6 Recipes for Brain Fog, Memory Loss, and Dementia

A guide (pdf) published by the Memory and Aging Center of the Weill Institute for Neuroscience at the University of California San Francisco says that short-term recall and the formation of new memories are some of the functions impacted during the early stage of dementia.

Dementia is a general term for impairment of memory or cognitive skills and daily functioning, such as communicating, walking, and navigating.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, an insufficient blood supply to the brain results in degeneration and forgetfulness. Cerebral fluid stasis, chronic inflammation, and amyloidosis can deteriorate brain functions and one’s ability to remember.

Dr. Wu Kuo-Pin recommends the following recipes to relieve the above symptoms.

Food Therapy Recipe #1

Congee with Thinleaf milkwort root and lotus

Ingredients: 30 grams (2 tablespoons) thinleaf milkwort root, 15 grams (1 tablespoon) lotus seeds, 50 grams (3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon) grain rice

Functions: replenishing, raising, and boosting the heart and mind.

This recipe is suitable for anyone with the following:

– forgetfulness due to deficiency in the heart and spleen
– insomnia
– mental exhaustion
– palpitations
– pale tongue
– weak pulse

In traditional Chinese medicine, this group of patients suffers from weakness in the heart and spleen. In modern Western medicine, this recipe is suitable for patients who suffer from brain fog as the primary symptom due to neurasthenia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or menopause.

Directions:
Soak thinleaf milkwort root to remove the skin and let it dry.
Grind thinleaf milkwort root and lotus seeds into a fine powder and set aside.
Add water to rice and boil into a porridge consistency.
Add the ground thinleaf milkwort root and lotus seeds.
Heat until it starts boiling.
Serve.

Formula purpose: Thinleaf milkwort root calms the heart, settles nerves, removes phlegm, and clears and calms the mind. The Lotus seed boosts kidneys, improves sleep, nourishes the heart, and strengthens the spleen. Grain rice replenishes and strengthens the spleen and stomach. The combination of ingredients replenishes the body and boosts the heart and mind.

Notes:
Thinleaf milkwort root has a bitter taste and should not be cooked for very long.
To achieve the best results, it is recommended to consume the congee regularly for a period of time.
It is not suitable for patients with ulcer diseases or gastritis.

Food Therapy Recipe #2

Calamus, Thinleaf milkwort root,  and Poria Tea

Ingredients: 3 grams (1/2 tsp) stone calamus, 3 grams (1/2 tsp) Peoria powder, 3 grams (1/2 tsp) thinleaf milkwort root (Yuan Zhi), and meat.

Functions:
Unblock and calm the mind; strengthens spleen and promotes diuresis; suitable for brain fog and insomnia due to cloudy phlegm; forgetfulness; Insomnia; dizziness; tightness in the chest; nausea; vomiting; white and greasy tongue; and rapid pulse

In traditional Chinese medicine, patients in this category usually have phlegm turbidity. In modern Western medicine, these patients have insomnia primarily caused by neurasthenia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or perimenopause or menopause.

Directions:
Mix equal parts of powders of calamus, poria, and thinleaf milkwort root.
Bring water to a boil and add the powders.
Mix well and sieve the tea if needed.
Drink twice a day on an empty stomach.

Formula purpose: Calamus clears the mind, removes dampness, and soothes stomach upset. Poria facilitates water filtration and diuresis, strengthens the spleen, calms the mind, removes phlegm, and clears the mind.

Notes:
Thinleaf milkwort root has a bitter taste and should not be cooked for too long.
To achieve the best results, it is recommended to consume the congee regularly for a period of time.
It is not suitable for patients with ulcer diseases or gastritis

Food Therapy Recipe #3

Spleen and Brain Boost Tea

Ingredients: 15 grams (1 tablespoon) Dangshen (Codonopsis Radix), 15 grams (1 tablespoon) Dried Chinese Yam, 15 grams (1 tablespoon) Yellow Essence (Rhizoma Polygonati), 10 grams (2 teaspoons) Yi Zhi Ren (Alpinia Oxyphylla seeds), and 10 grams (2 teaspoons) Calamus.

Functions: Dangshen (Codonopsis Radix) nourishes blood and is used as the main ingredient to strengthen the spleen and replenish blood. Dried Chinese yam is good for the spleen, lungs, and kidneys. Yellow Essence (Rhizoma Polygonati) nourishes the kidneys and lungs and replenishes the spleen. Yi Zhi Ren warms the kidneys and spleen and reduces saliva production. Calamus reduces phlegm and invigorates the brain.

