Epilepsy is a condition in which a person has recurrent seizures. A seizure is defined as an abnormal, disorderly discharging of the brain's nerve cells, resulting in a temporary disturbance of motor, sensory, or mental function. There are many types of seizures, depending primarily on what part of the brain is involved. The term epilepsy says nothing about the type of seizure or cause of the seizure, only that the seizures happen again and again. A stricter definition of the term requires that the seizures have no known underlying cause. This may also be called primary or idiopathic epilepsy.

Essentials for TCM Diagnosis 
(1) Acute onset with dizziness, chest distress and sighing are the premonitory symptoms. In typical cases, the patient may fall on the ground suddenly, lose consciousness, stare upwards, spit foamy saliva, scream with strange sound and convulse. The patient may regain consciousness shortly after the attack and behaves like ordinary people, feeling very tired. In other cases, the patient may only stop activities suddenly, drop things unexpectedly, or lower the head suddenly then raise it soon afterwards, or stare up for a few seconds to several minutes. The patient knows nothing of what has happened after the attack.

(2) Many patients, especially those whose first attack began in childhood, may have congenital defect or family history of epilepsy. The attack is often induced by fright, strain, emotional upsets, improper or contaminated diet, head trauma, or indulgence in sexual relations.

(3) Electroencephalograph may show epileptic waves (spike, sharp, or spike-slow wave). Craniocerebral CT and MRI are helpful to the diagnosis.