Question
The initial symptoms of epilepsy, such as convulsions caused by fever, typically appear when the body temperature exceeds 38 degrees Celsius.
Answer
The pathological changes in patients with epilepsy vary at different stages of the disease and during the attack and remission periods. Therefore, in traditional Chinese medicine, the principle of differentiating and treating based on symptoms is applied in the treatment of epilepsy. As the Ming Dynasty medical scholar Wang Kenda stated, “Since the causes of the disease are different, so are the treatments. If it is due to fright, calm the spirit; if it is due to phlegm, expel it; if it is due to fire, clear the spirit.” The causes of epilepsy include wind, phlegm, fire, blood stasis, and deficiency. In the early stages and during attacks, treatment is usually focused on relieving symptoms. As the condition progresses, during remission, both symptoms and their underlying causes must be treated, with both offensive and defensive measures implemented, and the focus of treatment should also be adjusted according to the severity and urgency of the pathogenic factors. For patients with a long course of disease or those whose constitution is weak during remission, the focus of treatment shifts to nourishing yuan and supporting health.