Enhance Memory™

TCM herbal formula for forgetfulness, poor memory, difficulty concentrating, cognitive impairment, and mental fatigue — cognitive enhancing; neuroprotective; circulatory; nourishes the Heart; tonifies Kidney jing (essence); invigorates blood circulation to the head; opens orifices; improves mental alertness

⚠️ Contraindicated during pregnancy and nursing. Contraindicated in cases of excess heat or existing exterior pathogenic conditions. Contains Dan Shen (Radix et Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae) and Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) — patients on anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapies such as Coumadin (warfarin) should use with caution or not at all. Maximum benefit is derived from continuous use — take the normal dose continuously for 3–6 months for optimal effect; increasing the dose will not accelerate results. Safe for long-term use.

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

* Cognitive impairment with forgetfulness, poor memory, and difficulty concentrating or focusing

* Delayed mental development in children

* Deteriorating cognition in elderly patients

* Adjunct formula for individuals who wish to improve memory, cognitive function, and mental alertness

* Support formula for periods of mental stress — long work hours, impending deadlines, and exams

Background: Mild cognitive impairment is characterized by poor memory, mild memory loss, forgetfulness, and difficulty concentrating or focusing. Causes include stress, lack of sleep, lack of exercise, overeating, insufficient vitamin B₁₂ intake, headache, head injury, stroke, and seizures. Mild cases can be reversed with lifestyle changes or diet modifications; moderate cases require herbal treatment. In cases of gradual deterioration of mental acuity, Western medicine struggles to identify a specific diagnosis and offers no drug treatments — TCM excels in maintenance and preventative therapies for these conditions.

TCM differentiation: The Kidney produces marrow and the brain is the sea of marrow. Strong Kidney jing (essence) is vital to the nourishment of the brain, memory, concentration, and alertness. The Kidney is also essential in helping the Heart house the shen (spirit) and maintain clear mental activity, consciousness, memory, and thinking. Forgetfulness and inability to concentrate are usually the result of deficiency and lack of nourishment due to overwork, lack of rest, or aging. Enhance Memory tonifies the Kidney and Heart, invigorates blood circulation to the head, and opens orifices to improve alertness.

Key herb-level clinical data:

— Ren Shen (Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng / Chinese Ginseng): tonifies Heart qi; cognitive effect — 3 days of administration: marked improvement in memory and learning ability; enhances cognitive performance and ameliorates mental fatigue during sustained cognitively demanding tasks; clinical study: improved classroom performance in 30 children with low IQ and mental retardation; component of classic formula (Ren Shen + Yuan Zhi + Shi Chang Pu + Fu Ling) that reduced ethanol-induced memory impairment and scopolamine-induced memory registration deficit

— Shi Chang Pu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii / Acorus / Stone Calamus): opens orifices — aromatic dispelling function clears phlegm obstructing the orifices; increases permeability of the blood-brain barrier by opening tight junctions of endothelial cells — guides herbs into the brain; dose-dependent effect on improving cognition and memory; neuroprotective — attenuates neuronal apoptosis in hippocampus induced by beta-amyloid (Abeta); helps manage cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease

— Yuan Zhi (Radix Polygalae / Polygala / Senega Root): opens orifices — aromatic dispelling function clears phlegm obstructing the orifices; neuroprotective — dose-dependent protection of neurons from Abeta-induced neuronal damage; inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in a dose-dependent and non-competitive manner; potential to treat dementia and Alzheimer's disease; treats memory impairment caused by scopolamine or dysfunction of the cholinergic system; channel-guiding herb to the Heart

— Yin Xing Ye (Folium Ginkgo / Ginkgo Leaf): channel-guiding herb to the brain; flavonoids provide antioxidant protection to the brain and its vascular structure; antiplatelet — reduces blood viscosity; vasodilative — increases perfusion to peripheral parts of the body including the brain; cognitive effect — improves attention and memory in 52 young healthy volunteers; clinical study 1 (JAMA, 1997): placebo-controlled double-blind RCT, 309 patients, 52 weeks — "safe" and capable of "improving cognitive performance and social functioning of demented patients for 6 months to 1 year"; clinical study 2: RCT, 400 patients aged 50+ with dementia and neuropsychiatric features, 22 weeks — significantly superior to placebo on all secondary outcome measures including Neuropsychiatric Inventory and activities-of-daily-living scale; well tolerated with adverse effects comparable to placebo; clinical study 3 (USC Keck School of Medicine): significantly better than placebo for cognitive performance and global assessment scores in dementia with neuropsychiatric symptoms

— Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis / Angelica Sinensis / Dong Quai): invigorates blood; improves overall blood circulation by decreasing blood viscosity; reduces neurotoxicity induced by amyloid beta-peptide in a dose-dependent manner — potential to prevent Alzheimer's disease; treats scopolamine- and cycloheximide-induced amnesia; caution with anticoagulants

— Dan Shen (Radix et Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae / Salvia / Red Sage Root): invigorates blood; marked vasodilation of coronary arteries; negative chronotropic and inotropic effect; reduces blood pressure; improves microcirculation to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the brain; caution with anticoagulants

— Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae / Rehmannia): nourishes Kidney yin and jing (essence); contains catalpol — potential to treat senescence and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's by ameliorating cognitive deficits and attenuating oxidative damage in the brain

— Xuan Shen (Radix Scrophulariae / Scrophularia / Figwort Root): nourishes Kidney yin and jing (essence)

— Mai Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis / Ophiopogon / Dwarf Lilyturf): nourishes Kidney yin and jing (essence)

— Tian Dong (Radix Asparagi / Asparagus Root / Asparagus Cochinchinensis): nourishes Kidney yin and jing (essence)

— Fu Ling (Poria): tonifies Heart qi; component of classic formula (Ren Shen + Yuan Zhi + Shi Chang Pu + Fu Ling) that reduced ethanol-induced and scopolamine-induced memory impairment

— Bai Zi Ren (Semen Platycladi / Platycladi Seed / Biota Seed): tranquilizes shen (spirit); prevents leakage of Heart qi

— Suan Zao Ren (Semen Ziziphi Spinosae / Sour Jujube Seed / Ziziphus): tranquilizes shen (spirit); prevents leakage of Heart qi

— Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis / Schisandra Berry / Five-Flavor Fruit): tranquilizes shen (spirit); prevents leakage of Heart qi; CNS stimulating effect — increases mental alertness, improves work efficiency, and quickens reflexes; significantly reduces memory impairment in laboratory studies

— Jie Geng (Radix Platycodonis / Platycodon / Balloon Flower Root): channel-guiding herb to the Heart; neuroprotective — rescues neurons in the hippocampal region from ischemic damage; ameliorates scopolamine-induced amnesia via AChE inhibition and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance inhibition

WESTERN THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Cognitive enhancement — Ren Shen (memory↑, learning↑, mental fatigue↓, 30 children low IQ); Shi Chang Pu (cognition↑, memory↑, dose-dependent); Wu Wei Zi (mental alertness↑, work efficiency↑, reflexes↑, memory impairment↓); Yin Xing Ye (attention↑, memory↑, 52 volunteers; dementia: 309 patients JAMA 1997, 400 patients RCT, USC Keck)

* Circulatory / brain perfusion — Dang Gui (blood viscosity↓, hemorrheological improvement); Dan Shen (coronary vasodilation, microcirculation↑, BP↓); Shi Chang Pu (blood-brain barrier permeability↑); Yin Xing Ye (antiplatelet, vasodilative, peripheral perfusion↑)

* Neuroprotective — Yuan Zhi (Abeta neuronal damage↓, AChE inhibition, dementia/Alzheimer's); Shi Chang Pu (hippocampal apoptosis↓, Abeta, Alzheimer's); Dang Gui (amyloid beta neurotoxicity↓, Alzheimer's prevention); Di Huang (catalpol: cognitive deficits↓, oxidative damage↓, Alzheimer's/Parkinson's); Jie Geng (hippocampal ischemic damage↓)

* Drug-induced memory impairment treatment — Jie Geng (scopolamine amnesia↓, AChE inhibition); Dang Gui (scopolamine + cycloheximide amnesia↓); Yuan Zhi (scopolamine + cholinergic dysfunction↓); Ren Shen + Yuan Zhi + Shi Chang Pu + Fu Ling (ethanol + scopolamine memory impairment↓)

CHINESE THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Nourishes Kidney yin and jing (essence) (Di Huang, Xuan Shen, Mai Dong, Tian Dong)

* Tonifies Heart qi (Ren Shen, Fu Ling)

