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Fa Ban Xia法半夏

Pinelliae Rhizoma praeparatum · Prepared Pinellia Rhizome (lime and licorice cured)

Herbs that Transform Phlegm and Stop Coughing 化痰止咳平喘药Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing 《神农本草经》(for the parent herb 半夏)

Overview

Pinellia rhizome cured with lime and licorice — the mildest of the standard processed forms, and the one most often dispensed for damp-phlegm in the middle burner. Raw Pinellia is toxic and fiercely irritating to the throat and gut; curing removes that harshness and leaves an acrid, warm, drying herb that dries damp, transforms phlegm and settles rebellious Stomach qi. Compared with ginger-cured Jiang Ban Xia 姜半夏, which leans toward stopping vomiting, and water-cured Qing Ban Xia 清半夏, which leans toward Lung phlegm, Fa Ban Xia is the balanced middle-burner choice.

Nature & Flavor

Acrid · Warm

Channels

Spleen · Stomach · Lung

Typical Dosage

3–9 g in decoction
法半夏Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Dries damp, transforms phlegmCough with copious white sputum, chest oppression, dizziness and a heavy head from damp-phlegm; the chief herb of Er Chen Tang 二陈汤.
  • Directs rebellious qi downward, stops vomitingNausea, vomiting, hiccup and reflux, particularly with a cold or damp Stomach.
  • Disperses clumping, relieves epigastric blockageFullness and stuck blockage at the epigastrium — the herb behind the Xie Xin Tang 泻心汤 group, and behind Ban Xia Hou Po Tang 半夏厚朴汤 for the plum-pit sensation in the throat.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Fa Ban Xia

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Cough with copious white or foamy sputum
    - Nausea, vomiting, hiccup and reflux
    - Epigastric fullness and blockage
    - Dizziness and heavy head from damp-phlegm
    - Plum-pit sensation in the throat

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Chronic bronchitisNausea and vomitingGERDGlobus sensationVertigo

Contraindications

Cautions

Only processed Pinellia is taken internally — raw Ban Xia is toxic and is never dispensed for internal use. Warm and drying, so it is wrong on its own for dry cough from yin deficiency, for coughing of blood, or where there is any bleeding tendency. It belongs to the classical eighteen incompatibilities: not combined with Wu Tou or Fu Zi preparations.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Use with caution. Classical practice does use processed Pinellia for severe pregnancy vomiting, but only under practitioner supervision.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

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.