Muttering to oneself according to Chinese Medicine
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.
Muttering to oneself 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 muttering to oneself 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 muttering to oneself is often associated with red face, aphasia and coma in the pattern “Phlegm Fire harassing the Pericardium”. As you will see below, we have in record two patterns that can cause muttering to oneself.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of muttering to oneself we’ve identified five 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 muttering to oneself.
The two "patterns of disharmony" that can cause muttering to oneself
In Chinese Medicine muttering to oneself is a symptom for 2 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Pericardium is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Pericardium in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm Fire harassing the Pericardium
Pulse type(s): Overflowing (Hong), Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian), Full (Shi)
In addition to muttering to oneself, other symptoms associated with Phlegm Fire harassing the Pericardium include red face, aphasia and coma.
Phlegm Fire harassing the Pericardium 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 muttering to oneself, other symptoms associated with Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart include red face, aphasia and coma.
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".
Five herbal formulas that might help with muttering to oneself
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 muttering to oneself?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm Fire harassing the Pericardium' of which muttering to oneself is a symptom.
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 muttering to oneself?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm Fire harassing the Pericardium' of which muttering to oneself is a symptom.
Zhi Bao Dan
Source date: 1075
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Opens the sensory orifices. Resolves toxicity. Transforms Phlegm .
Why might Zhi Bao Dan help with muttering to oneself?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm Fire harassing the Pericardium' of which muttering to oneself is a symptom.
Hui Chun Dan
Source date: Late 18th century
Number of ingredients: 19 herbs
Key actions: Opens the sensory orifices. Arrests spasms and convulsions. Clears Heat and transforms Phlegm.
Why might Hui Chun Dan help with muttering to oneself?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm Fire harassing the Pericardium' of which muttering to oneself is a symptom.
Sheng Tie Luo Yin
Source date: 1732 AD
Number of ingredients: 15 herbs
Key actions: Sedates the Heart . Clears Phlegm. Clears Fire. Calms the Mind.
Why might Sheng Tie Luo Yin help with muttering to oneself?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart' of which muttering to oneself is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat muttering to oneself
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with muttering to oneself?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat muttering to oneself 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.
Why might Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi) help with muttering to oneself?
Because Tangerine Peel is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat muttering to oneself as a symptom, like Wen Dan Tang or Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang for instance.
Tangerine Peel is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and regulates the Middle Burner Qi. Dries Dampness and disperses Phlegm from the Lungs and Middle Burner. Reduces the potential for Stagnation caused by tonifying herbs.
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with muttering to oneself?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat muttering to oneself 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 Cinnabar (Zhu Sha) help with muttering to oneself?
Because Cinnabar is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat muttering to oneself as a symptom, like Sheng Tie Luo Yin or Zhi Bao Dan for instance.
Cinnabar is a Cool herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart.
Its main actions are: Calms the spirit and Heart. Stops convulsions. Clears Heat and toxins.
Why might Bamboo Shaving (Zhu Ru) help with muttering to oneself?
Because Bamboo Shaving is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat muttering to oneself as a symptom, like Wen Dan Tang or Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang for instance.
Bamboo Shavings is a Cool herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Gallbladder, the Stomach and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Clears Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs. Clears Heat in the Stomach and stops vomiting. Cools the Blood and stops bleeding.
Other symptoms often associated with muttering to oneself
Red face Aphasia Coma Rattling sound in the throat Incoherent speech Mental confusion Mucus Palpitations Bitter taste in the mouth Insomnia