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.
Mental confusion 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 mental confusion 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 mental confusion is often associated with aphasia, coma and incoherent speech in the pattern “Phlegm Misting the Heart”. As you will see below, we have in record three patterns that can cause mental confusion.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of mental confusion we’ve identified four herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat mental confusion.
The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause mental confusion
In Chinese Medicine mental confusion is a symptom for 3 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm Misting the Heart
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Thick coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
This is a condition where Phlegm enters the Heart and disturbs the Mind (Shen).
In addition to mental confusion, other symptoms associated with Phlegm Misting the Heart include aphasia, coma and incoherent speech.
Phlegm Misting the Heart is often treated with Wen Dan Tang, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Crow-Dipper Rhizomes - Ban Xia - as a key herb). Wen Dan Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that dry dampness and transform phlegm", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Phlegm".
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart
Pulse type(s): Overflowing (Hong), Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian), Full (Shi)
In addition to mental confusion, other symptoms associated with Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart include aphasia, coma and incoherent speech.
Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart is often treated with Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang, a herbal formula made of 7 herbs (including Crow-Dipper Rhizomes - Ban Xia - as a key herb). Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that dry dampness and transform phlegm", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Hot Phlegm".
The Pericardium is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Pericardium in Chinese Medicine
Heat in Pericardium
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Fine (Xi)
In addition to mental confusion, other symptoms associated with Heat in Pericardium include aphasia, coma and incoherent speech.
Heat in Pericardium is often treated with Qing Ying Tang, a herbal formula made of 9 herbs (including Water Buffalo Horns - Shui Niu Jiao - as a key herb). Qing Ying Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear nutritive-level heat", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears the Nutritive level Heat".
Four herbal formulas that might help with mental confusion
Wen Dan Tang
Source date: 1174 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Clears Phlegm. Clears Gallbladder. Regulates Qi. Harmonizes the Stomach.
Why might Wen Dan Tang help with mental confusion?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm Misting the Heart' of which mental confusion is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Phlegm Misting The Heart include aphasia, coma and incoherent speech.
Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang
Source date: 1852 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Clears Hot Phlegm. Clears Gallbladder Heat. Regulates Qi. Harmonizes the Stomach.
Why might Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang help with mental confusion?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart' of which mental confusion is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Phlegm-Fire Harassing The Heart include aphasia, coma and incoherent speech.
Qing Ying Tang
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears the Nutritive level Heat. Relieves Fire Toxin. Removes Heat. Nourishes Yin.
Why might Qing Ying Tang help with mental confusion?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heat in Pericardium' of which mental confusion is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Heat In Pericardium include aphasia, coma and incoherent speech.
Di Tan Tang
Source date: 1470 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Removes Phlegm. Opens the sensory orifices. Tonifies Qi.
Why might Di Tan Tang help with mental confusion?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm Misting the Heart' of which mental confusion is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Phlegm Misting The Heart include aphasia, coma and incoherent speech.
Acupuncture points used for mental confusion
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat mental confusion
Why might Crow-Dipper Rhizome (Ban Xia) help with mental confusion?
Because Crow-Dipper Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat mental confusion as a symptom, like Wen Dan Tang or Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang for instance.
Crow-Dipper Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Drains Dampness and reduces Phlegm. Reverses the flow of Rebellious Qi. Reduces hardenings and relieves distention.
Why might Immature Bitter Orange (Zhi Shi) help with mental confusion?
Because Immature Bitter Orange is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat mental confusion as a symptom, like Wen Dan Tang or Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang for instance.
Immature Bitter Oranges is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter, Pungent and Sour. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach and the Large intestine.
Its main actions are: Regulates the flow of Qi in the Middle Burner and reduces Food Stagnation. Moves Qi downward and helps constipation. Reduces Stagnant Phlegm and lessens distention and pain. For prolapse of organs when used with the appropriate herbs.
Why might Goldthread Rhizome (Huang Lian) help with mental confusion?
Because Goldthread Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat mental confusion as a symptom, like Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang or Qing Ying Tang for instance.
Goldthread Rhizomes is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Large intestine, the Liver, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Lower Burner. Eliminates Fire toxicity especially when there is associated Dampness. Acts as a sedative by eliminating Heart Fire. Eliminates Stomach Fire. Expel parasites
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with mental confusion?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat mental confusion as a symptom, like Wen Dan Tang or Di Tan Tang for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with mental confusion?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat mental confusion as a symptom, like Wen Dan Tang or Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Other symptoms often associated with mental confusion
Aphasia Coma Incoherent speech Red face Rattling sound in the throat Muttering to oneself Cold hands and feet Mucus Palpitations Bitter taste in the mouth