Brain & Mental Health

How To Cure Amnesia Using Alternative & Complementary Remedies

Amnesia is a very common disorder seen in old age people. Amnesia is a partial or temporary loss of memory during old age. Amnesia is also called an amnesic syndrome caused due to brain disorders and brain hemorrhage.

The patients suffering from amnesia are unable to memorize any data due to brain disorders like brain damage and trauma. Amnesia is one of the symptoms of many psychological disorders.

Alzheimer’s disease patients show amnesic symptoms. Amnesia leads to either partial or complete memory loss depending on the severity of damage caused to the brain. Patients suffering from amnesia experience difficulty in memorizing and identifying the people in close relations.

The amnesic patients are unable to decide about their future and recollect the past events.

Types of Amnesia

1. Anterograde amnesia

Patients suffering with anterograde amnesia(1) cannot recollect events which happened recently.

Anterograde amnesia is caused due to brain trauma. The amnesic patients can recollect the information or events which happened before the injury. Anterograde amnesic patients cannot memorize new information.

The new recent information will be stored in short memory instead of a long memory. The symptoms of the neuroendocrine tumor, brain trauma involving the hippocampus, mammillary bodies are known to cause anterograde amnesia.

2. Retrograde amnesia

Retrograde amnesia is completely opposite to the anterograde amnesia. The patients suffering from retrograde amnesia can recollect the new recent data easily. Retrograde amnesia patients are unable to recollect the past events occurred before the injury.

3. Traumatic amnesia

Traumatic amnesic patients experience memory loss due to a sudden accident or head injury. Accident victims are at high risk of traumatic amnesia. There are a few severe cases in which the patient goes into a coma. Traumatic amnesia is fatal in a few cases based on the severity of the injury.

4. Dissociative amnesia

Dissociative amnesia does not have a medical background. Dissociative amnesia is not caused due to any medical illness. It is caused due to experiencing violent crimes and grave accidents.

[ Read: Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment ]

There Are 4 Different Types of Dissociative Amnesia Based on the Severity

Generalised amnesia

In generalised amnesia, the patient is not able to recollect about his/her entire life.

Localised amnesia

Localised amnesia is seen commonly in people who faced physical abuse. The localised amnesic patients are unable to recollect about the incident and crime. The complete loss of memory of the traumatic accident is seen in localised amnesic patients.

Selective amnesia

Selective amnesia patient can recollect only few parts of the traumatic event. The complete incident cannot be recollected by the patient due to the injury

Systemized amnesia

Systemized amnesia is not restricted to a specific event. The systemized amnesic patients face loss of memory of any specified event in their life.

5. Transient global amnesia or Global amnesia

Global amnesia is common in males of 50-80 years of age. The people with transient global amnesia are often confused and unable to concentrate. During global amnesia the patient is unable to recall the personal information, recent visuals and verbal conversations.

The common symptoms seen in global amnesic patients along with memory loss are vomiting, headache and dizziness. Memory loss in transient global amnesia patients does not last for more than a day. It is a form of short term memory loss which does not last long.

6. Hysterical amnesia

Hysterical amnesia is a very rare disorder seen in patients who are unable to cope up with the mental stress of any specified issue. Hysterical amnesia can cause either temporary or permanent memory loss.

The patients suffering with hysterical amnesia(2) cannot recollect their own identity. The individual’s identity becomes a stranger for his own self and will not be able to recognise him in the mirror.

The patient suffering with hysterical amnesia faces many problems in his / her personal and professional life.

7. Wernike-Korsakoff’s psychosis amnesia

Wernike-korsakoff’s psychosis is a condition caused due to alcohol addiction. People consuming more than the required amount of alcohol are more prone to wernike-korsakoff’s psychosis a type of memory loss.

The patient situation gets worse over time due to continuous alcohol consumption. Patients suffering from wernike korsakoff’s psychosis are more prone to other neurological problems.

8. Infantile or childhood amnesia

In infantile amnesia, patients are unable to recollect early childhood events. In a few cases, memory loss is due to poor development of brain during childhood.

9. Source amnesia

The source amnesia as the name itself suggests, the person can recollect the information but he is unable to recall the source. The patient is unable to recollect from where he/she received the information.

