The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Disorientation can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like disorientation here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here disorientation is often associated with forgetfulness, lower back pain and dizziness in the pattern “Bladder Deficiency with Cold”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of disorientation we’ve identified that a herbal formula called Sang Piao Xiao San can help treat the patterns behind the symptom.
Bladder Deficiency with Cold, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause disorientation
In Chinese Medicine disorientation is a symptom for the pattern "Bladder Deficiency with Cold". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Bladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Bladder in Chinese Medicine
Bladder Deficiency with Cold
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
In addition to disorientation, other symptoms associated with Bladder Deficiency with Cold include forgetfulness, lower back pain and dizziness.
Bladder Deficiency with Cold is often treated with Sang Piao Xiao San, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Praying Mantis Egg-Cases - Sang Piao Shao - as a key herb). Sang Piao Xiao San belongs to the category of "formulas that secure essence and stop enuresis", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Regulates and tonifies the Heart and Kidneys".
A herbal formula that might help with disorientation
Sang Piao Xiao San
Source date: 1116 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Regulates and tonifies the Heart and Kidneys. Stabilizes the Essence. Stops leakage.
Why might Sang Piao Xiao San help with disorientation?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Bladder Deficiency with Cold' of which disorientation is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Bladder Deficiency With Cold include forgetfulness, lower back pain and dizziness.
Acupuncture points used for disorientation
Praying Mantis Egg-Case might help with disorientation
Why might Praying Mantis Egg-Case (Sang Piao Shao) help with disorientation?
Because it is a key herb in Sang Piao Xiao San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Bladder Deficiency with Cold' (a pattern with disorientation as a symptom)
Praying Mantis Egg-Cases is a Neutral herb that tastes Salty and Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies Kidneys and strengthens Yang. Restrains Essence and decreases urination.
Other symptoms often associated with disorientation
Forgetfulness Lower back pain Dizziness White urethral discharge Feeling of cold Frequent urination