Referred to as `Apasmara‘ in Ayurveda, epilepsy, more popularly known as the falling disease, is a serious disorder of the central nervous system that affects both children and adults alike. Afflicting infants and early teenagers the most, it is categorised into two main types – Petit Mal & Grand Mal. Depending on the dominance of the three doshas and their combined effect it can come in four types – a fifth type, called Yoshapasmara, denotes hysteria which is more prevalent among women.
Root Causes
- Petit Mal results from a strained nervous condition.
- Grand Mal is due to hereditary influences, serious shock or injury to brain or nervous system and diseases like meningitis and typhoid.
- Allergic reaction to certain food substances.
- Circulatory disorders.
- Chronic alcoholism.
- Lead poisoning.
- Use of cocaine.
- Mental conflict.
- Deficient mineral assimilation.
Symptoms
- In case of petit mal, there is momentary loss of consciousness with no convulsions except a slight rigidity. In this case, the attack stops within a few seconds.
- Grand mal, on the other hand, has a dramatic effect. Violent convulsions accompanied by a sudden loss of consciousness, twitching of the muscles, biting of the tongue, distorted fixation of limbs, rotation of the head and deviation of the eyes continues for much longer.
Useful Herbs
- Brahmi (Bacopa monniera)
- Shankha Pushpi (Evolvulus alsinoides)
- Malkagni (Celastrus paniculatus)
- Jatamansi (Nardastachys jatamansi)
Ayurvedic Supplements
- Brahmi Bati(S.M.Yu)
- Sarswat Churna
- Brahmi Ghrita