cure the afflicted. 70 A.D.: The Bible spoke of a man afflicted with epilepsy in Mark (verses 9:14-29). It spoke of a man, whom a spirit possessed and displayed typical symptoms of epilepsy such as seizures, gnashing of teeth, rigidness and foaming at the mouth. 1494: Almost hundreds of thousands of women died when two friars wrote the Malleus Maleficarum- a handbook on witch-hunting. The book identified seizures with witchcraft.

1904: William Spratling, a neurologist, coined the term “epileptologist” to describe someone specializing in epilepsy. Spratling is the first epileptologist in North America.

1912: Two teams of chemists created Luminal, a phenobarbital.

1859-1906: This is the period of the start of the modern medical age of epilepsy. In a study by English neurologists Russel Reynolds, John Hughlings and Sir William Richard Growers, seizures were defined as the excessive, episodic discharge of nerve tissue on the muscles. According to the study, seizures can cause behavioral and sensational changes.

1920: The very first medication for epilepsy, the ketogenic diet, was devised. The ketogenic diet was low in protein, rich in fat and with minimum quantity of carbohydrate to decrease the incidence of seizures by simulating the metabolic effects experienced when fasting.

1929: Hans Berger, a famous German psychiatrist, said that electric currents that the brain generates could be recorded graphically on a piece of paper, even without slicing open the skull. This was called electroencephalogram (EEG).

1929- 1963: Different drug treatments for epilepsy such as phenytoin (PHT), carbamazepine (CBZ), ethusuximide (ESM) and sodium valproate (VPA) were discovered. Since then, numerous drugs have been discovered and received the approval of the US Food and Drug Administration.

1968: The Epilepsy Foundation of America was established, now called the Epilepsy Foundation.

1970: Epilepsy centers were established in different states through the efforts of the Veterans Administration. As a result, a new breed of doctors began to focus on the study and treatment of epilepsy.

1990: Some states in the United States had laws prohibiting people with epilepsy to get married and bear children, even in the twentieth century. Other states conducted sterilization to prevent epileptics from passing on the disease to future generations. To put an end to this discrimination, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was passed by the Congress. Developments in neuroscience have already led to positive results as to finding cures for epilepsy. Thanks to modern science, those living with epilepsy are slowly regaining their lives.

They are now able to live and go through their day-to-day activities like normal people do. And with the dedication of neurologists in studying epilepsy, an effective cure for epilepsy is not too far from materializing.

Contact-Site-Webmaster
to “Your Health Success”
our monthly F’R’E’E’ Newsletter


Back to Top of The History of Epilepsy page

Subscribe to “Your Health Success” newsletter
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Site Map

Contact-Site-Webmaster

============================================================================
SITE DISCLAIMER: Do these products “cure” anything? Of course not… but it stands to reason that if you cleanse your body and feed it the finest nutrition available, giving it everything it needs in balance, on a daily basis, that your body will do what nature intended, and give you the best possible chance to fend off sickness and disease. This The History of Epilepsy information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The The History of Epilepsy content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any The History of Epilepsy questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.
The The History of Epilepsy resources on this site are not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. While all attempts have been made to verify The History of Epilepsy information provided in this publication, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretation of the web site The History of Epilepsy subject matter herein. The site The History of Epilepsy contents are solely the opinion of the authors and should not be considered as a form of advice, direction and/or recommendation of any kind. If expert advice or counseling is needed, services of a competent professional should be sought. The author and the Publisher assume no responsibility or liability and specifically disclaim any warranty, express or implied for any The History of Epilepsy products or services mentioned, or any techniques or The History of Epilepsy practices described.
The purchaser or reader of thi The History of Epilepsy s publication assumes responsibility for the use of these materials and information. Neither the author nor the Publisher assumes any responsibility or liability whatsoever on the behalf of any purchaser or reader of these The History of Epilepsy materials. There is no guarantee of validity of accuracy. Any perceived slight of specific people or organizations is unintentional. This website and its creators are not responsible for the content of any sites linked to. Since natural and/or dietary supplements are not FDA approved they must be accompanied by a two-part disclaimer on the product label: that the statement has not been evaluated by FDA and that the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."
============================================================================

Back to Top of page