Objective: To summarize the medication principles of prescriptions for epilepsy from Prescription Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM). Method: Prescriptions used for epilepsy were collected from the Prescription Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine to establish the literature research database of Chinese medicine prescriptions in treating epilepsy and analyze the medication principles of prescriptions through data mining (frequency analysis

clustering analysis

correlation analysis). Result: A total of 532 prescriptions and 488 herbs were involved in the literatures about treating epilepsy. The herbs with high usage frequency in the prescriptions included Cinnabaris

Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma

Ginseng Radix Et Rhizoma

Bovis Calculus; and deficiency-nourishing drugs

sedative drugs

liver wind calming drugs

clearing-heat drugs and expectorant drugs were mainly used. Six clustering combinations can be formed based on clustering analysis of high frequency drugs. Through correlation analysis

we obtained 22 correlated rules of medicine pairs and combinations. Conclusion: The prescription regularity of epilepsy medicines is dominated by wind-dispelling and tetany-relieving

live-coursing and Qi moving

orifices-opening and spirit-arousing

blood-quickening and stasis-transforming

and tranquilizing mind by nourishing the heart. TCM for treating epilepsy shall be based on syndrome differentiation caused by such factors as liver wind

stagnated fire

accumulation of phlegm

blood stasis and Qi-movement disturbance

and give consideration to the factor of the deficiency of righteousness.