Forgetfulness according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Four herbal formulas that might help with forgetfulness
Gui Pi Tang
Source date: 1529 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood. Tonifies Heart and Spleen.
Why might Gui Pi Tang help with forgetfulness?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heart and Spleen Deficiency' of which forgetfulness is a symptom.
Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang
Source date: 1174 AD
Number of ingredients: 14 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi and Blood. Nourishes the Heart. Calms the spirit.
Why might Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang help with forgetfulness?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heart and Spleen Qi and Blood Deficiency' of which forgetfulness is a symptom.
Sang Piao Xiao San
Source date: 1116 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Regulates and tonifies the Heart and Kidneys. Stabilizes the Essence. Stops leakage.
Why might Sang Piao Xiao San help with forgetfulness?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Bladder Deficiency with Cold' of which forgetfulness is a symptom.
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Source date: 16th century
Number of ingredients: 14 herbs
Key actions: Nutritive tonic: Nourishes Yin, Blood and Vital Essence of the Heart and Kidney. Clears away pathogenic Heat, clears Deficient Heat. Sedative.
Why might Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan help with forgetfulness?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yin and Blood Deficiency' of which forgetfulness is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat forgetfulness
Why might Sweetflag Rhizome (Shi Chang Pu) help with forgetfulness?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat forgetfulness and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat forgetfulness as a symptom (such as Sang Piao Xiao San for instance).
Sweetflag Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Stomach, the Heart and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Opens the Orifices, awakens the Mind (Shen) and expels Wind-Damp Phlegm. Harmonizes the Earth element and dispels Damp. Applied internally or externally for Wind-Cold-Damp painful obstruction.
Why might Chinese Senega Root (Yuan Zhi) help with forgetfulness?
Because Chinese Senega Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat forgetfulness as a symptom, like Sang Piao Xiao San or Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan for instance.
Chinese Senega Roots is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Calms the spirit. Expels Phlegm from the Heart orifices. Expels Phlegm from the Lungs. Diminishes abscesses.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with forgetfulness?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat forgetfulness as a symptom, like Gui Pi Tang or Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Schisandra Berry (Wu Wei Zi) help with forgetfulness?
Because Schisandra Berry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat forgetfulness as a symptom, like Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang or Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan for instance.
Schisandra Berries is a Warm herb that tastes Sour and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Kidneys and preserves the Essence. Astringes the Lung Qi and stops coughing. Retains Bodily Fluids and encourages their production. Tonifies the Heart and calms the spirit (Shen).
Why might Jujube Seed (Suan Zao Ren) help with forgetfulness?
Because Jujube Seed is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat forgetfulness as a symptom, like Gui Pi Tang or Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan for instance.
Jujube Seeds is a Neutral herb that tastes Sour and Sweet. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Nourishes the Heart Yin and calms the spirit. Contains Fluid leakage.
Other symptoms often associated with forgetfulness
Palpitations Fatigue Anxiety Insomnia Seizures Poor appetite Convulsions in children Amenorrhea Blood in urine Coronary artery disease