Evidence, Wellbeing & Safety
Complementary Medicine
Some people explore complementary approaches for relaxation, stress or general wellbeing. Understand the limits of the evidence and discuss safety with your healthcare team before trying something new.
Support alongside medical care.
Complementary approaches should not replace prescribed epilepsy treatment or emergency care. Do not stop or change anti-seizure medication based on a therapy provider’s advice or a product’s claims.
Evidence that an approach helps relaxation or wellbeing is not the same as evidence that it prevents seizures. Some products and practices can also carry risks.
Complementary or alternative: what is the difference?
Complementary means used alongside conventional medical care. Alternative means used instead of that care.
This page discusses safety and evidence. Listing an approach here is not an endorsement or a recommendation to use it for epilepsy.
Understand the Options
Common approaches and their limits.
Relaxation & mind-body practices
Some people find meditation, gentle movement or other relaxation practices helpful for wellbeing. Whether a practice is appropriate depends on your health, abilities and seizure risks.
Discuss adaptations with your healthcare team. A wellbeing benefit should not be presented as a guarantee of seizure control.
Massage, acupressure & shiatsu
People may seek these approaches for relaxation or muscle discomfort. They are not established replacements for epilepsy treatment.
Tell the practitioner about your seizures, relevant health conditions and first aid needs. Ask whether essential oils or other products will be used.
Acupuncture
There is not enough high-quality evidence to recommend acupuncture as an epilepsy treatment. Its use for another health problem does not establish that it controls seizures.
Discuss risks and suitability with your healthcare provider and use an appropriately qualified practitioner.
Biofeedback & neurofeedback
These approaches use measurements of body functions or brain activity to support training. Some studies have explored seizure outcomes, but evidence is insufficient to recommend them as established epilepsy treatment.
Ask about the quality of the evidence, costs, risks and realistic goals.
Chiropractic & craniosacral therapy
Do not rely on claims that spinal or cranial manipulation can correct the cause of epilepsy or stop seizures. These approaches are not established epilepsy treatments.
If considering hands-on treatment for another condition, discuss its specific benefits and risks with your healthcare provider.
Homeopathy & enzyme products
These should not be used as substitutes for epilepsy care. Homeopathy has little evidence of effectiveness for specific health conditions, and products may still cause side effects or interactions.
Claims about “detoxifying,” “balancing” or “curing” epilepsy need reliable clinical evidence, not testimonials.
Products Need Particular Care
Herbs, supplements & essential oils
“Natural” does not mean safe. Products may interact with anti-seizure medication, cause side effects or increase seizure risk.
- Check the exact product and ingredients with your pharmacist or prescriber before use.
- Tell your healthcare team about all supplements, herbal remedies and non-prescription products you take.
- Do not rely on online lists of oils or herbs claimed to prevent seizures.
- Do not ingest essential oils or use them as a substitute for prescribed rescue medication.
St. John’s wort is one example of a herbal product with important medication interactions. Essential oils containing substances such as camphor or eucalyptus have also been associated with seizures. Suitability must be assessed for the specific product and person.
An Important Distinction
Prescription cannabidiol is not the same as retail CBD.
A prescription cannabidiol medicine has been authorized by Health Canada for specific epilepsy-related indications. This is different from treating epilepsy with retail cannabis, CBD oils or other non-prescription products.
Ask your epilepsy specialist whether a prescription treatment is relevant to your diagnosis. Product formulation, interactions and monitoring matter; these products should not be treated as interchangeable.
Before You Decide
Questions to ask.
Ask your healthcare team.
- What is the intended goal: comfort, wellbeing or seizure control?
- Is there reliable evidence for that goal?
- Could it affect my seizures or interact with my medicines?
- Are there risks specific to my health, age or pregnancy?
- What should I monitor, and when should I seek help?
Ask the practitioner.
- What training, registration and relevant experience do you have?
- What are the full costs and expected number of sessions?
- Which products or techniques will you use?
- Will you work with my healthcare team?
- Do you know seizure first aid?
Be cautious about promises.
A guaranteed cure, pressure to stop medication, claims based only on personal stories or advice to delay medical care are reasons to pause and speak with your healthcare provider.
If seizures continue or side effects are difficult, ask for a treatment review and specialist advice.
About this information: This webpage is subject to continuous review by Epilepsy South Central Ontario to help keep the information current. This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult your healthcare provider about your own health and care.
Further reading:
Epilepsy Action: Complementary Treatments ·
NCCIH: Safety ·
Health Canada: Prescription Cannabidiol Authorization.