五痫,皆先天元气不足而成,须以河车丸、八味丸、十全汤,久服方愈。设泛行克
伐,清热化痰,复伤元气,则必不时举发,久而变危,多至不救。故其所发,必在劳役
恼怒之后,火升猝然仆倒,心虽为君王虚灵,至此有邪停滞,而灵气不能为之用矣。
可见火起本于肾邪,滞在于心邪者,即火升水泛,非外入也。治者可不以固肾为本,而
调心为佐乎?
痫者,恶病也。总因血气不敛,神志未全,有风邪所伤;有惊怪所触;有浣衣夜
露,纯雌落羽所污;有乳哺失节,停滞结癖于经络而气不通。书曰∶蓄气而作搐,结气
而成痫。其症有五∶一曰惊痫(俗名羊痫)惊痫者,心症也。其状神魂恍惚,叫号大
震,面赤目瞪,吐舌露齿,心下烦躁,其脉洪紧。二曰风痫(俗名犬痫),风痫者,肝
症也。直目上窜,手足拳挛,或作抽掣,屈指如计数,痰热壅上,唇面皆青,其脉洪
弦。三曰食痫(俗名年痫),食痫者,脾症也。胸膈胀闷,面色痿黄,眼睛直视,四肢
不收,其脉浮缓。四曰颠痫(俗名鸡痫),颠痫者,肺症也。面如枯骨,口吐涎沫,目
白反视,心神昏乱、躁狂摇动,其脉微涩。五曰尸痫(俗名猪痫),尸痫者,肾症也。
面黑而晦,振目视人口吐清沫,不动如尸,其脉则沉。故小儿如有痰热,胸膈烦闷,不
欲乳哺,昏睡不安,常作惊悸,此即发痫之渐,须为预治,此皆论颠痫之痫症也。又书
曰∶吐虚成慢惊,泻虚成慢脾,吐泻虚而成阴痫。壮热惊搐者,是为阳痫,慢惊眼必
开,慢脾眼必闭,阴痫眼必半开半合,阳痫眼必半鲜半青而窜。又曰∶仰卧属阳,覆卧
属阴,其病始发。身体即热,抽掣啼叫,面色光泽,脉浮在表者,为阳痫,病在六腑易
治。如始不发热,口不啼叫,面色黯晦,手足青冷,而不抽掣,脉沉在里者,为阴痫,
病在五脏难疗。此又论夫惊痫之痫症也。如面色变易不常,见人羞怕,此是挟邪怪耳。
然诸痫不能言者,是风伤于气,致掩其音,或血滞于心,气不通达,治者,当分阴阳寒
热,别脏腑虚实而治之。如惊痫者,阳症也。此因邪气在心,血滞于窍,积惊成痫,
治宜先为通行心经,调平心血,顺气化痰。风痫者,阳症也。此或汗出脱衣,风乘虚
入,故抽掣等候,治宜先为散风。食痫者,亦阳症也。是因恣餐无度,或乳哺失调,停
滞宿秽,结成乳癖于经络,脾胃损伤,不能消化五谷,必大便酸臭,先寒后热是也。治
先为之消食养脾,次各以定痫等剂主之。如图治不早,必传五脏而为诸痫。若肺痫,肾
痫,又属阴症,尤非易治,更不可投以寒剂。如眉间青黑者,吐痢不止者,胸陷声绝
者,心下胀起者,并皆不治。其痫初发,须观其耳后高骨,必现青纹,纷纷如线,急与
抓破出血,令儿啼叫数声,使得气通为妙。然四肢柔软,发而时醒者,谓之痫。如四肢
强硬,终日不醒,此又曰痉 ,而非痫也。
The five types of epilepsy (Xian Bing, a pediatric convulsive disorder) are all caused by a deficiency of congenital primordial Qi. They must be treated with Heche Wan (Placenta Pill), Bawei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill), and Shiquan Tang (Ten-Ingredient Decoction) taken over a long period to achieve a cure. If indiscriminate use of purgative or attacking methods is employed, along with clearing heat and resolving phlegm, the primordial Qi will be further damaged. Consequently, the condition will recur intermittently, eventually becoming critical and often incurable. Therefore, these episodes invariably occur after physical exertion or anger, when Fire rises and causes sudden collapse. Although the Heart is the sovereign organ and inherently spiritual, at this moment pathogenic factors stagnate there, rendering its spiritual function ineffective. It can be seen that the rising Fire originates from Kidney pathology, while the stagnation lies in Heart pathology; this represents Fire rising and Water flooding, not an external invasion. Should practitioners not prioritize securing the Kidneys as the root, while assisting with regulating the Heart?
