Also poor memory. Tendency to forget matters. Forgetfulness occurs most commonly in vacuity patterns such as depletion of kidney essence and insufficiency of the heart and spleen but also in repletion patterns such as affect damage and phlegm turbidity harassing the upper body.
Depletion of kidney essence (肾精亏虚 shèn jīng kuī xū) observed in advancing age or after debilitating sickness causes forgetfulness with aching lumbus and weak legs, dizzy head and tinnitus, and in some cases seminal emission and premature ejaculationand is accompanied by heat signs such as vexing heat in the five hearts, red tongue, and rapid fine pulse.
Medicinal therapy: Supplement the kidney and boost essence using Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill (六味地黄丸liù wèi dì huáng wán) plus spiny jujube (Ziziphi Spinosi Semen, 酸枣仁suān zǎo rén), schisandra (Schisandrae Fructus, 五味子wǔ wèi zǐ), polygala (Polygalae Radix, 远志yuǎn zhì), and acorus (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, 石菖蒲shí chāng pú). If there is also kidney yáng vacuity, deerhorn glue (Cervi Cornus Gelatinum, 鹿角胶lù jiǎo jiāo), cistanche (Cistanches Herba, 肉苁蓉ròu cōng róng), morinda (Morindae Officinalis Radix, 巴戟天bā jǐ tiān), star anise (Anisi Stellati Fructus, 八角茴香bā jiǎo huí xiāng), and placenta (Hominis Placenta, 紫河车zǐ hé chē) may be added.
Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on back transport points and KI. Select BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), BL-15 (Heart Transport, 心俞 xīn shù), CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán), KI-4 (Large Goblet, 大钟 dà zhōng), KI-3 (Great Ravine, 太溪 tài xī), and BL-52 (Will Chamber, 志室 zhì shì); needle with supplementation.
Insufficiency of the heart and spleen (心脾不足 xīn pí bù zú) often stems from excessive thinking and is accompanied by lassitude of spirit, reduced food intake, and heart palpitation.
Medicinal therapy: Supplement the heart and spleen using Spleen-Returning Decoction (归脾汤guī pí tāng).
Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on back transport, CV, HT, and SP. Select BL-15 (Heart Transport, 心俞 xīn shù), CV-14 (Great Tower Gate, 巨阙 jù què), BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport, 膈俞 gé shù), CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), HT-5 (Connecting Lǐ, 通里 tōng lǐ), and SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo); needle with supplementation and moxa.
Affect damage (内伤七情 nèi shāng qī qíng) involves the liver. Here, forgetfulness is accompanied by susceptibility to fright and fear.
Medicinal therapy: Course the liver, resolve depression, and free the network vessels using Bupleurum Liver-Coursing Powder (柴胡疏肝散chái hú shū gān sǎn) plus curcuma (Curcumae Radix, 郁金yù jīn) and acorus (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, 石菖蒲shí chāng pú).
Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on the back transport points, HT, PC, and LR. Select BL-15 (Heart Transport, 心俞 xīn shù), BL-18 (Liver Transport, 肝俞 gān shù), PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), HT-7 (Spirit Gate, 神门 shén mén), and HT-5 (Connecting Lǐ, 通里 tōng lǐ); needle with even supplementation and drainage.
Phlegm turbidity harassing the upper body (内伤七情 nèi shāng qī qíng) causes forgetfulness with dizziness together with signs such as oppression in the chest, nausea, and vomiting.
Medicinal therapy: Downbear counterflow, transform phlegm, and open the orifices using Gallbladder-Warming Decoction (温胆汤wēn dǎn tāng) again with the addition of acorus (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, 石菖蒲shí chāng pú) and curcuma (Curcumae Radix, 郁金yù jīn).
Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on ST. Select ST-8 (Head Corner, 头维 tóu wéi), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct, 中脘 zhōng wǎn), PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), CV-17 (Chest Center, 膻中 shān zhōng), ST-41 (Ravine Divide, 解溪 jiě xī), and ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge, 丰隆 fēng lóng); needle with even supplementation and drainage.