10. Posthypnotic amnesia

Hypnosis is a therapy advised to few patients to relax and recollect the events of life. The memory loss during hypnosis is referred to as posthypnotic amnesia.

11. Blackout amnesia

Memory loss due to heavy or excessive drinking is called blackout amnesia. Blackout amnesia is seen mostly in people who are alcohol addicts

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12. Prosopamnesia

Prosopamnesia patients are unable to recollect faces and identify them. Few patients are born with this kind of memory loss.

Causes

Memory loss is caused due to any disease affecting the brain. The major causes of memory loss and amnesia are:

  • Stroke
  • Brain inflammation
  • Brain tumor
  • Oxygen deprivation
  • Seizure
  • Head injury

Symptoms

The common symptoms of amnesia include the following

  • Confusion
  • Neurological problems
  • Short term memory
  • Inability to recognise faces
  • Inability to recollect events

[ Read: Improve Memory Natural ]

Amnesia Treatment: Natural & Home Remedies

Amnesia can be cured by natural home remedies in the initial stages.

1. Almonds

Image:ShutterStock

Almonds are known to recover memory loss and are revered as one of the most beneficial nuts for patients and others alike.

Why does it work?

Almonds contain unique properties that help in the elimination of brain debility and strengthen the brain. These are a valuable resource that helps in restoring poor memory that is primarily caused by the weakness of the brain.

How to use?

10-12 almonds should be immersed in water overnight and in the morning, remember to remove the skin.

The most efficient way would be to consume them, once their skin is removed, however, alternatively, you could turn into a fine paste and mix with a teaspoon of butter you could add this powder into your breakfast.

Additionally, you could also inhale 10-15 drops of the almond oil in the morning and evening for increased efficacy of the treatment.

[ Read: Reasons to Eat 4 Almonds ]

2. Walnuts

eating walnuts daily helps in avoiding the brain weakness and increases the immunity.

Why does it work?

Walnuts also referred to as akhrot is a unique dry fruit that bears several chemical compounds that help in countering the brain weakness. Although there aren’t any scientific studies supporting the claim, however, the efficacy of this remedy is time tested.

How to use?

Around 20 grams of walnuts impart enhanced cognitive functions to the brain and if mixed with figs and raisins, ten grams each. This could go along way in treating your amnesia.

3. Apple

Image:ShutterStock

Apple a day, not only keeps a doctor away but can keep your memory intact.

Why does it work?

Also referred to as the king of fruits, it is extremely useful in treating amnesia. Apples contain a wide array of chemical substances such as vitamin B1, potassium, and phosphorus.

All these substances help in the synthesis of glutamic acid, which controls the breakdown of the nerve cells. Hence eating them could prevent the further breakdown of the nerve cells.

How to use?

One of the easiest and most effective methods is to eat an apple a day. However, you could add in a teaspoon of honey and even a cup of milk as an adjuvant to increase the efficacy of the treatment. This acts as an effective treatment that helps in rejuvenating the nerves with energy and life.

4. Cumin

Cumin seeds is a good treatment for memory loss treatment.

Why does it work?

Cumin seeds are a valuable remedy that is extremely efficient in treating amnesia and dull memory likewise. Although there aren’t scientific studies, however, they are several personal anecdotes of success.

How to use?

Prepare a tonic using 3 grams of black cumin seeds and it should be mixed with two teaspoons of honey and consume this once a day, in the morning.

The below remedies although have not much information in the scientific sphere, have rendered their services to several patients and helped in gaining back their memory and recovering from amnesia.

Bottom Line

Amnesia is an untreatable condition that affects several people across the globe and can be hard to deal with it. However, the initial onset of this condition could be controlled with the above-listed herbs and remedies, it is also advised to include a healthy diet and regular exercise and meditation activities in their daily routine. A healthy diet in combination with a healthy routine helps in tackling frequent memory loss and forgetfulness.


FAQs

1. Does amnesia change your personality?

After the onset of amnesia, there are changes in the dimensions of the personality, which could include affectivity, perception and cognition, and behavior.

2. What happens to someone with amnesia?

People suffering from this condition, tend to lose their memory, which could be long term or short term.