Pinellia Root, Ban Xia, 半夏, Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae

Disclaimer    For educational purposes only.  Do not use as medical advice

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Health Benefits
For: Cough with excessive mucus • Wheezing • Nausea • Vomiting • Mucous • Toothache • Snake bites • Goiters • Chest pain and fullness
Attributes: Warming • Drying • Antitussive • Antiemetic
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Tincture

Dried Herb

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Research (sample)
Articles:
Constituents: 
Calcium oxalate • B-sitosterol • Nicotine • Coniine • Choline • Saponins • Daucosterol • l-ephedrine • Homogentisic acid • Protoanemonin

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Fun Facts
Other Names: Crow-dipper • Hange (Japanese) • Fa Ban Xia • Jiang Ban Xia
Plant Family: Araceae

Ban Xia unprocessed roots are a controlled substance in Hong Kong. [17]

The entire Ban Xia plant is toxic.  Ingesting raw Ban Xia will cause serious throat swelling, loss of voice, tongue numbness, gastric irritation, dyspnea, and respiratory failure.  Ban Xia contains calcium oxalate crystals that is toxic to humans.  These crystals are destroyed with heat and processing.

Species

Pinellia cordata, 滴水珠 di shui zhu (N. E. Brown)

Pinellia fujianensis, 闽半夏 min ban xia (H. Li & G. H. Zhu)

Pinellia integrifolia, 石蜘蛛 shi zhi zhu (N. E. Brown)

Pinellia pedatisecta, 虎掌 hu zhang (O. Schott)

Pinellia peltata, 盾叶半夏 dun ye ban xia  (C. Pei)

Pinellia polyphylla, 大半夏 da ban xia  (S. L. Hu)

Pinellia ternata, 半夏 ban xia (Thunberg - Tenore ex Breitenbach)

Pinellia tripartita, 三裂叶半夏 san lie ye ban xia (Blume - Schott)

Pinellia yaoluopingensis, 鹞落坪半夏 yao luo ping ban xia (X. H. Guo & X. L. Liu)

 

Growth
Pinelliae ternatae is in the USDA Plant Database.  Drill down via USDA Interactive Map:

USA: Pinelliae ternatae has been introduced to multiple states.  USDA Zones: 5a-8a

