Western perspective
In the cerebral cortex we have neuronal bodies that generate homogeneous low-voltage electrical impulses. When a group of neurons (epileptogenic focus) synchronously generates a higher voltage impulse, it spreads to the rest of the cortex and causes an epileptic seizure or convulsive seizure. There are several types of epileptic seizures:
- Generalized convulsive seizures: consciousness is lost and the person falls to the ground. Saliva comes out with bubbles. On the ground there are tonic-clonic seizures, which can be brief or last up to 20 min. When the seizure ends, the person is found in a dazed state and there may be relaxation of the sphincters.
- Partial convulsive seizures: the focus acts on an area, not on the entire cortex. The symptoms depend on the affected area, they are very varied.
- Non-convulsive seizures or absences: loses consciousness but there are no convulsions on the ground. It seems like a fainting spell except that the pupil is very dilated during the seizure and frequently the person urinates.
Let us see the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine on epilepsy, it focuses mainly on convulsive seizures.
By Wind and Phlegm
Of excess type.
It is the initial phase of the disease, some of these symptoms may occur:
- Quickly loses consciousness
- Bites firmly on the jaw
- Foam from the mouth
- Convulsions
- Sounds
- Loss of sphincter control
- After the seizure feels very tired but completely recovers their functions
Many times there are prodromal symptoms that announce the imminent arrival of the attack.
Treatment
- Open the pure orifice (if there are no needles, press hard): GV-26 (also at the moment of crisis), ST-6 (great point to release the jaws)
- PC-9 (in emergency puncture at the fingertip)
- Treat through Du Mai to release the crisis SI-3 and BL-62
Epilepsy of empty type
When the disease has lasted, the intensity decreases but the frequency increases. The convulsions are not as spectacular, may lose consciousness or have simple moments of absence (intellectual degradation).
In children it can be very frequent (up to 20 in a day) and create a very strong mental retardation. Reducing the frequency of seizures helps to avoid/decrease retardation.
Can be due to deficiency of H and R or C and B
- Pulse finer, weaker
Treatment
To avoid seizures:
- Yao Qi (in sacrum), GV-1, GV-12, GV-16, GV-26 (both when there is seizure and when there is not, regularizes)
- BL-18 ,BL-23, BL-15 (memory problem)
- CV-15, CV-12, HT-7 + HT-5 (mucho retraso mental), SP-6.
- If the seizures are more nocturnal: KI-6 Yin Qiao.
- If the seizures are more daytime: BL-62 Yang Qiao.
- Many convulsions: GV-9 (retracted tendons) + GB-34