Epilepsy

Epilepsy occurs in seizures , manifested by falling down in a fit , loss of consciousness , foam on the lips , or screams with eyes staring upward , and convulsions . After some minutes , consciousness returns , and the patient's condition becomes normal .

Besides the typical seizures , there may be variations . It can be a momentary loss of attention or consciousness with eyes staring directly forward , or prolonged loss of consciousness associated with convulsions and foam on the lips . Epileptic fits may occur at any time , in various frequency and with different severity . It is often preceded by an aura of dizziness , depression sensation of the chest , and listlessness . Generally speaking , epilepsy is an excess condition , but frequent recurrence can lower the body resistance .

Etiology and Pathogenesis

• Fear and fright : Fear makes qi disordered and fright makes qi descend , affecting the liver and kidney and leading to stirring of the deficiency wind .
• Dysfunction of the liver in smoothing flow of qi , or irregular food intake damaging the spleen and stomach , makes the dampness of food and drinks accumulate as phlegm , which combined with the stagnated liver qi , disturbs the mind and causes epilepsy .
• Epilepsy may result from hereditary factors , but in most of the hereditary cases it comes on inearly childhood .

Differentiation

During seizure

Main manifestations : A typical seizure is preceded by dizziness , headache and suffocating sensation in the chest , and immediately followed by falling down with loss of consciousness , pallor , clenched jaws , upward staring of the eyes , convulsion , foam on the lips , screaming as pigs of sheep , and even incontinence of urine and feces . Gradually , the patient regains consciousness , and the symptoms disappear . Apart from fatigue and weakness , the patient can live a normal life . White sticky tongue coating , and string - taut , rolling pulse .

Analysis : Dizziness , headache and suffocated sensation in the chest are the prodromal symptoms which show the upward perversion of the wind phlegm . The liver wind stirs up with the phlegm to disturb the mind . Therefore , there are loss of consciousness , convulsions and upward staring of the eyes . The foam on the lips is owing to the ascending wind phlegm . White , sticky tongue coating and rolling pulse are the signs of retaining of the phlegm . Since the wind phlegm is irregularly accumulated and dispersed , the seizures are paroxysmal , and the patient behaves as normal after the seizure .

After seizure :

Main manifestations : Listlessness , lusterless complexion , dizziness , palpitation , anorexia , profuse sputum , weakness and soreness of the loins and limbs , pale tongue with white coating and thready , rolling pulse .

Analysis : Listlessness is due to damage of the vital qi by frequent epileptic fits . With insufficiency of blood , the complexion is lusterless . There is dizziness if the brain lacks blood supply , and palpitation if the heart is poorly supplied with blood . Due to the depression of the spleen yang , the food cannot be transformed into essence , and dampness and phlegm are produced , so there are anorexia and profuse sputum . Deficiency of the kidney essence causes soreness and weakness of the loins and limbs . Pale tongue with white coating and thready , rolling pulse suggest consumption of qi and blood and accumulation of phlegm dampness .

Treatment

During seizure :

Method : Points of the Du , Ren and Liver Meridians are selected as the main points with reducing method to dissolve the phlegm , induce resuscitation , soothe the liver and dispel the wind .

Prescription : Shuigou ( Du 26 ) , Jiuwei ( Ren 15 ) , Jianshi ( P 5 ) , Taichong ( Liv 3 ) , Fenglong ( S . 40 ) .

Explanation : Shuigou ( Du 26 ) and Jiuwei ( Ren 15 ) are used for resuscitation . Jianshi ( P 5 ) , Fenglong ( S 40 ) and Taichong ( Liv 3 ) are used to calm the heart , ease the mind , dissolve the phlegm and dispel the wind .

After seizure :

Method : Points of the Heart , Spleen and Kidney Meridians are selected as the main points with even movement to nourish the heart , ease the mind , strengthen the spleen and reinforce the kidney .

Prescription : Xinshu ( B 15 ) , Yintang ( Extra ) , Shenmen ( H 7 ) , Sanyinjiao ( Sp 6 ) , Taixi ( K 3 ) , Yaoqi ( Extra ) . Supplementary points : Daytime seizure : Shenmai ( B 62 ) . Night seizure : Zhaohai ( K 6 ) . Phlegm stagnation : Zhongwan ( Ren 12 ) , Fenglong ( S 40 ) .

Severe deficiency of qi and blood : Guanyuan ( Ren 4 ) , Zusanii ( S36 ) .

Explanation : Xinshu ( B 15 ) , Yintang ( Extra ) and Shenmen ( H 7 ) are used for nourishing the heart and easing the mind , and Sanyinjiao ( Sp 6 ) and Taixi ( K 3 ) , for strengthening the spleen and reinforcing the kidney . Yaoqi ( Extra ) is an empirical point for epilepsy . Shenmai ( B 62 ) , a point of Yangqiao Meridian , is needled for the daytime seizure , while Zhaohai ( K6 ) , a point of Yinqiao Meridian , is needled for night seizure . Zhongwan ( Ren 12 ) and Fenglong ( S 40 ) are applied to regulate the stomach and dissolve the phlegm . Guanyuan ( Ren 4 ) and Zusanii ( S 36 ) are used to regulate and replenish qi and blood .

Remarks

The above description refers to many types of epileptic seizures including grand mal , petit mal , psychomotor and focal seizures . For secondary epilepsy , the primary disease should be treated actively .