Ray Peat on epilepsy

January 3, 2026

Benefits of coconut oil for thyroid and health

"The easily oxidizable short- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids in coconut oil provide an energy source that protects our tissues from the toxic, inhibitory effects of unsaturated fatty acids and reduces their thyroid-suppressing effects. Animal studies over the last 60 years suggest that these effects also protect against cancer, heart disease, and premature aging. Other anticipated effects include protection against excessive blood clotting, protection of the fetal brain, protection against various stress-related problems including epilepsy, and some protection against sun-damaging effects on the skin."

Nutrition For Women

The role of progesterone in various diseases

"Even though progesterone seems to be able to cure almost anything, it should only be used when the biochemical mechanism is reasonably clear. A progesterone deficiency can be misdiagnosed as epilepsy, Bright's disease, multiple sclerosis, or even as estrogen deficiency (as in menopause). It can influence susceptibility to many diseases, including herpes infections, vertigo, perceptual disturbances, varicose veins, mastitis, fibroids, and endometriosis. In my experience, cyclical edema, depression, and migraines are always stopped by progesterone."

Nutrition For Women

Pre-conception health and the risks of reproduction in injured animals

"One should allow time to become fully healthy before becoming pregnant. C. Brown-Séquard bred injured guinea pigs and found that the offspring had a high rate of epilepsy and birth defects. Illness or trauma—including surgery—can trigger a chronic stress state accompanied by a deficiency in many nutrients. A few months of supplemental nutrition and avoiding new stressors can restore the body's reserves."

Nutrition For Women

Therapeutic potential of carbon dioxide application

"The direct application of carbon dioxide should be helpful in all those situations where acetazolamide is also effective – but without the risk of an allergic reaction to this drug. These include traumatic cerebral edema, altitude sickness, osteoporosis, epilepsy, glaucoma, ADHD, inflammation, intestinal polyps, and arthritis. Diabetes, cardiomyopathy (Torella et al., 2014), obesity (Arechederra et al., 2013), cancer, dementia, and psychoses could also benefit."

July 2017 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

Obstacles to understanding key biological concepts

"Some of the best-known concepts in biology – including genes, membranes and receptors – have hindered, and continue to hinder, our understanding of aging, cancer, stress, shock, epilepsy, regeneration, perception and thinking."

January 2019 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

Excitotoxicity and feedback failure in neurological disorders

“Excitotoxicity, epilepsy, movement disorders and mania are further examples of what happens when negative (inhibitory) feedback fails.”

March 2000

Epilepsy and insomnia as states of low energy in brain cells

"Epilepsy is an example of a very low energy state in brain cells. Insomnia is also a low energy state and is usually resolved by the correct dose of thyroid hormone along with sufficient glucose and other nutrients."

February 1986

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