Epilepsy is a neurological condition that results in seizures. About 2 million Americans suffer from it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ki energy training, the kind employed by many Dahn Yoga enthusiasts, has been used for years as a way to pursue physical health and to improve overall well-being. This holistic practice may be able to reduce the symptoms of debilitating illnesses, too. For example, a number of studies have shown that people with medically refractory epilepsy may benefit from doing yoa, meditation and ki energy techniques.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that results in seizures. About 2 million Americans suffer from it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency estimates that epilepsy costs the U.S. around $15.5 billion each year in medical costs, lost income and impaired production.
There are many potential causes of epilepsy, including traumatic brain injuries, oxygen deprivation, brain tumors, infections, strokes and inherited conditions. However, the CDC states that two-thirds of all epileptics suffer seizures with no diagnosed source.
Regardless of what causes them, seizures occur when an imbalance in the brain's neurotransmitters or ions leads to a cascade of uncontrolled neural firing. Being able to rebalance one's inner energy, known as ki, may help individuals with epilepsy experience some relief.
Consider a study appearing in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, which focused on 20 patients with medically refractory epilepsy, meaning seizures that respond poorly to pharmaceutical treatments.
Researchers found that participants who did twice-daily yoga exercises for 12 weeks almost unilaterally experienced reductions in their seizure frequency. In approximately one-third of patients, epileptic frequency dropped by more than 50 percent.
Another study, this one in the journal Epilepsy and Behavior, found that doing yoga helped some patients reduce their seizure rate, as did a series of mindfulness exercises.
Furthermore, people with epilepsy may benefit from yoga and ki energy training in a simpler way – namely, by being able to relax, connect with others and reduce their seizure-related anxiety.
