Chapter 6.1: Epilepsy Treatment (Apasmara Chikitsa / अपस्मारचिकित्सा)
Management of epilepsy and seizure disorders through purification therapies, medicated ghees, nasal administration, collyrium, and fumigation. Also covers atattvabhinivesha (perverted intellect disorder) as a related condition.
Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan by Vagbhata
Chapter 10 covers epilepsy (apasmara) and the related condition of atattvabhinivesha (perverted intellect). Four types are classified by dosha, each with distinctive ictal features — vata (trembling, dark hallucinations), pitta (yellow froth, heat), kapha (white froth, cold, delayed recovery), and tridosha (incurable). The remarkable pre-ictal and post-ictal descriptions closely parallel modern seizure semiology. Treatment emphasizes channel clearance to restore heart-brain coordination through purification therapies (emesis for kapha, purgation for pitta, enema for vata), followed by medicated ghees (Panchagavya, Mahapanchagavya, Brahmi), nasal preparations, collyrium, and fumigation. Modern research on Mahapanchagavya Ghrita shows 61.3% reduction in ictal features. The chapter also describes atattvabhinivesha — a disorder of perverted intellect treated with brahmi, shankhapushpi, and medhya (intellect-promoting) rasayanas. Patient safety precautions emphasize protection from environmental hazards during seizures.