This information is for children and young people with epilepsy. Parents or carers might also find this information helpful.
On this page we talk about different types of alternative or complementary therapies. We also talk about who can have them and how they can help.
Use this page as a general guide. Talk to a health professional for more help.
No, you cannot treat epilepsy without medication (meds). Alternative or complementary therapies may help you feel better. But they will not stop your seizures. Some alternative or complementary therapies may even cause seizures.
Treatment from your doctor is the only way to control and stop seizures. Anti-seizure meds work very well at reducing or stopping seizures altogether. But you have to take the meds regularly for them to work properly. If anti-seizure meds don't work, your doctor may suggest a type of surgery instead. The ketogenic diet and cannabis-based medications may also be an option. Your doctor will talk to you about if they’re suitable for you.
It’s important to always take your meds correctly. And follow the advice from your doctor. Never stop taking meds suddenly or without telling a health professional first. They will support you and help you make the right choice about your treatment.
Alternative and complementary therapies are not normally offered in the main healthcare system. This is because we don’t know how well they work for people with epilepsy. We also don’t know how safe they are and what the long-term effects are.
Complementary therapies will not cure your epilepsy or reduce seizures. They should not replace any meds which your doctor has given to you. You should always use complementary and alternative therapies alongside your regular anti-seizure meds.
Remember, never stop taking the meds given to you by your doctor.
Talk to your doctor if you’re interested in trying an alternative or complementary therapy.
Alternative and complementary therapies include:
Remember, not all alternative and complementary therapies have been tested very well. Also, some homeopathic substances may even cause seizures. Such as St John’s Wort – a type of flower.
Alternative and complementary therapies should not replace your regular anti-seizure meds. Let your doctor know if you’d like to try an alternative or complementary therapy. It’s important that they know exactly what you’re taking. Just in case it affects your treatment or makes your seizures worse.
We don't know for sure how safe all alternative and complementary therapies are. We also don't know how well they work for people with epilepsy. We need more research so we can fully learn the risks and benefits.
Some essential oils and herbal medicines could raise your risk of having seizures. Essential oils that are not recommended for people with epilepsy include:
Talk to your doctor if you want to know which essential oils are safe. They are there to help and support you. If you’re using essential oils, remember to take your regular anti-seizure meds as normal. Using essential oils alone will not treat your epilepsy or stop seizures.
Some young people over the age of two, may be suitable for cannabidiol. It’s a type of anti-seizure medication used to treat serious epilepsy. It comes from a cannabis plant. This type of medicine will not make you feel ‘high’.
Doctors may suggest cannabidiol to people with certain types of epilepsy. For example, Dravet syndrome and Lennox–Gastaut syndrome. This is because these types of epilepsy can be hard to treat.
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Information about epilepsy and different tests and scans.
Up-to-date guidelines for children and young people with epilepsy.
1. Bahr TA, Rodriguez D, Beaumont C, Allred K. The Effects of Various Essential Oils on Epilepsy and Acute Seizure: A Systematic Review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:6216745. doi:10.1155/2019/6216745
2. Mathew T, K John S, Kamath V, et al. Essential oil related seizures (EORS): A multi-center prospective study on essential oils and seizures in adults. Epilepsy Research. 2021;173:106626. doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2021.106626
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4. Heenan N, Coleman K, Tittensor P, Shepley S. Epilepsy in Children and Young People. Karger; 2024.
5. Lamberink HJ, Otte WM, Blümcke I, et al. Seizure outcome and use of antiepileptic drugs after epilepsy surgery according to histopathological diagnosis: a retrospective multicentre cohort study. The Lancet Neurology. 2020;19(9):748-757. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30220-9
6. Spencer S, Huh L. Outcomes of epilepsy surgery in adults and children. The Lancet Neurology. 2008;7(6):525-537. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(08)70109-1
7. Complementary and alternative medicine. nhs.uk. April 9, 2018. Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/
8. Homeopathy. nhs.uk. October 18, 2017. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/homeopathy/
9. Haller CA, Meier KH, Olson KR. Seizures reported in association with use of dietary supplements. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2005;43(1):23-30. doi:10.1081/clt-44771
10. Liu W, Ge T, Pan Z, Leng Y, Lv J, Li B. The effects of herbal medicine on epilepsy. Oncotarget. 2017;8(29):48385-48397. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.16801
11. NICE. Epilepsies in children, young people and adults. Published online 2022.
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Last updated July 2026.
We're currently reviewing this information. The next update will be 2029. If you would like to find out more about how we produce our information, or the sources of evidence we use, please contact us at healthinfo@youngepilepsy.org.uk
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