Epilepsy is defined as paroxysmal and temporary disturbance of
brain characterized by loss of consciousness and muscle tic or
abnormal sensation, emotion and behavior. In TCM, this disease
is categorized as "xian zheng" (epilepsy syndrome) and "dian
xian" (epilepsy).
Main
Points of Diagnosis
1. The histories of family, epileptic attack and
encephalopathia should be inquired carefully.
2. Clinical manifestations of the disease vary greatly. There
may be grand mal, petit mal, rolandic mal and infantile spasms.
The grand mal is characterized by sudden loss of consciousness,
general totanic spasm with apnea, cyanosis and foam in the
mouth, which usually last for 1¡ª5 minutes. The patients may
then fall into sleep and become conscious a few hours later. The
petit mal is characterized by sudden, short loss of
consciousness without aurae and muscle tic, accompanied with
interruptions of speech and action which usually persist for
2¡ª10 seconds. The patient usually comes to consciousness
rapidly.
3. Electroencephalogram examination and tomography may be useful
for the diagnosis of epilepsy.
Differentiation and Treatment of Common Syndromes
1. Epilepsy Induced by Terror
Main Symptoms and Signs: Sudden panic resulting in confusion and
loss of self-control, sometimes fright and sometimes alarm and
restlessness, crying with fear during sleep, tendency to remain
in the mother's arms, alternative flush and pallow on the face,
red tongue with white fur, taut and rapid or taut and slippery
pulse.
Therapeutic Principle: Tranquilizing the mind and resolving
phlegm to arrest epilepsy.
Recipe: Modified Polygala Bolus.
polygala root
codonopsis root
poria
grassleaved sweetflag rhizome
dragon's teeth (To be decocted prior to others)
curcuma root
arisaema with pig's bile
wile jujuba seed
arborvitae seed
cicada slough
lucid asparagus
All the above herbs are to be decocted in water for oral
administration.
2. Epilepsy due to Accumulation of Phlegm
Main Symptoms and Signs: Convulsion of extremities during a fit
of epilepsy, unconsciousness or vertigo, headache and abdominal
pain, accompanied with stridor produced by phlegm in the throat,
salivation, yellow face, thick fur of the tongue, and slippery
and rapid pulse.
Therapeutic Principle: Removing phlegm and inducing
resuscitation.
Recipe: Modified Phlegm-Removing Decoction.
pinellia tuber
tangerine peel
poria
bamboo shavings
bitter orange
gastrodia tuber
arisaema with bile
grassleaved sweetflag rhizome
scorpion
licorice root
All the above herbs are to be decocted in water for oral
administration.
3. Epilepsy due to Blood Stasis
Main Symptoms and Signs: With a history of birth injury or
trauma often manifested as paroxysmal localized headache,
occasional vomiting, paroxysmal convulsion of the whole body or
half body or local region upon attack, dark purple tongue with
ecchymoses, thready and unsmooth pulse and dark purple
superficial venule of the index finger.
Therapeutic Principle: Promoting blood circulation to remove
blood stasis, waking up the patient from unconscious ness and
arresting epilepsy.
Recipe: Modified Decoction for Activating Blood Circulation.
ligusticum root
red peony root
peach kernel
safflower
bulb and root of Chinese green onion
fresh ginger
Chinese date
red sage root
musk (Ground into powder to be taken after being infused in the
finished decoction)
All the above ingredients except musk are to be decocted in
water for oral administration.
In case of deficiency of qi, add 30 grams of astragalus root and
12 grams of codonopsis root into the above mentioned recipe.
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