* Invigorates blood circulation to the head (Dan Shen, Dang Gui)

* Opens orifices; clears phlegm obstructing the orifices; improves mental alertness (Yuan Zhi, Shi Chang Pu)

* Tranquilizes shen (spirit); prevents leakage of Heart qi (Bai Zi Ren, Suan Zao Ren, Wu Wei Zi)

* Channel-guiding herbs to the brain and Heart (Yin Xing Ye, Jie Geng)

DOSAGE

Adults: 3–4 capsules three times daily with warm water for treatment. Maintenance: 2 capsules twice daily. Most effective when taken continuously for 3–6 months — do not increase dose to accelerate results; continuous use at normal dose is key.

Children: 2 capsules twice daily.

Supplementary formulas: Alzheimer's disease — add Neuro Plus. Kidney yang deficiency — add Kidney Tonic (Yang). Kidney yin deficiency — add Kidney Tonic (Yin). Burned-out patients — add Adrenal+. Stress or Liver qi stagnation — add Calm. Stress and insomnia with excess heat, fire, and shen disturbance — add Calm (ES). Stress and insomnia with deficiency — add Calm ZZZ. ADD/ADHD and poor memory — add Calm (Jr). Blood stagnation — add Circulation (SJ). Visual disturbances, blurriness, redness, or pain — add Lycium Support.

Nutrition: Ensure adequate lecithin intake — essential for transmission of nerve impulses that control memory; good sources: flax seed oil, walnut oil, sesame oil, egg yolk, soybean, and raw wheat germ. Do not overeat — adults consuming 2,100–6,000 calories daily are twice as likely to develop memory problems (American Academy of Neurology, 2012). B vitamins — important for energy and proper brain function. Ensure adequate vitamin B₁₂ — brain shrinkage and age-related memory decline linked to B₁₂ deficiency (Rush University Medical Center, published in Neurology); food sources: meat, fish, poultry, milk, eggs, and fortified breakfast cereals.

Tao of Nutrition (Dr. Maoshing Ni and Cathy McNease): Poor concentration — incorporate ¼ cup fresh or frozen blueberries into breakfast daily for 2–4 weeks. Memory decline — make trail mix of equal portions of dried blueberries, walnuts, pine nuts, goji berries, and pumpkin seeds. Memory decline — make brain tonic bean soup with equal portions of navy beans, black beans, and kidney beans seasoned with rosemary, thyme, and turmeric; eat a bowl daily. Memory and focus issues — eat hardboiled quail eggs regularly.

Lifestyle: Maintain a good balance between exercise, rest, and relaxation. Stay mentally active — go back to school, take a part-time job, solve crossword puzzles, play chess, and engage in other mentally fulfilling activities. Stay physically active — exercises good for the heart are also good for the brain. Avoid a stressful and hectic lifestyle — poor memory is often related to excessive daily stress. Avoid physical activities or contact sports that cause direct brain injuries (e.g., boxing). Stay away from environments with dramatic and sudden temperature changes. Develop healthy sleeping habits — sleep is necessary to consolidate memories; lack of sleep impairs focus and learning. Avoid smoking and alcohol.

CASE STUDIES

— J.H., 35-year-old female: Memory loss from car accident trauma; BP 120/70 mmHg; heart flutters and night sweats; Kidney yin deficiency and Heart qi and jing (essence) deficiencies. Enhance Memory 3 caps 3x daily for 4 weeks, then 2 caps 3x daily for 4 weeks + acupuncture. Result at 9 days: heart flutters and night sweats resolved. Overall healing process positive on many levels.

— Professional singer, early 70s: Memory loss — unable to recall lyrics. Enhance Memory. Result at 2 weeks: "able to recall lyrics and felt mentally confident again."

Related Reading

Also see: Neuro Plus – for Alzheimer's disease and post-stroke care | Kidney Tonic (Yang) – for Kidney yang deficiency | Kidney Tonic (Yin) – for Kidney yin deficiency | Adrenal+ – for burned-out patients | Calm – for stress and Liver qi stagnation | Calm (ES) – for stress and insomnia with excess heat | Calm ZZZ – for stress and insomnia with deficiency | Calm (Jr) – for ADD/ADHD and poor memory | Circulation (SJ) – for blood stagnation | Lycium Support – for visual disturbances | Brain & Cognitive Health Collection.