Formula Purpose:
This tea is formulated for spleen and kidney deficiency and to invigorate the brain. Traditional Chinese medicine uses it to treat symptoms such as sluggishness, memory loss, and agnosia. These patients may also have other symptoms, such as muscle atrophy, shortness of breath, increased saliva production, pale tongue, or weak pulse.

Directions:
Make two separate portions.

First tea: Add the ingredients to a pot of water and boil for 40 minutes.
Sieve the tea into a cup.

Second tea: Add water to the sieved ingredients from preparing the first tea and boil for another 40 minutes.
Sieve and serve.

Take twice daily for 1 to 3 months.

Note:
For patients who feel restless at night, add 15 grams (1 tablespoon) longan, 15 grams (1 tablespoon) sour jujube, and 15 grams (1 tablespoon) date.

Food Therapy Recipe #4

Qi and Blood Boost Tea

Ingredients: American ginseng, red arrow or gastrodia (potato orchids), and red sage.

Functions: promotes blood circulation. This tea is helpful for brain fog or dementia, according to traditional Chinese medicine. Symptoms include fatigue, difficulty speaking, forgetfulness, tongue with dark color, or petechia. In modern Western medicine, it is used for cerebrovascular dementia, cerebral atrophy, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

Formula purpose:
American ginseng replenishes and strengthens the body, and calms the mind. Gastrodia (Rhizoma gastrodiae/Tianma) calms and rebalances the liver Qi (vital body energy). Red Sage revitalizes blood, cools the blood, and heals carbuncles.

Directions:
Grind the three ingredients into a powder and put them in a jar.
Put 3 grams (1/2 teaspoon) in a cup and add boiling water.
Drink it three times per day.

Food Therapy Recipe #5

Pig Kidney Soup With Walnut and Black Beans

Ingredients: 60 grams (4 tablespoons) of plain walnut, 90 grams (6 tablespoons) of black beans, and one pig kidney.

Functions: Walnuts replenish kidney Qi, nourish intestines, and improve bowel movement. Black beans strengthen the kidneys. Pig kidney strengthens the kidneys.

Formula purpose:
Traditionally, this formula is made for kidney deficiency and dementia. Other symptoms include dizziness, tinnitus, memory loss and inability to count, sleepiness, sluggishness, back pain and soreness in the lower extremities, difficulty walking, pale tongue, and weak pulse.

They are equivalent to senile dementia, cerebrovascular dementia, and atrophy in modern Western medicine. It is also beneficial for senile dementia patients with constipation.

Directions:
Clean the kidney thoroughly and cut it into slices.
Put all ingredients into a pot of water. Bring to a boil, turn the heat to low, and simmer for an hour.
Season the soup to taste before serving.

Note:
For best results, consume the soup 2 to 3 times a week for a while.

Food Therapy Recipe #6

Essence and Memory Boost Tea

Ingredients: 30 grams (2 tablespoons) prepared Rehmannia root (Shu Di Huang), 15 grams (1 tablespoon) prepared Fleeceflower root, 15 grams (1 tablespoon) Yurong (Cistanches Herba), and 15 grams (1 tablespoon) Goji berry.

Formula purpose:
Traditionally this formula is made for dementia. Other symptoms include prematurely gray hair, early tooth decay, memory loss, dizziness, tinnitus, soreness, and weakness in the lower extremities.

In modern Western medicine, this tea is good for senile dementia, cerebrovascular demerit, and cerebral atrophy.

Functions: Prepared Rehmannia Root nourishes the blood. Prepared Fleeceflower root tones the liver and kidneys, boosts the blood, and is cooling. Yurong nourishes the kidneys. Goji berry nourishes the kidneys and liver, replenishes blood, and boosts visual clarity.

This tea is an essential formula for replenishing and balancing the kidneys, liver, and healing cerebral deficiency

Directions:
Combine the ingredients and add 250 mL (1 cup) of water.
Boil for one hour.
Strain the tea and serve warm.
Use the previously sieved ingredients to make a second cup by adding 250 mL (1 cup) of water.
Boil for one hour.
Strain the tea and serve warm.
Take 2 cups of tea daily for 1 to 3 months to boost memory.

Notes:
Do not confuse Raw Fleeceflower root with Prepared Fleeceflower root (Multiflower Knotweed). Raw Fleeceflower root moistens the intestines and opens the bowels, while Prepared Fleeceflower root nourishes the kidneys.  Only Prepared Fleeceflower root is used in this tea.

For best results, take the tea consistently for a while as recommended. It is unsuitable for spleen or stomach Qi deficiency or bowel movement issues.

Please consult a local TCM doctor if you need more advice.

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