Benefits of the ketogenic diet and risk factors The ketogenic diet is infact a cure for epilepsy the keto diet was developed in the 1920s as a treatment for epilepsy, especially in children who didn’t respond to medication. Dr. Russell Wilder at the Mayo Clinic coined the term “ketogenic diet” and designed it to mimic the effects of fasting by inducing ketosis. In this metabolic state, the body burns fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates. Fasting as treatment. Fasting had long been used to treat epilepsy. Ancient Greek physicians, including Hippocrates, noted its therapeutic effects. In the early 1900s, Hugh Conklin, an osteopath, used extended fasting to treat epileptic children, believing it flushed out intestinal toxins. The ketogenic diet has a fascinating origin rooted in medical science and ancient practices. Here's a breakdown of its historical journey. ketogenic diet being used in the Early 20th Century: The keto diet was d...