I have had many experiences dealing with epilepsy, which according to modern herbalists may be occasioned by several factors ranging from trauma-triggered brain damage to allergens.

Some people even believe that this condition – often characterised by frightening seizures – is caused by demonic possession.

In any event, I have developed a number of methodolgies to deal with this phenomenon.

Once a lady took her child who appeared to be suffering from epilepsy to me for help. The little girl was limp and foaming at the mouth.

I ran into the garden for some Fitweed, otherwise called Chadobeni. I put it in a plastic bag and puffed its aroma in the child’s face.

Immediately, I mean within the instant, the child sat up and put her finger in her mouth. Everyone, including myself was taken aback, to say the least.

That was about four years ago.

To this date, I’ve not seen them return, but I know they constantly send people with that particular problem to me for help.

Another case of epilepsy involved a cousin-in-law of mine who hurt himself in a motor vehicle collision.

Every half an hour, he got seizures to the point where he would wet himself.

I took him in and tried all the therapies I knew about and even though he got some relief for a hour or two, the seizures kept coming.

I gave him the herbs which I know are best for that particular problem – skullcap, chickweed, lobelia etc – but they didn’t work.

So I advised his people to take him to Cornwall Regional Hospital for a brain scan, thinking that since he had hit his head and anything was possible.

In the meantime, I did some research and discovered that some cases of epilepsy can be due to nutritrional deficiencies.

Based on my research, I gave him some calcium, magnesium and chlorine. In fifteen minutes, he was fully revived. He sat up hugged his girlfriend and said he was ready to make love!

As far as I know, except for one mild episode which subsided after a dose of magnesium, he has never suffered another seizure.

They left me after that. From that day on he has never suffered a seizure.

The third case involved a teenage boy.

His mother told me that she didn’t know of him suffering any trauma to the head or being allergic to anything.

I gave him the usual combination of herbs including Hyssop and cohosh, and she took him home.

For a while things were fine, but when the herbs were finished, he started getting seizures again.

She brought him back, and within minutes he began to have a terrible fit.

I didn’t have any fitweed, but acting on my knowledge that pungent herbs tend to have an effect in cases like these, I jammed a piece of stick in his mouth to stop him from biting up his tongue and rubbed some wild sage under his nose.

He gave me a terribly evil look and boxed my hand away, but I persisted until he relaxed and fell into a deep sleep.

But that’s not the end of the story.

Believe it or not, I began to experience his seizures!

I cried out for help and with the help of my son began to take some of my own medicine, so to speak.

After hours passed I finally experienced relief.

As for the young man, he took a bus – by himself for the first time – home.

Make of it what you will, but in the meantime consider the following factors when planning an epileptics’ diet:

1. Eliminate all foods that trigger allergic reactions.

2. The diet must contain calcium and magnesium-rich foods such as milk of magnesia.

3. The diet must have some form of sugar to prevent hypoglycaemia.

4. Factor in some citrus and apple cider.

5. With the exception of milk, (preferably raw goat’s milk) Eliminate animal proteins, as these will rob the body of its magnesium and vitamins B-6 reserves.

6. EPILEPTICS MUST TAKE B-6 SUPPLEMENTS!

7. Include raw nuts, peas, soybeans, alfalfa sprouts and mung beans and cooked green leafy vegetables such as spinach, Indian kale, callalloo, chard and the top of the beetroots are a must.

8. Cook in stainless steel pots and stay away from aluminium pots.

9. Include lots of raw foods and vegetable juices.

10. Incoporate at least two tablespoons of olive oil daily.

11. Include raw goats milk.

Buckston Harrison is well known for his work as a herbalist, especially in western Jamaica. He resides in Sheffield, Westmoreland.