Acupuncture and Dementia

Dementia is a group of some symptoms that is caused by declining brain function and abilities. The brain function getting declined as we get older and older. Therefore usually, the dementia patient is older people, usually at people over age of 65. Dementia can make people become less interested to their usual activities. Their personalities also can be affected. A person with dementia will therefore usually need help from friends or relatives, including help with decision making. [note]What Is Dementia?, alz.org, http://www.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asp[/note]  

CONTENTS

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SYMPTOMS

CAUSES

TREATMENTS

 

SYMPTOMS

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Having memory problems doesn’t mean that a person have the dementia disease. A person can be diagnosed as dementia sufferer if he or she having at least to type of impairments that affecting everyday life. People with dementia will lost their ability related with brain function such as memory loss, thinking ability, mental problems, language problems, understanding and judgment problem, and also lost of emphaty. [note]10 Early Symptoms of Dementia, healthline.com, http://www.healthline.com/health/dementia/early-warning-signs#Symptoms2[/note]  

CAUSES

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Dementia syndrome, which is a group of some symptoms is caused by defective brain cells. As different brain part responsible for different function, therefore people with dementia may have different symptoms. Most cause of dementia are irreversible and get worse over time. Symptoms that are not caused by dementia can be recover if treated properly. [note]About dementia, NHS Choices, http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia-guide/pages/about-dementia.aspx[/note]  

TREATMENTS

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Related Acupuncture Points : Du 14,26, 16, Ren 15, SI 3, PC 8 to LI 4, PC 5 to SJ 6, LR 3 to KI Acupuncture treatment for Dementia Acupuncture treat the patient with dementia disorder is vary from patient to patient. The treatment given will be depend on the age and the health history of each patient. Dementia, which is consider as mental illness, treat by inserting the needle at acupoints of shenting (GV-24), shenmen (HT-7), jianshi (PC-5), hegu (LI-4), zusanli (ST-36), sanyinjiao (SP-6), taichong (LV-3). The treatment will be given everyday for 30 days long. After series of treatment, the examination is conducted to assess the mental health state of the patient. When dealing with mental ilness, the acupoints involved would be the scalp points and forearm/hand points. The intelligence needles at the head directly impact the functional activity of the cerebral frontal lobe and the mind and check the liver and calm wind. The hand points are the important ones for treatment of mental diseases: they can regulate the mental state, open orifices, tranquilize the mind, clear the pericardium, and help sleep. Acupuncture can improve the blood flowing in the brain or can promote absorption of hematoma in the brain, leading cerebral cells to be awakened and to gain recovery of functions, speeding up the repair of the injured brain tissues. Acupuncture can also promote release of a large quantity of serotonin in the brain and noradrenalin in the spinal cord. [note]Chapter 5 Acupuncture Treatment Protocols, itmonline.org, http://www.itmonline.org/shen/chap5.htm[/note]