virtually seizure-free for the duration of the study.
However, only 15 patients were included and to our
knowledge no follow-up study has been performed.
84
The use of Cannabis for epilepsy has been legalized
in Canada and licensed in 14 states within the United
States, although it is prohibited in most European
countries.
85
Huperzine A. has been shown to be
effective in animal models of epilepsy, and a clinical
trial to assess its effectiveness has been planned.
86,87
There is also laboratory data supporting the efficacy
of kava (Piper methysticum)and mistletoe (Viscum
sp), but no clinical evidence exists to support their
use. A number of other herbal treatments that are
commonly used to treat seizures have either been
shown to have no effect on the severity of seizures,
or in fact demonstrate proconvulsant properties and
exacerbate the condition. In addition, much evi-dence is anecdotal, or when clinical studies have
been performed, these often display poor methodol-ogy and do not have sufficient levels of statistical
power to make firm conclusions from. Further, good
quality evidence in the form of controlled trials is
required to justify the use of herbal treatments in a
clinical setting (see Pearl et al for a comprehensive
review)