Memory Loss “Dietary Regimen & Treatment”

As the term connotes, ‘Memory Loss‘ means the person concerned fails to remember what was previously learned. It may manifest in as simple a situation when the person finds it absolutely difficult to remember even the name of a close kin. The complicacy of memory loss can assume various forms: For instance, the person might have a faint recollection that he did know the name of the person who physically appears quite familiar to him. However at the present juncture, he would find it absolutely difficult to recollect the person’s name though he can have a dominant feeling that the person is quite close to him.

It may also cause severe mental tension in the patient. He/she would be ransacking his/her brain trying to solve the puzzle of failing to remember the name of the kin.

Above all, the patient would blatantly demonstrate that he actually learned the name of the person in the natural process (obviously because either the person is his close relative or his acquaintance.

Thus, retention is inactive. This is despite the fact that the patient’s remembering faculty is quite active. Mentionably, both these faculties are domains of the memory.

Ayurvedic conception of memory loss

Ayurveda does not consider any phenomenon as exclusively mental or physical. In fact, according to Ayurvedic principles, the mind and the body are closely connected. On the other hand, Ayurveda deems as either the body or the mind as the predominating factor while the other acts as the secondary factor in a particular situation.

What is a good memory?

A good memory connotes good or effective physical and mental factors or acumen. Hence, a patient suffering from memory loss requires the treatment of both his/her affected mental as well as the physical faculties.

Dietary Regimen

The patient should be regularly tendered Amalaki in the raw form besides as pickles and also muraba. Such persons must also have raw almond oil and almond. Besides, the patient should have sweet and unctuous (oily) food items. Thus, the person can have ghee prepared from cow’s milk as well as cow’s milk.

What not to eat

Don’t give the person any food items which possess spicy, pungent, bitter, astringent and sour tastes.

Other important points

The patient will recover fast only when he/she experiences mental tranquillity.

Practise the recommended Yogic practices (our website has the details) particularly the Surya Pranayamas and the meditation postures.

Keep the patient away from all forms of mental and physical strain.

Ayurvedic Treatments

Ayurveda aims at a two-pronged treatment. It first addresses the external causes that lead to mental and physical stress. Here, the close cooperation of the patient’s kin is mandatory. The patient should be well attended, psychologically.

Once these are successfully dealt with, begins the strictly Ayurvedic medicated and therapeutic processes.

There are the following Ayurvedic medications: Vacha (including Sarasvata churna which contain Vacha and Brahmi); and Brahmighrita.

In fact several Ayurvedic medications prescribed for improving memory contain Vacha and Brahmi as the primary ingredients.

Besides, the following two medications prepared from the herbs – Matsyakshi and Mandukaparni – aid the remembering and the learning processes.

Vacha

The compound medication — Vacha — is prepared with Sarasvata churna which contain Vacha as well as Brahmi. The primary ingredient is of course extracted from the rhizome (root) of the Vacha plant. It grows in marshy lands.

The dose: One teaspoonful should be mixed with either ghee prepared form cow’s milk or natural honey. This concoction needs to be given to the patient twice daily.

Brahmi

Brahmi is a drug that has a dual therapeutic property. It cures and corrects the patient’s loss memory as well as his/her learning and remembering capabilities. The fatty soluble portions of these herbs are ideal for boosting memory.

The herb — Brahmi — is of two types: Matsyakshi and Mandukaparni. Actually, the juices of these herbs are used for the preparation of the medications. Their tastes are astringent and bitter. Hence, honey should be added to the medication to make it tastier.

The dose: The patient should be given 30 ml of this medication twice daily. But, it should be taken only on an empty stomach.

Brahmighrita

Brahmighrita is a compound preparation. The main ingredients are Brahmi, other drugs and ghee prepared from cow’s milk. It is actually a medicated ghee. This medication is most ideal for patients who suffer from emaciation following memory loss.

Preparation mode: Add a teaspoonful of Brahmighrita to a cup of warm milk. Mix half a teaspoon of sugar. The concoction is ready when the ingredients mix well and melts altogether into one another after a thorough stirring.

The dose: Twice daily on an empty tummy. Brahmi added to ghee (prepared from cow’s milk) assumes the property of a tonic for the heart and the mind.