Epilepsy, commonly referred to as "epileptic seizure" or "convulsion," is a chronic disease characterized by sudden and transient symptoms due to abnormal electrical discharges in the brain's neurons, leading to temporary brain dysfunction. The manifestations vary widely depending on the location of the abnormally discharging neurons in the brain. During a seizure, the typical symptom of a grand mal episode is the sudden onset and cessation of generalized tonic-clonic activity, accompanied by loss of consciousness, respiratory arrest, and incontinence, lasting for several minutes. Some patients may have auras before the seizure and no memory of the event afterward. Between seizures, patients generally do not experience discomfort. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, epilepsy falls under the category of "Xian Syndrome." The etiology and pathogenesis involve emotional imbalance, congenital factors, improper diet, overexertion, or other underlying diseases, leading to the dysfunction of the zang-fu organs, internal obstruction of phlegm, internal disorder of qi, and internal movement of wind and yang.
Wind-Phlegm Blockage Type: Before the onset, there are symptoms such as dizziness, head heaviness, chest tightness, fatigue, excessive phlegm, and a depressed mood, with a tendency to yawn and stretch. The seizures are diverse, with sudden falls, loss of consciousness, convulsions with salivation, or accompanied by screaming and incontinence, or brief loss of consciousness, staring blankly, loss of awareness, interrupted conversations, dropping objects, or mental confusion without convulsions; the tongue is red, with a white greasy coating, and the pulse is taut, smooth, and forceful.
Spleen and Heart Deficiency Type: Epilepsy has multiple recurrent episodes, with symptoms of fatigue, palpitations, shortness of breath, insomnia, and frequent dreams, pale complexion, thin physique, poor appetite, and loose stools; the tongue is pale, with a white greasy coating, and the pulse is thin, deep, and weak.
Heart and Kidney Deficiency Type: Frequent episodes of epilepsy, mental confusion, palpitations, forgetfulness, insomnia, dizziness, blurred vision, dry eyes, dull complexion, withered and dry earlobes, sore and weak waist and knees, and dry stools; the tongue is pale red, and the pulse is deep, thin, and rapid.
It is recommended to perform moxibustion once a day, targeting 2 to 3 acupoints each time, with each acupoint being treated for 30 to 40 minutes. Rotate the points treated, with a 10-day period constituting one course of treatment, and then rest for 2 to 3 days before continuing with the next course. (If time permits and there is a need, more acupoints can be treated with moxibustion. The specific duration should be adjusted according to one's own physical needs.)
1. Moxibustion is effective in conditioning epilepsy, especially during the remission period, and can prevent relapses. 2. Patients should develop good living habits, balance work and rest, maintain adequate sleep, and keep a good psychological state, regulating emotions. 3. Dietary therapy recipe: Stewed Gouji Berry with Lamb Liver. 90 grams of lamb liver, 30 grams of goji berries, 10 grams of Euryale ferox seed, and 10 grams of white chrysanthemum flowers are stewed and consumed daily, eating the liver and drinking the soup. Lamb liver has a sweet and bitter taste, nourishing the liver and enriching the blood. Goji berries have a sweet and neutral nature, nourishing yin, nourishing the liver, and improving eyesight; Euryale ferox seed disperses wind and clears heat; chrysanthemum flowers clear and calm the liver. It is used to nourish the liver and kidney, with the effect of clearing and dispersing in the process of nourishment. It is quite effective for those with epilepsy who have a long history of seizures and are deficient in liver and kidney.