Epilepsy - Jian Zheng

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Contents 1 Definition 2 Causes and Pathological Mechaisms 3 Patterns 4 References 5 Articles 6 Books

Definition

A nervous disorder characterised by paroxysmal unconsciousness and convulsion. Its main symptoms are episodic mental confusion, sudden fainting and loss of consciousness, convulsion, upward turning of eyeballs, frothy saliva and rale in the throat like pig and sheep, mentally normal after regaining consciousness.

Causes and Pathological Mechaisms

• Pre-heaven factors: injury of “fetus qi” due to mother’s fright or consumption of parents’ Essence; parents have epilepsy.
• Post-heaven factors: abnormal Emotions, Exogenous Evils (after febrile diseases), brain trauma (Blood Stasis)
• Qi disorders, Blood Stasis, internal Wind, Phlegm and sometimes Fire are the focus points for pathological mechanisms.
• Most relevant Zang Fu organs are the Liver, Heart, Spleen, Kidney and Brain.

Patterns

Wind and Phlegm obstruction

• Symptoms: Prior to attack: dizziness and blurred vision, stuffy chest and lassitude. Attack: sudden fainting and loss of consciousness, convulsion, frothy saliva, turning upwards of eyeballs, screaming and incontinence. Less severe attack: transient mental confusion and loss of consciousness, no convulsion.
• Tongue: White and greasy tongue coating
• Pulse: Wiry and Slippery
• Treatment strategy: Purge liver fire, eliminate phlegm and open orifice
• Formula: Long Dan Xie Gan Tang and Di Tan Tang
• Acupoints:

Phlegm and Fire obstruction

• Symptoms: Prior to attack: bad temper, vexation, insomnia, cough up sticky phlegm, constipation, bitter and dry mouth. Attack: sudden fainting and loss of consciousness, convulsion, shouting and screaming, frothy saliva.
• Tongue: Red tongue with yellow and greasy coating
• Pulse: Wiry, Slippery and Rapid
• Treatment strategy: Eradicate wind, eliminate phlegm and opening orifice to stop epileptic attack
• Formula: Ding Jian Wan
• Acupoints:

Jian Zheng Intermission (Epileptic Intermission)

Liver Yin Deficiency and Kidney Yin Deficiency

• Symptoms: Long history of repetitive epileptic attacks, lower back and knee aches, dizziness and blurred vision, hot feeling at 5 centers and amnesia.
• Tongue: Red tongue with little coating
• Pulse: Thready and Rapid
• Treatment strategy: Nourish to tonify liver and kidney and calm yang to stop wind
• Formula: Da Ding Feng Zhu
• Acupoints:

Spleen Qi Deficiency and Stomach Qi Deficiency

• Symptoms: Long history of repetitive epileptic attacks, lack of shen, lassitude, dizziness and blurred vision, poor appetite, nausea, loose feces and a pale complexion.
• Tongue: Pale tongue
• Pulse: Soggy and Weak
• Treatment strategy: Tonify spleen and stomach to invigorate qi and resolve phlegm and wind
• Formula: Liu Ju Zi Tang
• Acupoints:

Qi Deficiency wth Blood Stasis

• Symptoms: Long history of repetitive epileptic attacks, stabbing pain in head, chest or hypochondria, mental confusion and vexation, dizziness and breathlessness and dull, purple lips.
• Tongue: Tongue dull purple or with ecchymoses
• Pulse: Wiry and Uneven
• Treatment strategy: Tonify qi, remove blood stasis and stop wind
• Formula: Huang Qi Chi Feng Tang
• Acupoints:

References

Articles

Books