The effects of memory loss are devastating for family members as they watch someone with whom they've celebrated so much of life just mentally disappear into a state of bewilderment, confusion, and isolation.  While Western medicine continues to research phenomena such as Alzheimer's Disease, the Chinese have long recognized memory loss as having an organic cause within the human body.

There are three main sources of all life function in Chinese medicine, shen or Mind, Qi (chee) or vital life energy, and Jing, or Essence.

"Qi" is considered to be the vital energy necessary for carrying out normal life-sustaining physical functions: eating, breathing, sleeping, working, loving, and so on.  Qi is derived from three sources: the air we breathe (Lung energy) mixed with the food we eat (Spleen/Stomach energy).  "Jing" or Essence is considered to be the congenital qi inherited from our parents, stored in the Kidney energetic aspect.  It's our genetic blueprint, and our "energy savings account".  When the body is not properly nourished with food or oxygen, and we make extraordinary demands on it, such as overworking, overthinking, overworrying, engaging in prolonged use of recreational drugs, prolonged or extreme illness, or not sleeping enough, we draw energy from our "energy savings account."  "Shen" is considered to be housed in Heart energy and is responsible for the many mental activities associated with it: thinking, memory, consciousness, insight, recognition, sleep, intelligence, wisdom, and ideas.  The Heart-Mind also integrates the interpretation of the physical functions of the five senses: taste, touch, smell, hearing, and sight.

The function of any one of these "three treasures" is interdependent on the other two.  Imbalance in any of these eventually affects the other two components, creating disruption in the life experience.  Thus, in Chinese medicine, we look toward the organic and psychological functions of the energy systems in determining the origin and treatment of memory loss.

The origin of memory loss in Chinese medicine is always considered to be a deficiency in the organic functioning of the Heart, Spleen/Stomach, or Kidney energy systems.  The differentiation of which system is most strongly affected is contingent upon such physical signs as the state of the tongue, pulse, and general appearance, supported by inquiry.  Spleen/Stomach deficiency more commonly manifests in poor short-term memory and an inability to concentrate or study.  A deficiency in Kidney energy can result in poor daily memory, sometimes accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, and weak knees and back.  A deficiency in Heart energy is usually associated with forgetting events in the past, forgetting names, absent-mindedness, and may be accompanied by such physical symptoms as palpitations, shortness of breath on mild exertion, and tiredness.

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