Severe Forgetfulness: Turning Around and Forgetting Instantly? The Tongue Holds the Answer

When you look in the mirror, stick out your tongue and take a look—are there scalloped teeth marks along the edges? Is the tongue body swollen and plump, almost filling the entire mouth? Is the tongue coating white and greasy, like a thin layer of frost spread across the surface? If you nodded at the mirror, and you also happen to forget things the moment you turn around, then this is a signal worth paying attention to. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), forgetfulness is never viewed through the lens of the brain alone—it begins with the tongue, the complexion, the pulse, and the overall state of qi and blood in the body. The tongue is like a bulletin board hung at the entrance of the body; the excess or deficiency of qi, blood, and body fluids can often be read within this one square inch of tissue. That feeling of "forgetting the moment you turn around" is like a hole chiseled into the wall of memory—something just placed inside slips out the very next instant.

Have you ever had moments like these: holding your phone in your hand while searching the entire room for it; a word on the tip of your tongue that suddenly vanishes before you can speak it; meeting someone new, only to forget their name a second later. These momentary blanks resemble a computer freezing after too many programs are running. Some say "the brain isn't what it used to be," while others joke about "aging before their time." But in the eyes of TCM, severe forgetfulness marked by instant amnesia rarely exists in isolation. It is often a comprehensive signal emitted after a disruption somewhere in the body—a signal that resides not only in the brain, but also in qi and blood, in the channels and collaterals, and in the internal organs.

I. The Governor Vessel and Heart Meridian: Why the "Dual Pathway" of Memory Short-Circuits

TCM theory holds that the brain is the "palace of the primordial spirit" (Residence of the original spirit), and memory is closely tied to mental and cognitive activity. The connection between the brain and the other organs relies on the channels and collaterals—the "information superhighway" of the body. Among the many meridians, two are particularly directly related to forgetfulness: one is the Governor Vessel (Du Mai), which runs along the posterior midline of the body, and the other is the Heart Meridian, which courses along the inner aspect of the arm.

The Governor Vessel originates in the lower abdomen (utero), emerges at the perineum, ascends along the spine, passes through the Baihui point (GV-20) at the vertex of the head, and continues anteriorly and inferiorly to the philtrum. It is known as the "Sea of Yang Meridians" and governs the yang qi of the entire body. Yang qi is the driving force behind all functional activities of the body—much like the engine of an automobile. The brain is situated at the highest point of the body; as the saying goes, "the head is the meeting point of all yang." It is especially dependent on the warming and nourishing effects of yang qi. If yang qi along the Governor Vessel is insufficient, the brain orifices lose their nourishment, and clear yang fails to ascend—resulting in dizziness, mental fog, and declining memory. This is like insufficient water pressure on the top floors of a high-rise building: the water cannot reach the upper levels, leaving the rooms dry and parched.

The Heart Meridian, formally known as the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, originates from the heart, emerges at the cardiac system, descends through the diaphragm to connect with the small intestine. A branch ascends from the cardiac system alongside the esophagus to connect with the ocular system. The main trunk continues from the cardiac system upward to the lungs, then emerges superficially in the axilla, descends along the posterior border of the inner arm, passes through the cubital fossa and the ulnar side of the wrist, enters the palm, and runs along the medial aspect of the little finger to its tip. TCM holds that "the heart governs the spirit-ming" (The heart governs the mind). The term "spirit-ming" here is not some esoteric concept—it refers to a person's mental faculties, consciousness, and thinking activities. The Heart Meridian is responsible for delivering heart blood and heart spirit to the brain. When heart blood is sufficient, the heart spirit is calm, and memory remains solid; when heart blood is deficient, the heart spirit is unsettled, and memory becomes like a kite with a broken string—drifting and elusive. In everyday language, we say "remember with the heart" ( Remember with the heart) or "pay attention with the heart" ( Pay attention). Behind this character "heart" lies precisely the profound TCM understanding of the relationship between the heart and memory.

The "shift times" of these two meridians also differ. The yang qi of the Governor Vessel gradually declines after midday, which is why many people notice that between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, the brain feels especially sluggish and memory is noticeably worse than in the morning. The Heart Meridian's designated hour is the "wu hour" (11:00 AM to 1:00 PM)—precisely the pivotal moment of yin-yang transformation. An appropriate midday rest is a way of nurturing the Heart Meridian, giving heart blood the opportunity to be replenished. If one spends this hour fretting over trivial matters, the qi and blood of the Heart Meridian are continuously depleted, and over time, a restless heart spirit and declining memory will naturally come knocking.

