Introduction to TCM treatment methods for epilepsy

Epilepsy is more effectively treated through traditional Chinese medicine, because it can regulate and improve from the inside out, and to a certain extent reduces the need for side effects. For example, the common Pueraria lobata and Curcuma aromatica are relatively effective in treating epilepsy.

1. Pueraria root and Curcuma zedoaria treat epilepsy

【Functions and indications】Mainly used to treat epilepsy caused by emotional stimulation, sequelae of meningitis, and congenital heredity.

[Ingredients of the folk prescription] 30 grams each of Pueraria lobata, Curcuma aromatica, Costus root, Cyperus rotundus, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Arisaema consanguineum, 15 grams each of white pepper, alum, Gleditsia sinensis seed (fried and ground), and cinnabar.

[Usage and Dosage] Grind the above medicines into powder and mix well into powder. Bottle it for later use. For children under 7 years old, take 1.5 grams each time; for children over 7 years old, take 3 grams each time; for children over 16 years old, take 7 grams each time, once in the morning and once in the evening. One course of treatment is 30 days, and generally two courses are sufficient. After completing one course of treatment, stop taking the medicine for 10 days before starting the second course of treatment.

[Dos and Don’ts] Do not use white pepper for children under 7 years old. During the medication period, avoid emotional stimulation, strong tea, tobacco, alcohol, coffee, white radish, eggplant, and raw, cold and cool foods.

2. Agarwood Shenqu Cake for Epilepsy

【Functions and indications】Mainly used to treat epilepsy.

[Ingredients of the folk remedy] 9 grams each of the best agarwood, arisaema, pumice, sinomenine, and myrrh, 60 grams of Shenqu, 15 grams of Pinellia ternata, and 22.5 grams each of black and white agarwood (fried raw).

[Usage and Dosage] Grind the above medicines into fine powder, add 500 grams of fine white flour, add appropriate amount of water, knead into dough, and bake into 10 burnt cakes (you can add a small amount of sugar or sesame seeds). Adults can take 1 on an empty stomach every morning. Reduce the dosage for children.

[Case Verification] The above medicine was used to treat 16 patients with epilepsy, among whom 11 were cured and 3 were ineffective. Two cases were not followed up. Take at least 1 dose and at most 3 doses. Among the 16 cases, a few patients experienced nausea, anorexia or loose stools after taking 3 to 5 cakes, and the symptoms disappeared after reducing the dosage.

3. Ginseng and antelope horn for epilepsy

【Functions and indications】Calms the liver, clears phlegm, and invigorates the spleen. Mainly used to treat epilepsy.

[Ingredients of the folk remedy] 5 grams of ginseng, 1 gram of antelope horn (all packed), 15 grams each of bupleurum, curcuma, Uncaria rhynchophylla, radix atractylodes, pinellia, rhizoma yunzhi, white peony root, and atractylodes macrocephala, 10 grams each of salvia miltiorrhiza, calamus, arisaema, gastrodia elata, and angelica.

[Usage and Dosage] Take 1 dose per day, decoct in water to obtain 300 ml of liquid, take orally in 3 times, 2 months as a course of treatment.

[Additions and subtractions] For epilepsy due to convulsions, add amber, scorpion, and cinnabar; for pain caused by eating, add Atractylodes macrocephala, charred hawthorn, and Toosendan fruit; for pain caused by phlegm, add Arisaema consanguineum and Pinellia ternata; for epilepsy due to wind, increase the dosage of Uncaria rhynchophylla, and add Gastrodia elata and Bombyx batryticatus.

[Case Verification] This prescription was used to treat 62 patients, of whom 48 were clinically cured, 10 were significantly effective, 3 were effective, and 1 was ineffective, with an overall effective rate of 98.4%.