6 Recipes for Brain Fog, Memory Loss, and Dementia

6 Recipes for Brain Fog, Memory Loss, and Dementia
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Kuo-Pin Wu
11/19/2022
Updated:
3/15/2023
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, 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
  • palpitation
  • pale tongue
  • weak pulse
In TCM, this group of patients suffer from weakness in the heart and spleen. This recipe is suitable for patients who suffer from, in modern Western medicine, 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. Lotus seed strengthens  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 strengthens 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, have the congee regularly for 3-6 months. 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 teaspoon) stone calamus
  • 3 grams (1/2 teaspoon) Peoria powder
  • 3 grams (1/2 teaspoon) thinleaf milkwort root (Yuan Zhi)
  • mea.
Functions: Unblock and calm the mind; strengthens spleen and has a mild diuretic effect; suitable for brain fog and insomnia due to cloudy phlegm; alleviate forgetfulness; Insomnia; dizziness; tightness in the chest; nausea; vomiting; white and greasy tongue; and rapid pulse
In TCM, 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 an 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, have the congee regularly for 3-6 months. It is not suitable for patients with ulcer diseases or gastritis.

Food Therapy Recipe 3: Spleen and Brain Booster 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) 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 to strengthen the kidney and invigorate the brain. TCM uses it to treat symptoms such as sluggishness, memory loss, and agnosia which is a rare disorder characterized by an inability to recognize and identify objects or persons. 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.
Notes:
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 Boosting 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 TCM. 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
  • 1 pig kidney
Functions: Walnuts replenish kidney qi, nourish intestines, and improve bowel movements. 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.
The symptoms are equivalent to senile dementia, cerebrovascular dementia, and atrophy in modern Western medicine. The recipe 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.
Notes: For best results, consume the soup two to three times a week for a while.

Food Therapy Recipe 6: Essence and Memory Boosting 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)
  • 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.This tea is good for senile dementia, cerebrovascular demerit, and cerebral atrophy in Western medicine.
Functions: Prepared Rehmannia root nourishes the blood. Prepared Fleeceflower root tones the liver and kidneys, nourishes the blood. 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 milliliter (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 milliliter (1 cup) of water.
  • Boil for one hour.
  • Strain the tea and serve warm.
  • Take two cups of tea daily for one to three 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.
Kuo-pin Wu is the superintendent of Taiwan Xinyitang Heart Clinic. In 2008, he started to study traditional Chinese medicine and obtained a bachelor’s degree from China Medical University in Taiwan.
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