Epilepsy is a malignant disease. It generally results from the failure of Blood and Qi to consolidate, incomplete development of Shen (Spirit) and Zhi (Will), and injury by Wind pathogens; it may also be triggered by fright or strange objects; contaminated by environmental filth such as night dew during laundry or feathers from female-only birds; or caused by irregular breastfeeding leading to stagnation and mass formation in the meridians, obstructing Qi flow. Medical texts state: "Accumulated Qi induces spasms; knotted Qi forms epilepsy." There are five types of symptoms:
1. Jing Xian (Fright Epilepsy, commonly known as Sheep Epilepsy): This is a Heart disorder. Symptoms include trance-like states, loud screaming, red face, staring eyes, protruding tongue, bared teeth, subcardiac irritability, and a洪 (Surging) and Jin (Tight) pulse.
2. Feng Xian (Wind Epilepsy, commonly known as Dog Epilepsy): This is a Liver disorder. Symptoms include eyes rolling upward, clenched fists and limbs, spasms, fingers flexing as if counting, upper jiao congestion of Phlegm-Heat, cyanosis of lips and face, and a洪 (Surging) and Xian (Wiry) pulse.
3. Shi Xian (Food Epilepsy, commonly known as Year Epilepsy): This is a Spleen disorder. Symptoms include chest and diaphragmatic distension and stuffiness, sallow complexion, fixed gaze, flaccid limbs, and a Fu (Floating) and Huan (Slack) pulse.
4. Dian Xian (Manic Epilepsy, commonly known as Chicken Epilepsy): This is a Lung disorder. Symptoms include a corpse-like pale face, foaming at the mouth, upward-turned whites of the eyes, mental confusion, mania, and agitation, with a Wei (Fine) and Se (Choppy) pulse.
5. Shi Xian (Corpse Epilepsy, commonly known as Pig Epilepsy): This is a Kidney disorder. Symptoms include a dark and dull complexion, staring eyes, spitting clear foam, immobility resembling a corpse, and a Chen (Deep) pulse.
Thus, if infants exhibit Phlegm-Heat, chest discomfort, refusal to nurse, restless sleep, and frequent palpitations, these are precursors to epilepsy and require preemptive treatment. This section discusses the symptoms of Dian Xian. Further texts state: Vomiting-induced deficiency leads to Slow Convulsion (Man Jing); diarrhea-induced deficiency leads to Slow Spleen Disease (Man Pi); vomiting and diarrhea-induced deficiency leads to Yin Epilepsy (Yin Xian). High fever with convulsions is Yang Epilepsy (Yang Xian). In Slow Convulsion, eyes are open; in Slow Spleen Disease, eyes are closed; in Yin Epilepsy, eyes are half-open and half-closed; in Yang Epilepsy, eyes appear half-bright and half-blue with wandering eyeballs. Additionally: Supine position indicates Yang; prone position indicates Yin, marking the onset of illness. Fever, spasms, crying, lustrous complexion, and superficial pulses indicate Yang Epilepsy, involving the Six Fu Organs, which is easier to treat. Afebrile onset, no crying, dull complexion, cold blue extremities, absence of spasms, and deep internal pulses indicate Yin Epilepsy, involving the Five Zang Organs, which is difficult to treat. This section discusses Jing Xian. Variable facial expressions and fear of people indicate attachment to pathogenic and bizarre factors. Patients unable to speak due to any type of epilepsy suffer from Wind injuring Qi, obscuring voice, or Blood stagnation in the Heart blocking Qi transmission. Practitioners must differentiate Yin/Yang and Cold/Heat, and assess Zang/Fu excess/deficiency.
Jing Xian is a Yang syndrome caused by pathogenic factors in the Heart and Blood stagnation in orifices, accumulating Fright into Epilepsy. Treatment should first unblock the Heart Meridian, regulate Heart Blood, smooth Qi, and resolve Phlegm.
Feng Xian is a Yang syndrome, often caused by Wind entering through voids after sweating and undressing, leading to spasms. Treatment should first disperse Wind.
Shi Xian is also a Yang syndrome, caused by excessive eating or irregular feeding, leading to stagnation of retained waste, formation of Milk Masses in meridians, Spleen/Stomach damage, inability to digest grains, sour-smelling stool, initial chills followed by fever. Treatment should first digest food and nourish the Spleen, then administer anti-epileptic formulas. Delayed treatment allows transmission to the Five Zang Organs forming various epilepsies. Lung and Kidney epilepsies are Yin syndromes, harder to treat, and contraindicate cold-natured herbs. Signs of incurability include bluish-black glabella, intractable vomiting/diarrhea, sunken chest with absent voice, and subcardiac distension.
At the onset of epilepsy, observe the high bone behind the ear for blue veins resembling threads. Prick them to bleed immediately and induce crying to facilitate Qi flow. If limbs remain soft and consciousness returns intermittently, it is Epilepsy. If limbs are rigid and consciousness is lost for days, it is Spasm (Jing Bing), not Epilepsy.