Changes

===== Role of diet =====

===== Role of diet =====

The third key factor is the role of quality of diet in the causation of the disease. Charaka uses terms like ''samala'' (impure), ''vikrita'' (deformed/altered), ''upahita'' (mixed), and ''ashuchi'' (unclean/unhygienic) as adjectives to describe food articles that cause ''apasmara''. Sushruta uses terms like ''viruddha'' (incompatible or of contradictory/antagonistic nature) and ''malina'' (bad) for the same factors. Besides providing nutrition to the body, diet plays a great impact on the mind as well. It is mentioned in the texts that the nutrition of soma and psyche occurs through food and food habits. Yogic texts narrate the role of food in nourishing five sheaths of the body, called ''annamaya kosha, pranamaya kosha, vijnanamaya kosha, manomaya kosha'' and ''anandmaya kosha''. Therefore, diet is not only important for proper functioning of the three ''doshas'', but also for nourishment of the mind and the soul. Charaka as well as Sushruta have acknowledged the role of unclean, unhygienic, unwholesome, incompatible diet in the causation of ''apasmara''. Dallhana commented that this includes the diet that is ''dwishta'' (disliked by mind or taken with hatred feeling), ''amedhya'' (not satisfying mind) and ''paryushita'' (stale). All these types of diet can cause disturbance in the body and mind. As per conventional medicine, a diet that is deficient in certain vitamins and minerals and that which increases neurotoxins may lead to neurological disorders. Therefore, biochemical changes in the above mentioned causative foods may lead to deficiencies of important nutrients and cause increase in neurotoxins resulting in ''apasmara'' like disorders. Moreover, some gastrointestinal symptoms have been described further as premonitory symptoms of ''apasmara''. The role of diet and food habits as a cause of ''apasmara'' needs to be further researched. These factors are to be avoided during the treatment of apasmara. Not following /proper dietary rules is one of the key causes for the formation of ''ama''. ''Ama'' produces free radicals leading to excessive oxidative stress and tissue injuries. Therefore, following proper dietary habits is important in preventing the pathogenesis of the disease. Furthermore, this suggests the possibility of food contamination as a causative factor for epilepsy. A case of endrin-laced taquitos causing seizures in the US is an example of food contamination causing epileptic seizures .  

The third key factor is the role of quality of diet in the causation of the disease. Charaka uses terms like ''samala'' (impure), ''vikrita'' (deformed/altered), ''upahita'' (mixed), and ''ashuchi'' (unclean/unhygienic) as adjectives to describe food articles that cause ''apasmara''. Sushruta uses terms like ''viruddha'' (incompatible or of contradictory/antagonistic nature) and ''malina'' (bad) for the same factors. Besides providing nutrition to the body, diet plays a great impact on the mind as well. It is mentioned in the texts that the nutrition of soma and psyche occurs through food and food habits. Yogic texts narrate the role of food in nourishing five sheaths of the body, called ''annamaya kosha, pranamaya kosha, vijnanamaya kosha, manomaya kosha'' and ''anandmaya kosha''. Therefore, diet is not only important for proper functioning of the three ''doshas'', but also for nourishment of the mind and the soul. Charaka as well as Sushruta have acknowledged the role of unclean, unhygienic, unwholesome, incompatible diet in the causation of ''apasmara''. Dallhana commented that this includes the diet that is ''dwishta'' (disliked by mind or taken with hatred feeling), ''amedhya'' (not satisfying mind) and ''paryushita'' (stale). All these types of diet can cause disturbance in the body and mind. As per conventional medicine, a diet that is deficient in certain vitamins and minerals and that which increases neurotoxins may lead to neurological disorders. Therefore, biochemical changes in the above mentioned causative foods may lead to deficiencies of important nutrients and cause increase in neurotoxins resulting in ''apasmara'' like disorders. Moreover, some gastrointestinal symptoms have been described further as premonitory symptoms of ''apasmara''. The role of diet and food habits as a cause of ''apasmara'' needs to be further researched. These factors are to be avoided during the treatment of apasmara. Not following /proper dietary rules is one of the key causes for the formation of ''ama''. ''Ama'' produces free radicals leading to excessive oxidative stress and tissue injuries. Therefore, following proper dietary habits is important in preventing the pathogenesis of the disease. Furthermore, this suggests the possibility of food contamination as a causative factor for epilepsy. A case of endrin-laced taquitos causing seizures in the US is an example of food contamination causing epileptic seizures .<ref> K Waller, T J Prendergast, A Slagle, R J Jackson.Seizures after eating a snack food contaminated with the pesticide endrin. The tale of the toxic taquitos. West J Med. 1992 Dec; 157(6): 648–651 </ref>

 

===== Improper methods – lifestyle factors =====

===== Improper methods – lifestyle factors =====