Traditional Chinese Medicine Parenting: Question 17 - What should be done when a child has epilepsy?

Traditional Chinese Medicine Parenting: Question 17 - What should be done when a child has epilepsy?

Answer: In Western medicine, epilepsy is recognized as a neurological disorder, while in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the condition is believed to be caused by "phlegm blockage." There are two primary causes of this condition:

1. Inhalation of Amniotic Fluid: The first cause occurs when a child, during birth, inhales amniotic fluid or other impurities, which then block the body's normal functions.

2. Excessive Body Fluid Secretion: The second cause involves the body secreting fluids at birth to protect internal organs (such as the brain) from external bacterial invasion. However, if the body produces too much of this protective fluid, it can cause blockages, leading to seizures. In many rural areas, children around the age of 8 may frequently have a runny nose (referred to as "brain leakage" in TCM), which indicates that the body no longer needs to protect the brain and is actively clearing out the "phlegm."

Western medicine does not understand this concept and uses anticonvulsant medications, which work by numbing the heart and sedating the brain. Since children have strong Yang energy, their bodies try to expel these drugs, leading to fever. Western medicine then uses antipyretics to reduce the fever, resulting in a cycle where seizures and fever alternate in recurrence.

Treatment:

• First Cause (Amniotic Fluid Inhalation): For this, the use of Li Lu Gan Cao Tang (Lithospermum and Licorice Decoction) is recommended. This requires a proper diagnosis, so parents should consult a TCM practitioner for treatment.

• Second Cause (Excessive Body Fluid Secretion): First, discontinue all Western medications. Do not be overly concerned with the child's fever, as it indicates the body is expelling toxins. If the child has a persistent fever above 39.5°C (103.1°F) for a full day, parents can help the child sweat to reduce the fever by pressing on the Kongzui acupoint. Additionally, regularly massage the child’s philtrum (the groove between the nose and upper lip) and alternate between rubbing the big toes. If the child is constipated, perform gua sha (scraping therapy) along the Ren meridian (from the base of the throat down to the lower abdomen).

  For children under one year old, you can use a technique called "Yun Sha" (gently sucking the child's skin until it turns red). Ensure the child drinks plenty of water and avoids cold foods. For breakfast, cook porridge using Chinese yam powder, and for lunch, make millet porridge and feed the child the thin layer of porridge oil that forms on top. This will help the body expel the phlegm naturally.

Kongzui acupoint