Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease Through the Lens of Chinese Medicine
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological condition that gradually affects memory, thinking, behavior, and the ability to carry out daily activities. It is the most common form of dementia, accounting for the majority of cases worldwide. For families and caregivers in Oceanside, San Diego, and the surrounding communities, watching a loved one navigate this condition can be both heartbreaking and exhausting. While Alzheimer’s does not yet have a cure in any medical tradition, an increasing number of families are turning to acupuncture and Chinese medicine as part of a broader, integrative care strategy — one focused on quality of life, cognitive support, and the health of the whole person.
At Makari Wellness, we approach Alzheimer’s care with deep respect for both the patient and the caregiver. Our role is not to replace the neurologist or the care team, but to offer something that conventional medicine often cannot: a system of medicine that has been caring for aging, memory, and the vitality of the mind for over two thousand years.
How Chinese Medicine Understands Cognitive Decline
In Chinese medicine, the brain is referred to as the “Sea of Marrow” — a reservoir filled and sustained by the Kidney essence, or Jing. Kidney essence is the deep constitutional resource we are born with and that gradually diminishes as we age. When this essence is insufficient, the marrow that nourishes the brain becomes thin, and the mind loses its anchor. This is one of the foundational frameworks through which Chinese medicine understands what we now call Alzheimer’s disease.
Beyond Kidney deficiency, classical Chinese medicine identifies several overlapping patterns that contribute to cognitive decline:
- Kidney Essence Deficiency: The root of brain nourishment is depleted, leading to forgetfulness, confusion, and diminished mental clarity. This is considered the most common underlying pattern in age-related cognitive decline.
- Heart and Spleen Qi Deficiency: The Heart houses the Shen — what we might loosely translate as the mind or spirit. When the Heart and Spleen are weak, the Shen loses its home, manifesting as anxiety, poor concentration, disturbed sleep, and emotional instability.
- Phlegm Misting the Heart Orifices: In Chinese medicine, phlegm is not just a respiratory substance. It can accumulate internally, clouding the mind and obstructing clear thinking. This pattern is often associated with the dull, confused presentation seen in moderate-to-advanced dementia.
- Blood Stasis in the Brain: Poor circulation and stagnant blood can impair the delivery of nourishment to the brain, contributing to neurological decline. This pattern may overlap with cardiovascular risk factors common in Alzheimer’s patients.
- Liver Yang Rising: Emotional stress, frustration, and unresolved tension can drive Liver energy upward, contributing to agitation, restlessness, and mood disturbances seen in some stages of Alzheimer’s.
A skilled Chinese medicine practitioner does not simply treat “Alzheimer’s disease” as a single entity. Instead, they identify which pattern or combination of patterns is most active in the individual patient, and craft a treatment accordingly.
Acupuncture and Herbal Support for Cognitive Health
Acupuncture has been used for centuries to support brain function, calm the nervous system, and strengthen the constitutional resources that underpin cognitive vitality. In the clinical tradition represented by Shi Xue-min’s comprehensive framework of acupuncture practice, specific point protocols are used to address neurological and shen-related conditions — including those affecting memory and mental clarity.
Points commonly employed in this context include those along the Governor Vessel, which runs directly through the spine and into the brain. Points such as Baihui (GV-20) at the crown of the head are classically used to raise and clarify the mind, calm the spirit, and invigorate brain function. Scalp acupuncture techniques, which emerged from modern integration of neuroscience and classical acupuncture, may be incorporated to stimulate areas of the brain associated with memory and cognition.
Additional acupuncture points are selected based on the patient’s individual pattern. For Kidney deficiency, points like Taixi (KD-3) and Shenshu (BL-23) are used to nourish the root. For phlegm clouding the mind, Fenglong (ST-40) is a classical choice. Neiguan (PC-6) is frequently used to calm the Heart and settle the Shen. Sishencong (EX-HN-1), a cluster of four points around the crown, are traditionally used to brighten the mind and anchor awareness.
Chinese herbal medicine may also play an important role. Classical formulas have long been used to nourish Kidney essence, tonify qi and blood, resolve phlegm, and improve circulation to the brain. Your practitioner will assess whether herbal medicine is appropriate for your loved one’s situation, taking into account any existing medications and the overall clinical picture.
What Patients and Families Can Expect at Makari Wellness
When you bring a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease to Makari Wellness, you will receive care that is thoughtful, unhurried, and adapted to wherever your loved one is in their journey. We understand that each patient is different — some are in early stages with mild forgetfulness, while others may be navigating more significant behavioral or functional changes. Our approach is flexible and compassionate throughout.
The first visit begins with a thorough intake — not just a list of symptoms, but a full conversation about health history, sleep, digestion, emotional state, and the rhythms of daily life. We use pulse diagnosis and tongue observation, both time-honored tools of Chinese medicine, to identify the underlying patterns driving the presentation. From there, we build a treatment plan that is realistic, clearly explained, and designed to integrate smoothly with any existing medical care.
Acupuncture sessions are generally calming and well-tolerated, even for patients who may be anxious or unfamiliar with the process. We take extra care to create a quiet, grounding environment. Needles are thin, and most patients report feeling deeply relaxed during treatment. For patients who are particularly sensitive or resistant to needling, acupressure, moxa, or other non-needle techniques may be offered as alternatives.
Families and caregivers are welcome participants in the care process. We encourage open communication and are always willing to coordinate with the rest of your loved one’s medical team. Our goal is to be one trusted piece of a larger support system — adding something meaningful to what is already in place.
What We Hope to Support
While we make no claims about reversing Alzheimer’s disease, patients and families who incorporate acupuncture and Chinese medicine into their care often report meaningful improvements in the following areas:
- Sleep quality and nighttime restlessness
- Anxiety, agitation, and emotional stability
- Appetite and digestive comfort
- Energy and general sense of well-being
- Mood and engagement with daily life
- Caregiver stress, when the caregiver also receives treatment
These are not small things. For someone living with Alzheimer’s, and for the people who love them, comfort, calm, and connection matter enormously.
Begin the Conversation
If you or someone you care for is living with Alzheimer’s disease and you are curious about whether acupuncture and Chinese medicine might offer meaningful support, we warmly invite you to reach out to our team in Oceanside or San Diego and Schedule Your Initial Visit — it is the best first step toward understanding what this medicine might offer your family.