From the perspective of channel pathways, the Governor Vessel enters and connects to the brain, while the collateral of the Heart Meridian ascends to connect with the brain. Together, they form a "dual pathway" that sustains memory function. When the pathway is unobstructed, qi and blood ascend to nourish the brain, and memory remains solid. When the pathway is blocked, qi and blood fail to circulate smoothly, the clear orifices lose their nourishment, the spirit becomes clouded, and forgetfulness arises. Modern lifestyles—prolonged sitting, minimal movement, heads bowed over phones, and late-night overtime—are these not all silently obstructing the flow of qi and blood in the Governor Vessel? And are they not all quietly draining heart blood?

It is also worthwhile to familiarize yourself with the key acupoints associated with these two meridians. The Governor Vessel has several critical "nodes": Dazhui (GV-14), located in the depression below the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra, is the meeting point of the Governor Vessel with the three yang meridians of the hand and foot—truly a "master hub" where yang qi converges. Baihui (GV-20), located at the intersection of the midline of the head and the line connecting the tips of both ears, is an important point of the Governor Vessel; the ancients called it the "meeting of three yang and five meridians," indicating that multiple channels converge here. On the Heart Meridian, there is an important empirical point—Tongli (HT-5), located on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon, one cun above the distal palmar wrist crease. The name itself carries the meaning of "passage to the interior"; it is the Luo (connecting) point of the Heart Meridian, capable of communicating the qi and blood between the Heart Meridian and the Small Intestine Meridian.

Moxibustion is one of the commonly used external therapies in traditional Chinese medicine for nurturing the channels and collaterals. However, the specific method to use, which acupoints to select, and the duration of each session should all be determined by a licensed TCM practitioner based on an individual's constitution. One should never blindly self-administer such treatments. After all, health cultivation is like cooking—if the heat is too high or too low, the flavor will be off by a thousand miles. Similarly, channel maintenance is not a one-size-fits-all "just moxa it"; it must be tailored to the individual and guided by pattern differentiation.

1. Nurturing the Heart During the Wu Hour: Giving Memory a Window to Recharge

The wu hour, when the Heart Meridian is in command, is an optimal time to nourish the Heart Meridian. The ancients said, "Sleep deeply at the zi hour, rest briefly at the wu hour." Even closing the eyes and resting the mind for a few moments at this time can aid in the recovery of heart blood. Many people view a midday rest as a waste of time, not realizing that this brief respite is precisely how the brain stores up energy for the afternoon. When the qi and blood of the Heart Meridian are sufficient, the brain receives adequate nourishment, and memory is naturally sustained.

2. Nurturing the Governor Vessel: Letting Yang Qi Ascend Along the Spine

The key to nurturing the Governor Vessel lies in "unblocking" and "warming." Prolonged sitting is a major enemy of qi and blood flow in the Governor Vessel. After sitting for extended periods, the entire spine resembles a compressed spring—qi and blood circulation becomes sluggish, yang qi cannot ascend, and the brain orifices are left empty. Engaging in appropriate movement of the lower back and stretching the spine is the simplest form of care for the Governor Vessel. In addition, keeping the neck and back warm is also very important. The Governor Vessel runs along the "main thoroughfare" at the very center of the body. When this pathway is invaded by cold pathogens, it is like a thin layer of ice on a winter highway—traffic naturally slows to a crawl.

II. Two Faces of Forgetfulness: Spleen-Kidney Dual Deficiency and Heart-Kidney Disharmony

TCM approaches forgetfulness with the principle of "same disease, different treatments." Even when the symptom is identical—forgetting things right after turning around—the underlying pathological mechanisms in different constitutions and states may be completely opposite. Clinically, one must first distinguish whether the primary pattern is Spleen-Kidney dual deficiency or Heart-Kidney disharmony, as the treatment and regulation strategies differ significantly.

Individuals with Spleen-Kidney dual deficiency often present, in addition to forgetfulness, with mental fatigue, heaviness in the limbs, poor appetite, and loose stools. Their tongue is exactly the kind described at the beginning of this article: swollen, enlarged, with scalloped teeth marks and a white, greasy coating. The spleen governs transportation and transformation and serves as the source of qi and blood production—the "logistics support department" of the body. The kidney governs bones and produces marrow, and since the brain is the "sea of marrow," kidney essence is the fundamental material that nourishes the brain marrow. When spleen and kidney functions are robust, qi, blood, and essential substances can flow continuously upward to the brain. When spleen and kidney functions decline, the brain marrow loses its nourishment, and memory becomes water without a source, a tree without roots.

