Siti Nor Aqilah Mohd NOOR, Umar Idris IBRAHIM, Pei Lin LUA
Archives of Epilepsy - 2026;32(3):74-81
Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological disorders, affecting approximately 50 million people worldwide, with nearly one-third of patients experiencing drug-resistant seizures. Although antiepileptic drugs remain the cornerstone of epilepsy management, concerns regarding adverse effects, treatment costs, withdrawal symptoms, and persistent seizures have led many people with epilepsy (PWE) to seek complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This review aims to summarize the prevalence, types, motivations, information sources, and perceived effects of CAM use among PWE. A literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect was conducted for studies published between 2015 and 2024 using the keywords "epilepsy", "complementary and alternative medicine", "CAM", "traditional medicine", "prevalence", and "motivation". We included sixteen eligible studies in this narrative review. CAM utilization varied substantially across different countries and was influenced by cultural beliefs, accessibility, affordability, and dissatisfaction with conventional treatment. Herbal medicine, faith-based healing, dietary interventions, and mind-body practices were the most commonly reported CAM modalities. While many patients perceive CAM as beneficial for seizure control, stress reduction, and overall well-being, concerns regarding medication non-adherence, delayed conventional treatment, herb-drug interactions, and misinformation remain significant. Healthcare professionals should encourage open communication regarding CAM use and provide evidence-based guidance to ensure its safe integration into epilepsy management. Further research is warranted to establish the safety and effectiveness of commonly used CAM therapies and to support their appropriate role in comprehensive epilepsy care.
