Memory & Concentration
Poor memory and difficulty concentrating, though obviously related, are actually two distinct symptoms in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with potentially different causes.
​
Memory typically declines gradually with age, but poor memory can occur suddenly in the case of acute concussion and post-concussion syndrome. New parents, especially moms, are exhausted and often complain that their memory is just not the same as before they had kids. Certain neurodegenerative diseases, like stroke, MS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and ALS, cause the memory to decline much more severely or quickly than normal, with devastating consequences. Though the circumstances of these memory changes are all very different, they share one thing in common: they can all be improved with TCM, particularly with scalp acupuncture, and can improve substantially and suddenly in some cases.
​
It may sound too good to be true, but it's not. People whose poor memory is due to fatigue, or where the decline in memory is mild, may feel improvement after only a handful of treatments. People with neurodegenerative disease will need consistent regular treatment for many months, with follow-up treatments becoming less frequent as they improve. They will also need ongoing treatment as the disease progresses.
Common Causes of Poor Concentration
-
heavy menstruation
-
miscarriage (worse if more than one)
-
childbirth (worse if heavy blood loss)
-
having twins or close consecutive pregnancies
-
sleep deprivation (due to raising kids or working the night shift)
-
any surgery where much blood was lost
-
traumatic injury where much blood was lost
-
digestive problems (like frequent cramping or chronic diarrhea)
-
stomach ulcer
-
anorexia nervosa
-
frequent heavy nosebleeds
Poor Concentration & ADD
Many people who have difficulty concentrating incorrectly conclude that they have ADD or ADHD. They may have been told by an online questionnaire that they have ADD but their MD did not agree, or they may have been diagnosed with ADD by their MD, but the recommended medication did not help. Both situations leave people frustrated and unsure of how to get relief.
In TCM, poor concentration is a recognized symptom with a specific method of treatment, and it does not matter whether you have been officially diagnosed with ADD or not. Poor concentration is also treatable with TCM no matter if you are taking medication for ADD that is only partly effective or if the poor concentration is a side effect of a medication that you must continue taking for another condition. TCM treats the root cause of why you are having difficulty concentrating.
​
If you are taking ADD medication and it is helping, TCM treatment can further improve your ability to concentrate while you continue to take your medication. Note that TCM will not cure ADD, which is a more complex condition than just having difficulty concentrating.