Dementia — TCM Food Therapy & Dietary Approach

Senile dementia is characterized by mental and intellectual abnormalities, with sustained decline in the patient's perception, intellect, and memory.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Patterns

In TCM, this condition is differentiated into several patterns, each with a classical herbal formula:

Insufficiency of the Sea of Marrow

Treatment principle: Nourish the Liver and Kidney, Generate Essence and Nourish Marrow

Formula: Qifu Yin (Seven Blessings Drink) — from *Jingyue's Complete Works*

Spleen-Kidney Deficiency

Treatment principle: Warm and Supplement the Spleen and Kidney, Nourish the Origin and Quiet the Spirit

Formula: Huanshao Dan (Return Youth Pill)

Insufficiency of Qi and Blood

Treatment principle: Boost Qi and Fortify the Spleen, Nourish Blood and Quiet the Spirit

Formula: Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) — from *Formulas to Aid the Living*

Phlegm-Turbidity Clouding the Orifices

Treatment principle: Resolve Phlegm and Open the Orifices, Awaken the Spirit and Benefit the Intellect

Formula: Xixin Tang (Heart-Washing Decoction)

Blood Stasis Obstructing the Brain Collaterals

Treatment principle: Activate Blood and Resolve Stasis, Open the Orifices and Awaken the Spirit

Formula: Tongqiao Huoxue Tang (Orifice-Opening Blood-Invigorating Decoction) — from *Corrections of Errors in Medical Classics*

Exuberant Heart and Liver Fire

Treatment principle: Clear the Heart and Calm the Liver, Quiet the Spirit and Settle the Mind

Formula: Tianma Gouteng Yin (Gastrodia and Uncaria Decoction) — from *Zhong Yi Nei Ke Za Bing Zheng Zhi Xin Yi*

Internal Exuberance of Heat Toxin

Treatment principle: Clear Heat and Resolve Toxin, Free the Collaterals and Expel Pathogens

Formula: Huanglian Jiedu Tang (Coptis Decoction to Relieve Toxicity)

These formulas are for reference under TCM syndrome differentiation and should only be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.

Food Therapy & Diet

Dietary Therapy Recipes

Black sesame porridge: black sesame 30g, polished round-grained rice 100g. Wash both, put in a pot and simmer on low heat into porridge. Can add 1 spoonful of honey when eating. Eat morning and evening daily.
Goji porridge: goji berries 20g, millet 100g, minced lean pork 30g; wash and put in a pot to cook into porridge. Season with a little salt when eating. Can be eaten regularly.
Beef marrow porridge: beef marrow 15g, black sesame 15g, glutinous rice 100g. Wash the sesame and glutinous rice and cook with the beef marrow into porridge. Add a little white sugar when eating. Take 2 times daily.

Understanding the Condition

Senile dementia is characterized by mental and intellectual abnormalities, with sustained decline in the patient's perception, intellect, and memory. In TCM it is attributed to congenital insufficiency or, with aging, deficiency of the liver and kidney and inadequate nourishment of the brain marrow. TCM treatment therefore uses herbs and foods that nourish the liver and kidney, replenish marrow, and strengthen the brain. Suitable medicinal foods include wolfberry fruit (gouqizi), deer-horn glue, tortoise-shell glue, lotus seed, Chinese yam (shanyao), astragalus (huangqi), poria (fuling), black sesame, walnut, laver, kelp, jujube, lily bulb, mulberry fruit, and adzuki bean.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.