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History and Origin of the Ketogenic Diet

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Book cover Epilepsy and the Ketogenic Diet

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

In the past, many dietary “cures” for epilepsy were advocated, and such treatments included the excess or limitation of almost every substance (animal, vegetable, or mineral) (1). However, fasting as a treatment for seizures was less recognized. Fasting is the only therapeutic measure against epilepsy recorded in the Hippocratic collection (1). In the fifth century BC, Hippocrates reported on a man who had been seized by epileptic convulsions after having anointed himself before the fire in a bath, in winter. Complete abstinence from food and drink was prescribed, and the cure was effective.

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Authors
  1. James W. Wheless
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA

    Carl E. Stafstrom MD, PhD

  2. The Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Jong M. Rho MD

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Wheless, J.W. (2004). History and Origin of the Ketogenic Diet. In: Stafstrom, C.E., Rho, J.M. (eds) Epilepsy and the Ketogenic Diet. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-808-3_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-808-3_2

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61737-477-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-808-3

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