Reishi Mushroom and Epilepsy | Does It Help?
Is Reishi Mushroom Good For Epilepsy?
Yes, reishi mushroom can be good for epilepsy. Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) is a popular herbal remedy used for ailments in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Some studies conducted by the team of researchers revealed the presence of anti-epileptic properties of spores of reishi mushroom both in vivo and in vitro studies. Ganoderma lucidum spores suppressed NF-kB expression in brains of rats with epilepsy, N-Cadherin expression in hippocampus neurons, while increasing the neurotrophin-4 expression in hippocampal neurons. Results of recent studies indicate that the anti-epileptic effects of Ganoderma lucidum spores could also be due to inhibition of the accumulation of Ca2+ in epileptic hippocampal neurons and the consequent stimulation of CaMK IIa expression. Although, to the best of our knowledge, no reports have been made regarding clinical applications of Ganoderma lucidum spores, these studies point to the potential of Ganoderma lucidum spores for treating epileptic patients. It’s a pretty shocking revelation for reishi mushroom and epilepsy.
As always, consult your doctor before taking any new supplement if you’re already taking medications or receiving medical treatment for epilepsy.
More on The History of Natural Treatments for Epilepsy Throughout History
Traditional herbalism plays an important role in treating epilepsy. Although herbal medicines are commonly used for the treatment of epilepsy, reliable evidence of the effectiveness and toxicity of most herbs is lacking.Moreover, herbal medicines need to undergo an evidence-based review. In this context, we introduce the review that introduced the effects of herbs in the treatment of epilepsy. However, hundreds of herbs are investigated in available studies.
Some of the herbal medicines that are often used in the treatment of epilepsy are listed in our studies. The vast majority of these data are from animal experiments. The absence of clinical evidence puts limits on the clinical recommendations for plant medicines. Our research could lead to additional studies and give some insights into anti-epileptic pharmacological developments.
Herbal medicines in epilepsy treatment are an age-old form of medical treatment practiced by various cultures. Herbal medical traditions are reported from China, Iran, Europe, the United States. Chinese herbalism, significantly different from others, is an ancient tradition and is based on complex theories of medicine that have been repeatedly confirmed over a long period of time. Moreover, the amount of herbs used to treat epilepsy in Chinese herbal traditional medicine is absolutely predominant in herbal medicines around the world. Herbal medicines are now the most common method in the supplementation and alternative medicines, playing a major role in therapy for controlling seizures of epileptics or complications caused by antiepileptic medications.
The goals and attitudes of patients with epilepsy with access to herbal medicines are different from the developed world. Herbal medicines, the most common form of complementary and alternative medicines, are used in developing countries to manage seizures, to lessen complications caused by antiepileptic medications, and for overall health, and the majority of patients taking herbal medicines are non-disclosure informed by their doctors. Herbal therapies in developed countries are generally used as an alternative and a supplement to the Western, orthodox science-based medicines. Although accepted globally, herbal medicines are widely used for the treatment of epilepsy, but reliable evidence for the effectiveness and toxicity of most herbs is lacking. The theories behind traditional Chinese herbalism are substantially different than those in Western medicine.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Epilepsy
In Chinese medical theory, the human body is not just an integrated whole composed of internal organs, “channels,” and essential substances like the qi, the vital energy, the blood, and bodily fluids, but also a non-separable part of the external natural world. The network of “channels” links internal organs together in functional groups.
Thus, traditional Chinese medicine theories are grounded in the philosophy summarized by the ancients. In contrast with traditional Chinese medicine, Western medicine investigates underlying mechanisms of biological activities and pathophysiological processes. Traditional Chinese medicine is generally not understandable by western-trained physicians, who require a scientific explanation for “channel” mechanisms and the active constituents of herbs .
Although herbalism is used extensively in epilepsy, it needs evidence-based review. Thousands of studies report using herbs to treat epilepsy, the majority being experimental tests on laboratory animals. However, critical analyses on the effectiveness and side effects in the clinical application of herbal medicines for epilepsy are still lacking.
It has been reported that about 30% of patients with epilepsy taking anti-epileptic medications are still having seizures. Moreover, reasons why patients with epilepsy use herbal medicines include economic factors, cultural attitudes towards the Western-orthodox science-based medicines, substitution of the man-made medicines which cannot control seizures.
Therefore, herbal medicines can offer scientists more opportunities for finding novel molecular mechanisms for epilepsy as well as for novel antiepileptic drugs. In this framework, we provide review introducing effects of herbs in epilepsy.
