How does yoga help in controlling epilepsy and epileptic seizures?

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, which are sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain. These seizures can vary widely in their severity, duration, and symptoms, depending on the areas of the brain affected. Common types of seizures include generalized seizures, which affect both sides of the brain, and focal seizures, which originate in specific regions of the brain.

Epilepsy can develop at any age and may be caused by various factors, including genetic predisposition, brain injuries, infections, developmental disorders, or unknown causes. While epilepsy cannot typically be cured, it can often be managed effectively with medications, lifestyle modifications, and sometimes surgery or other interventions.

Yoga is one of the holistic ways to manage epilepsy and epileptic seizures.

“Yoga helps to activate the vagus nerve. Stimulating this nerve lowers seizure and epileptic attack frequency in around 30-40% of instances. It works via altering brain waves, the limbic system, and autonomic nervous system activity,” says Dr. Ansu Sen, Consultant Neurologist, Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, Kolkata.


Dr. Sen explains that yoga also promotes relaxation and reduces tension in epilepsy sufferers. Pranayama, such as onulam and bilam, calms the nervous system. As a result, pranayama and yoga serve to reduce seizure frequency by activating the vagus nerve and altering the activity of many areas of the brain, including the epileptic zone and brain waves. People who practiced yoga had a 50% lower risk of epilepsy and seizures.

“Aside from yoga, frequent cardiovascular exercise sessions such as running, walking, and jogging help epileptic patients lower their seizure frequency. Many people have drug resistance, therefore practicing yoga improves patients' quality of life by reducing their need of anti-epileptic drugs. Thus, practicing yoga decreases stress and tension while also reducing the frequency of seizures. The brain's actions are also highly controlled, notably via modifying limbic and autonomic nervous system activity, which reduces seizure frequency in epileptics,” Dr. Sen explains.

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