Seizures result from paroxysmal and excessive electrical neuronal discharges in the brain that cause a variety of clinical manifestations. The term epilepsy is usually restricted to those cases with a tendency for recurrent seizures. The identification of a seizure as a symptom and not a disease diagnosis is an important distinction. Seizures are the clinical manifestation of epilepsy; the challenge is to identify the disease that explains the symptom. Often the underlying disease is epilepsy, but at other times it may be a nonepileptic disorder that causes symptoms that resemble an epileptic seizure.
Five therapeutic methods for epilepsy in TCM
Obstruction of Wind-phlegm
Therapeutic Methods: To eliminate phlegm, suppress wind, cause resuscitation and arrest convulsion.
Excessive Internal Phlegm-fire
Therapeutic Methods: To purge liver fire, resolve phlegm and cause resuscitation.
Internal Blockage by Blood Stasis
Therapeutic Methods: To promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis, suppress wind and activate collaterals.
Deficiency of the Heart and Kidney
Therapeutic Methods: To nourish the heart and kidney, invigorate the spleen and resolve phlegm.
Deficiency of Liver Yin and Kidney Yin
Therapeutic Methods: To nourish the liver and kidney, and suppress hyperactive yang to tranquilize the mind.