Chinese herbs and acupuncture to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with a variety of causes. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which includes the two main approaches of acupuncture and herbal medication, views the human body as a self-controlled system network. Fundamental theories, including “qi,” the...

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Main Authors: Wei WuLi, Horng-Jyh Harn, Tzyy-Wen Chiou, Shinn-Zong Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-01-01
Series:Tzu Chi Medical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.tcmjmed.com/article.asp?issn=1016-3190;year=2021;volume=33;issue=2;spage=122;epage=127;aulast=WuLi
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author Wei WuLi
Horng-Jyh Harn
Tzyy-Wen Chiou
Shinn-Zong Lin
author_facet Wei WuLi
Horng-Jyh Harn
Tzyy-Wen Chiou
Shinn-Zong Lin
author_sort Wei WuLi
collection DOAJ
description Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with a variety of causes. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which includes the two main approaches of acupuncture and herbal medication, views the human body as a self-controlled system network. Fundamental theories, including “qi,” the five elements, and the theory of viscera, form the basis for classification. Diseases in humans are considered to be caused by an imbalance of “yang qi” and “yin qi” that lead to the nonhomeostasis of organs. Acupuncture is derived from 12 main meridians and 365 acupuncture points characterized by “blood and qi.” Needling of different positions corresponds to specific disease treatments to increase qi. Treatment with Chinese herbal medicines is based on syndrome differentiation characterized as “Zheng” which differs from the cause orientation approach of Western medicine. In this article, we review basic and clinical research studies that describe TCM herbs and acupuncture for the treatment of AD. Moreover, we propose that these two approaches be integrated to improve the outcomes for AD patients.
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publishDate 2021-01-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
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series Tzu Chi Medical Journal
spelling doaj-art-3fb1c068e42f4381835d80d106242bf72025-08-20T02:12:41ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsTzu Chi Medical Journal1016-31902223-89562021-01-0133212212710.4103/tcmj.tcmj_51_20Chinese herbs and acupuncture to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's diseaseWei WuLiHorng-Jyh HarnTzyy-Wen ChiouShinn-Zong LinAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with a variety of causes. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which includes the two main approaches of acupuncture and herbal medication, views the human body as a self-controlled system network. Fundamental theories, including “qi,” the five elements, and the theory of viscera, form the basis for classification. Diseases in humans are considered to be caused by an imbalance of “yang qi” and “yin qi” that lead to the nonhomeostasis of organs. Acupuncture is derived from 12 main meridians and 365 acupuncture points characterized by “blood and qi.” Needling of different positions corresponds to specific disease treatments to increase qi. Treatment with Chinese herbal medicines is based on syndrome differentiation characterized as “Zheng” which differs from the cause orientation approach of Western medicine. In this article, we review basic and clinical research studies that describe TCM herbs and acupuncture for the treatment of AD. Moreover, we propose that these two approaches be integrated to improve the outcomes for AD patients.http://www.tcmjmed.com/article.asp?issn=1016-3190;year=2021;volume=33;issue=2;spage=122;epage=127;aulast=WuLiacupuncturealzheimer's diseaseqitraditional chinese medicinezheng
spellingShingle Wei WuLi
Horng-Jyh Harn
Tzyy-Wen Chiou
Shinn-Zong Lin
Chinese herbs and acupuncture to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease
Tzu Chi Medical Journal
acupuncture
alzheimer's disease
qi
traditional chinese medicine
zheng
title Chinese herbs and acupuncture to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease
title_full Chinese herbs and acupuncture to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease
title_fullStr Chinese herbs and acupuncture to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease
title_full_unstemmed Chinese herbs and acupuncture to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease
title_short Chinese herbs and acupuncture to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease
title_sort chinese herbs and acupuncture to improve cognitive function in alzheimer s disease
topic acupuncture
alzheimer's disease
qi
traditional chinese medicine
zheng
url http://www.tcmjmed.com/article.asp?issn=1016-3190;year=2021;volume=33;issue=2;spage=122;epage=127;aulast=WuLi
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AT horngjyhharn chineseherbsandacupuncturetoimprovecognitivefunctioninalzheimersdisease
AT tzyywenchiou chineseherbsandacupuncturetoimprovecognitivefunctioninalzheimersdisease
AT shinnzonglin chineseherbsandacupuncturetoimprovecognitivefunctioninalzheimersdisease