In terms of etiology, Spleen-Kidney dual deficiency is most often gradually consumed by irregular diet, excessive physical exertion and fatigue, and prolonged illness without proper recovery. The disease location is in the spleen and kidney, affecting the brain. The nature of the condition is deficiency and cold. The disease course is a slow, progressive process—it rarely strikes suddenly but rather "gnaws away" at memory little by little. It is like a house where the steel and concrete are intact, but the water pipes inside the walls slowly age and leak, causing the plaster to stain and peel. On the surface, it appears to be a wall problem; at the root, it is the pipes.

Individuals with Heart-Kidney disharmony present somewhat differently. In addition to forgetfulness, they often experience insomnia and excessive dreaming, irritability and restlessness, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, and tinnitus. The tongue tip appears red, and the tongue coating is scant. The heart belongs to fire and resides in the upper burner; the kidney belongs to water and resides in the lower burner. Under normal circumstances, heart fire must descend to warm kidney water, and kidney water must ascend to nourish heart fire. The two mutually check and depend on each other, forming a dynamically balanced circle. When this balance is broken—whether through hyperactive heart fire or insufficient kidney water—a state of "upper heat and lower cold" emerges: in the upper body, restlessness, insomnia, and mouth sores; in the lower body, weak and sore knees and frequent nocturia. Under such conditions of "fire and water failing to harmonize," memory can hardly find peace.

The etiology of Heart-Kidney disharmony is mostly related to emotional stress, late nights that deplete the spirit, and excessive sexual activity. The disease location involves the heart and kidney, affecting the brain orifices. The nature of the condition is a mixture of excess and deficiency—hyperactive heart fire is excess, while insufficient kidney water is deficiency. The disease course may be acute or gradual, often worsening noticeably after prolonged sleep deprivation or periods of intense mental stress. This is like a city where the water and heating supply systems have gone awry: water pressure is insufficient where water is needed, and temperatures are too high where heat is required—the city's operations naturally fall into disarray.

Understanding these two "faces" of forgetfulness helps us better comprehend our own bodily states. In daily life, one can pay attention to one's tongue presentation and accompanying symptoms: a swollen tongue with teeth marks and easy mental fatigue may be related to Spleen-Kidney dual deficiency; a red tongue tip, poor sleep, and restless dreaming may be related to Heart-Kidney disharmony. Of course, these are only very rough self-observation directions. For a specific individual, a licensed TCM practitioner must make a comprehensive judgment that incorporates the pulse and other diagnostic information.

In terms of diet, individuals with Spleen-Kidney dual deficiency may appropriately consume foods that fortify the spleen and benefit the kidney, such as Chinese yam (shanyao) and fox nut (qianshi)—though there is no need to obsess over specific "recipes." Individuals with Heart-Kidney disharmony may appropriately choose foods that help calm the spirit, such as lily bulb (baihe) and lotus seed (lianzi). The key is not whether a particular food is "remarkably effective," but rather maintaining regular eating habits, balanced nutrition, and avoiding additional burden on the spleen and stomach.

With respect to daily routine, aligning the rhythm of life with the rising and setting of the sun is especially important for individuals with forgetfulness. In the morning, yang qi ascends and flourishes—ideal for using the brain and studying. In the afternoon, yang qi gradually declines—appropriate for rest. At night, yang qi retreats inward—one should go to sleep early. Staying up late is equivalent to forcibly keeping an engine running after it should have been shut off. In the short term it may appear "efficient," but in reality, it is overdrawing the reserve energy of the heart and kidney.

Emotional regulation is equally important and should not be overlooked. In TCM, the spleen is associated with rumination—excessive thinking injures the spleen. The heart is associated with joy—excessive elation injures the heart. The kidney is associated with fear—excessive fear injures the kidney. Prolonged states of anxiety, tension, and overthinking are like digging, mouthful by mouthful, at the very foundation of the spleen, heart, and kidney. Learning to "loosen the reins" for yourself, allowing the brain to occasionally go blank, and not demanding flawless memory in every matter—this in itself is a form of nurturing.

In terms of exercise and movement, moderate physical activity promotes the circulation of qi and blood. Gentle forms of exercise such as walking, tai chi, and Baduanjin (Eight Pieces of Brocade) are all worth trying. The core principle of exercise is to "stop at the first sign of light perspiration"—profuse sweating should be avoided at all costs, for sweat is the fluid of the heart, and excessive perspiration is actually detrimental to the preservation of heart blood.

Have you ever considered that forgetfulness might be more than just "a poor memory"? It may be the body reminding you to check whether the spleen and kidney are providing sufficient nourishment, and whether the communication between heart and kidney is running smoothly. The next time you stick out your tongue in front of the mirror, treat it as the beginning of a conversation with your body—those teeth marks and that layer of white coating are all telling stories you haven't yet taken the time to hear.

Related Q&A