On the Treatment of Senile Dementia in TCM

Most of the patients with dementia are more than 50 years old, and the male more than the female. The onset dementia, generally, is acute or sub-acute. Many patients attacked after once or more times of apoplexy. The patient's condition became exacerbated gradually with the course of intermittent onset. There were many records of dementia in TCM literatures. It had realized for the etiology and clinical features of dementia, and advocated earlier prevention and treatment. If some symptoms of early stage appeared, the patients should be careful of using brain healthfully, keeping feelings relaxed, alternating work with rest and recreation, and exercising properly such as walking, learning Taiji, Qigong and so on.

The therapeutic methods:
(l) If the disease caused by deficiency of spleen and kidney, it should be treated with the method of supplementing Qi and strengthening spleen, enriching Yin and supplementing the kidney. Then modified Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) and Liu Wei Dihuang Tang (Six Ingredient Rehmannia Decoction) can be given;
　　
(2) If it caused by phlegm-heat accumulation, it could be treated with the method of clearing heat and eliminating phlegm, and modified Wen Dan Tang (Gallbladder-Warming Decoction) can be given;
　　
(3) If it caused by Yang-deficiency of spleen and kidney, the method of warming and supplementing spleen and the kidney should be applied and the modified Gui Fu Li Zhong Wan (Cinnamon Twig and Aconite Center-Rectifying Pill) could be given;

(4) If it caused by the liver depression and Qi stagnation, and internal static blood obstruction, it should be treated with the methods of promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, removing obstruction in collaterals and opening the orifice. So the modified Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang (Orifice-Freeing Blood-Quickening Decoction) could be given.

By Jiao Jian, 1Jin Liping