WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

It is the dried tuber of Pinellia ternata(Thunb.)Breit, family Araceae. The tubers are dug and collected in spring and autumn. After they are peeled and fibrous roots are removed, they are washed clean and dried in the sunshine. Shengbanxia( raw pinellia tuber) is processed with fresh ginger or alum to be used as a medicine.

[ Medicinal Properties ]: Pungent, warm and toxic; relate to spleen, stomach and lung meridians.

[ Medicinal Efficacies] : Dry dampness and resolve phlegm; suppress adverse rise of qi to stop vomiting; relieve stuffiness and dissipate nodulation; relieve swelling and pain.

[ Usage and Dosage ]: 3-9g. It is made into powder and applied on the affected parts with appropriate amount. It is usually used after processing. For instance, Jiangbanxia is very effective for suppressing adverse rise of qi and stopping vomiting and Fabanxia is usually used to dry dampness with mildly warm property.

[ Precautions ]: It is incompatible with Wutuo. Since it is warm and dry, it is used with caution to treat dry cough due to yin deficiency, hemorrhagic diseases and heat-phlegm.

[ Sidew Effects ]: Its toxic component can strongly stimulate local parts. It the raw medicinal is taken, it may cause numbness, swelling pain of tongue, pharynx and mouth resulting in slavering and difficulty in opening mouth, vomiting and even suffocation. Its toxin component is diffcult to dissolve in water, but it can be destroyed in case of prolonged heating. It cannot be destroyed with ginger juice alone, but it can be eliminated by alum.

[ Clinical Applications ]: 1. Damp-phlegm syndromes    For failure of spleen to promote water metabolism and obstruction by phlegm and dampness causing profuse sputum, cough and adverse rise of qi, it is  usually combined with Chenqi and Fuling in Erchen Decoction. For that accompanied with cold, profuse and clear sputum, Xixin and Ganjiang are combined. For that with fever and thick and yellowish sputum, it is used together with Huangqin, Zhimu and Gualou. For dizziness due to damp-phelgm, it is combined with Baizhu and Tianma in Banxia Tianma Baizhu Decoction.

2. Adverse rise of stomach qi manifested as nausea and vomiting      For vomiting due to cold-fluid retention, it is usually combined with Shengjiang in Xiaobanxia Decoction; for that due to stomach deficiency, combined with Renshen and Baimi in Dabanxia Decoction; for that due to stomach heat, combined with Huanglian and Zhuru; for that during pregnancy, combined with Zisugeng and Sharen.

3. Chest and epigastric fullness and distress, globus hystericus, goiter, subcutaneous nodule     For chestand epigastric fullness and distress with vomiting due to mixed accumulation of phlegm and heat, it is combined with Huanglian and Gualou in Xiaoxianxiong Decoction; for globus hystericus without fever due to qi stagnation and phlegm accumulation, used together with Houpo, Zisuye and Fuling in Banxia Houpo Decoction; for goiter and subcutaneous nodule, combined with Kunbu, Haizao and Zhebeimu.

4. Large carbuncle, mamary sore, bite by poisonous snake    It is ground into powder to apply on the affected parts.

In addition, it can dry dampness and harmonize stomach, so it is effective for disharmony of stomach and restlessness when combined with sorghum in Banxia Shui Decotion.

半夏为天南星科植物半夏Pinellia ternata(Thunb) Breit.的块茎。全国大部分地区均有。主产于四川、湖北、江苏、安徽等地。夏、秋二季茎叶茂盛时采挖，除去外皮及须根．晒干，为生半夏；一般用姜汁、明矾制过入药。