It is characterized by convulsive seizure. With each convulsive attach or seizure, patient loses some part of memory, hence it is called “Apasmara” in Ayurveda.
When vitiated prana and udana with Pitta and Kapha enter the nervous system and mind, they vitiate rajas and tamas and produce this disorder. It can be due to an inherited constitutional tendency. It can be mainly due to two main causes: Intracranial and Extracranial.
Intracranial causes include increased intracranial pressure due to tumor, hydrocephalous, or sub arachnoid hemorrhage, other inflammatory conditions of brain and meninges, trauma, vascular abnormalities, and degenerative disorders.
Extracranial causes include toxins, anoxia, endogenous causes, metabolic and endocrine disorders.
It has been divided into Vata, Pitta, and Kapha and due to vitiation of all doshas. During the attack patient becomes unconscious, with jerky movements of the arms and legs., convulsions, grinding of teeth, moaning, crying, and hearing of nonexistent things. He may pass urine or stool and there may be froth at the mouth.
In Vata type, frequent loss of consciousness and very quick regaining the same is main symptom. There may be stiffness, bulging of the eyes, weeping, and visualizing nonexistent things.
In Pitta type, during the attack, face, eyes, nails and skin may become yellowish, greenish or blood stained. Sensation of burning after regaining consciousness is present many times.
Kapha type – Loss of consciousness, and slow regaining after a long time is present. The patient falls to the ground heavily and there is profuse salivation at the mouth with froth. All these symptoms and attacks occur during full moon day and no moon day.
During the attack, nasal instillation of very pungent herbal powder helps in regaining consciousness. This is known as “pradhamana nasya.” Herbs like acorus calamus or acasia concina are used in powder form for this purpose. Similarly collyrium with substances that will irritate eyes is also used for the same purpose should be put into eyes. Proper care must be taken that the patient does not bite or swallow his tongue during this period.
After the attack is over, an attempt should be made to find out its cause. Treat the main cause. If it is not found, treatment should be directed for increasing sattva and palliation of vitiated dosha.
Vata type – Herbs of choice are, acorus calamus, gotu kola, convolvul pluricans, celastrus paniculatus. All these are medhya rasayana herbs to improve the memory.
Pitta and kapha type – For removing Kapha, nasal instillation of old medicated ghee prepared by vacha oe brahmi is indicated. The older the ghee, it is more useful in this disease. Old ghee has penetrating qualities, hence its action produces severe irritation. This removes Kapha (in the form of mucous secretions) from the sinuses, head and neck region. Therefore it is advisable that patient should be informed appropriately about these effects before carrying out this procedure.
