Epilepsy

A disease characterized by brief episodes (fits) of temporary loss of spirit, white complexion, fixity of the eyes, or sudden clouding collapse, foaming at the mouth, upward-staring eyes, clenched jaw, and convulsions of the limbs, and in some cases, squealing like a goat or pig. After an episode, the patient experiences fatigue and then returns to normal. Epilepsy is attributed to fear and fright or emotional imbalance, dietary intemperance, causing taxation damage to the liver, spleen, and kidney channels and causing wind-phlegm to be carried upward by qì. The congenital aspect of the disease was understood early since in The Inner Classic (内经 nèi jīng) it is also referred to as fetal disease tāi bìng.

Medicinal therapy: Epilepsy is usually a repletion pattern, but repeated episodes can lead to vacuity of right. Treatment at the time of episodes takes the form of sweeping phlegm and diffusing the orifices, extinguishing wind and settling epilepsy, using formulas such as Fit-Settling Pill (定痫丸 dìng xián wán). Treatment between episode (remission period) takes the form of supplementing the spleen and kidney, using Four Gentlemen Decoction (四君子汤 sì jūn zǐ tāng), Major Origin-Supplementing Brew (大补元煎 dà bǔ yuán jiān), or Placenta Pill (河车丸 hé chē wán).

Acumoxatherapy: In fits, base treatment mainly on CV, GV, LR, PC, and SP. Select GV-26 (Water Trough, 水沟 shuǐ gōu), KI-1 (Gushing Spring, 湧泉 yǒng quán), GV-16 (Wind Mansion, 风府 fēng fǔ), CV-15 (Turtledove Tail, 鸠尾 jiū wěi), PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge, 丰隆 fēng lóng), SI-3 (Back Ravine, 后溪 hòu xī), and BL-62 (Extending Vessel, 申脉 shēn mài); needle with drainage. Between fits, base treatment mainly on HT, SP, ST, and LR. Select HT-7 (Spirit Gate, 神门 shén mén), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge, 丰隆 fēng lóng), Alert Spirit Quartet (四神聪 sì shén cōng), GV-8 (Sinew Contraction, 筋缩 jīn suō), GB-34 (Yáng Mound Spring, 阳陵泉 yáng líng quán), BL-62 (Extending Vessel, 申脉 shēn mài), KI-6 (Shining Sea, 照海 zhào hǎi), and GV-20 (Hundred Convergences, 百会 bǎi huì); needle with supplementation and moxa if necessary or use catgut embedding.