Native: China, Japan, Korea

Habitats: Shady and damp areas, mountain sides, river banks, roadsides

Category: Phlegm Cold 
English: Pinellia Root    Pinyin:  Ban Xia      Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae  
Organs: Lung • Spleen • Stomach  Temperature: Warm  Taste: Pungent • Toxic  Toxicity: Highly toxic, must be processed before use. Antidote: Sheng Jiang, Lu Dou, Ming Fan, Jin Yin Hua, Lian Qiao  
Patterns: Phlegm dampness • Coughing and wheezing with copious mucous • Phlegm cold • Spleen dampness 
Actions:  Transforms damp-phlegm • Direct stomach Qi downward• Stop cough/ wheezing • Relieve nausea & vomiting • Dissolve nodules and swellings
Indications: Cough with copious sputum • Wheezing • Nausea • Vomiting • Mucous • Toothache • Spleen dampness • Lung phlegm cold
Contraindications: Yin deficiency cough • Bleeding • Dehydration • Heat • Pregnancy • Incompatible with Wu Tou and Fu Zi • Antidepressant drugs • Blood pressure medication • Terfenadine (antihistamine) • Foods: lamb, goat
Typical Dosage: 5g to 12g; or mix powder with egg white for topical application          Guidelines
Parts Used: Root  
Other: Fan Ban Xia - deep fried with vinegar, Ming Fan, and Sheng Jiang • Jiang Ban Xia - fried with ginger juice
Combine With Purpose
Huang Qin + Zhi Mu + Gua Lou Cough with copious thick and yellow mucous
Tian Ma + Ma Jing Zi + Bai Zhu Hypertension; Dizziness and head ache from wind phlegm.  Chest tightness.
Chen Pi Stomach qi disharmony with abdominal distention, nausea, and vomiting
Gan Jiang + Gui Zhi + Xi Xin Coughing and wheezing with clear and thin mucous
Huang Lian Hot Cold pathogenic invasion with epigastric pain and indigestion
Xia Ku Cao Insomnia from phlegm heat
Ren Shen + Bai Mi Rebellious stomach qi leading to nausea and vomiting
Zhe Bei Mu Phlegm dampness cough
Gan Jiang + Ren Shen + Su Geng Morning Sickness
Hou Po Mucous generated cough, vomiting, and abdominal pain; antidepressant
Dui Yao Pairs Purpose
Ban Xia + Chen Pi 6g-10g each.  Normalize qi. Dry dampness.  Stop vomiting.  Thins mucous. Use Fa Ban Xia and dried/aged Chen Pi  for to stop cough from phlegm dampness.  Use Jiang Ban Xia and Chao Chen Pi (stir fried) for nausea, vomiting, and chest tightness from stomach disharmony. (ie. Er Chen Tang [15]
Ban Xia + Huang Lian 6g-10 g each. Epigastric pain and indigestion.  Thick and yellow mucous.  Wiry and slippery pulse.  Yellow and slimy tongue.  Hot and cold pathogenic signs.  Uses Jiang Ban Xia and ginger fried with Huang Lian (ie. Huang Lian Tang [15] 
Ban Xia + Huang Qin 6g-10 g each.  Use Jiang Ban Xia and dried Huang Qin for nausea and vomiting from Lesser Yang syndrome.  Use Jiang Ban Xia and stir fried Huang Qin for phlegm heat. [15] 
Ban Xia + Sheng Jiang 6g-10 g each.  Use Fa Ban Xia and fresh ginger to treats persistent cough and copious but clear, thin mucous.  Use Jiang ban Xia for nausea and vomiting.  [15] 
Ban Xia + Shu Mi Ban Xia (6-10g), Shu Mi (12g).  Treats insomnia from nausea, cough with thin mucous, and phlegm dampness. [15] 
Formulas with Ban Xia
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma TangBan Xia Hou Po TangBan Xia Xie Xin Tang • Bao He Wan • Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li TangDa Ban Xia TangDa Chai Hu Tang • Di Tan Tang • Ding Chuan Tang • Ding Xian Wan • Er Chen Tang • Hai Zao Yu Hu Tang • Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang • Hui Chun Dan • Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San • Lian Po Yin • Mai Men Dong Tang • Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan • San Ren Tang • Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang • Wen Dan Tang • Wen Jing Tang • Wu Ji San • Xiang Fu Xuan Fu Hua Tang • Xiao Ban Xia TangXiao Chai Hu TangXiao Qing Long TangXiao Xian Xiong Tang • Xing Su San • Xuan Bi Tang • Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang • Zhi Shi Xiao Pi Wan • Zhong Man Fen Xiao Wan • Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang   
Variations for Ban Xia

Raw Ban Xia should only be used topically for sores and ulcers.  Some practitioners use raw ban xia powder mixed with raw eggs and applied to the affected area.   Toxicity can be reduced via processing the raw form with ginger (Jiang) and Alum or Liquorice (Gan Cao).  The two common processed forms are Fa Ban Xia and Jiang Ban Xia.  When a decoction formula calls for Ban Xia, it usually refers to Fa Ban Xia. 

Fa Ban Xia: The herb is repeatedly soaked and rinsed until it's mildly spicy.  Then it is soaked in a liquorice/lime solution.   This form is often used to treat spleen deficiency dampness, coughing and wheezing with copious mucous.[ref]

Jiang Ban Xia: The herb is repeatedly soaked and rinsed until it's mildly spicy.  Then it is boiled with ginger and alum until thoroughly cooked.  Next it is sliced and dried.  This process makes the herb warm and drying, which treats dampness, rebellious qi, mucous, nausea and vomiting.  [ref]

Qing Ban Xia: The herb is repeatedly soaked and rinsed.  Then it is soaked in alum (Ku Fan) to reduce the toxicity.  It is also used to transform phlegm and dry dampness.

Alert
Be cautions with all medicine
  • This herb is toxic in raw form.  Always use processed Ban Xia for ingestion. 
  • Do not use if pregnant.  Research has show Ban Xia to exhibit fetal toxicity and induce disturbance in intermediary metabolism of pregnant rats. [ref]
Potential Drug Interactions

Herbal medicine may interact negatively with pharma drugs and other herbs.  Examples below:

Herbs: ♦ Incompatible with Fu Zi, Wu Tou, and Yi Tang ♦ Grapefruit Effect: Dang Gui, Bai Zhi

Pharma Drugs:♦ Grapefruit Effect: benzodiazepines midazolam (anit-depressants) , blood pressure reducers , terfenadine (antihistamine) , triazolam (anti-depressants)

Bibliography: [3], [5], [8], [16], [17]

Information in this post came from many sources, including class notes, practitioners, websites, webinars, books, magazines, and editor's personal experience.  While the original source often came from historical Chinese texts,  variations may result from the numerous English translations.   Always consult a doctor prior to using these drugs.  The information here is strictly for educational purposes. 

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