Dogs With Epilepsy May Benefit From the Use of Turmeric

(Newswire.net — June 14, 2017) Orlando, FL — Many people nowadays resort to the use of natural alternatives to help fight diseases and disorders. One of these natural options is turmeric. However, this alternative may not just be useful for humans but also animals.

Dogs with epilepsy may benefit from the use of turmeric. This brain-related disorder causes dogs to experience sudden, uncontrolled seizures. Seizures take place when a dog falls on its side, excessively salivates, and become stiff. Other manifestations of epilepsy are muscle twitching, jerking, having a stiff jaw, with or without loss of consciousness.

Epilepsy gets more severe when the dog is younger. Dogs suffering from epilepsy usually experience repeated seizures, which happen more than once a week. When it happens, it typically lasts from a few seconds to few minutes.

There is a type of epilepsy called status epilepticus, which takes place when repeated seizures occur even when the dog has not recovered from the first yet. Seizures are believed to happen when there is an improper balance of brain chemicals. This imbalance usually occurs when there is a disturbance in the electrical activity in the brain.

A study reveals that curcumin may decrease the severity of recurrent seizures as well as protect brain function. This powerful phytochemical may help modify epileptogenesis, which pertains to a sequence of events that take place before a seizure.

According to research, curcumin may contain antioxidant and anti-convulsant properties that may be highly therapeutic in cases of status epilepticus.

The possible antioxidant properties of curcumin are believed to contribute to its anti-convulsant nature. It may have the potential to restore the antioxidant enzyme levels as well as help to reduce oxidative stress in the brain. This may lead to a decrease in the progression of seizures.

In an animal study, it was found that curcumin supplements may increase antioxidant enzyme levels in the brain as well as reduce the development of epilepsy. 

Curcumin has long been believed to be therapeutic due to its unique agents. Some of these healing agents are considered to offer antibacterial, anti-carcinogenic, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic properties.

In many studies, it has been found that turmeric may increase seizure threshold, reduce recurrence of seizures, and delay seizure onset.

Turmeric oil may also contain an anti-convulsant property. It contains curcumol, ar-turmerone, and bisabolene sesquiterpenoids, which have been proven to have anti-convulsant activity.

Since curcumin is a potential neuroprotective agent, it may have the ability to offer protection to the brain and brain cells against disease and damage in humans. The possible antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-protein aggregate properties of curcumin may also offer protection from brain damage.

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