Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang半夏泻心汤

Pinellia Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium (Pinellia Combination)

Harmonizing 和解剂Harmonize Intestines and Stomach 调和肠胃

Ingredients7 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

半Jiang Ban Xia半夏洗Pinelliae Rhizoma praeparatum12g君 ChiefOpens the knot with acrid warmth, downbears rebellion and stops vomiting 黄Huang Qin黄芩Scutellariae Radix9g臣 DeputyBitter and cold — drains the heat downward out of the epigastrium 干Gan Jiang干姜Zingiberis Rhizoma9g臣 DeputyWarms the middle and scatters cold alongside Ban Xia 人Ren Shen人参Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma9g佐 AssistantRebuilds the middle qi whose weakness allowed the knot to form 黄Huang Lian黄连Coptidis Rhizoma3g臣 DeputyClears heat and dries damp in the middle burner 大Da Zao大枣擘Jujubae Fructus4枚佐 AssistantSupplements the Spleen and moderates the harsher herbs 甘Zhi Gan Cao甘草炙Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (honey-fried)9g使 EnvoyAugments qi and harmonizes the deliberately opposed acrid and bitter herbs

Indications

Harmonizes the Stomach and disperses epigastric clumpingDownbears rebellious qi and stops nauseaOpens with acrid warmth while draining with bitter cold

Cold and heat knotted in the middle burner: heat above and cold below, with the Spleen's upbearing and the Stomach's downbearing both lost. The distinguishing sign is fullness without pain on pressure — which is what separates it from an accumulation that must be attacked.

Clinical Manifestations

Epigastric fullness that is soft and not tender to pressure
Nausea, retching or vomiting
Borborygmus with loose or watery stools
Poor appetite with a bitter or sticky mouth
Chronic gastritis and functional dyspepsia presentations

TongueThin yellow greasy coating, often on a pale body

PulseWiry and rapid, or wiry and slippery

Health Categories

Digestive Health

Modern Applications

Chronic gastritis Functional dyspepsia Gastroesophageal reflux Nausea Diarrhea

Common adjustments

Heat predominates (bitter mouth, thicker yellow coating) — increase Huang Lian 黄连 and Huang Qin 黄芩
Cold predominates (clear watery stools, cold abdomen) — increase Gan Jiang 干姜 and lighten the bitter cold herbs
Acid reflux and belching prominent — pair Huang Lian 黄连 with Wu Zhu Yu 吴茱萸 — the Zuo Jin Wan 左金丸 pairing
Food stagnation with sour belching — add Shen Qu 神曲 and Mai Ya 麦芽

Contraindications

Not for epigastric pain that worsens on pressure, which points to a real accumulation needing a different strategy, and not for fullness from Spleen-yang collapse alone. Ban Xia must be the processed form; it is classically listed as incompatible with the aconite family (Wu Tou, Fu Zi). The bitter cold herbs are hard on a cold, weak Stomach if the balance is not adjusted to the patient.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Practitioner supervision required — Ban Xia is traditionally restricted in pregnancy, although experienced practitioners do use ginger-processed Ban Xia for severe pregnancy nausea; it should never be self-prescribed.

Related Formulas

References

Source Shang Han Lun 《伤寒论》 · Eastern Han

「但满而不痛者，此为痞，柴胡不中与之，宜半夏泻心汤。」
— 《伤寒论》(classical source, public domain)

Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— pattern analysis cross-checked.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.