Pinellia Tuber – 1 lb (454 g)

Pinellia Tuber, known in Chinese as 半夏 (Bànxià) and scientifically as Rhizoma Pinelliae, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Pinellia Tuber carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Pinellia Tuber helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Pinellia Tuber provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Pinellia Tuber has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Pinellia Tuber, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Di Ci Gu, Yang Yan Banxia, Di Zhu Banxia, and Lao Guo Tou. It is the tuber of Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit., a plant of the Araceae family. It is found throughout most regions of China, mainly produced in Sichuan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Anhui, and other areas. It is harvested in summer and autumn, washed clean, with the outer skin and fibrous roots removed, then sun-dried.

[Properties] Pungent in taste, warm in nature, and toxic. Enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Lung meridians.

[Actions] Dries dampness and transforms phlegm; directs rebellious qi downward and stops vomiting; reduces distention and dissipates nodules.

[Applications] 1. Used for cough and asthma with excessive phlegm due to phlegm-dampness or phlegm-fluid retention. For cough and qi reversal caused by phlegm retention, often combined with Citrus reticulata (Chen Pi), Poria (Fu Ling), etc., as in Er Chen Tang. If accompanied by cold signs with copious clear thin phlegm, combined with dried ginger (Gan Jiang), Asarum (Xi Xin), etc.; if accompanied by heat signs with thick yellow phlegm, combined with Trichosanthes fruit (Gua Lou), Scutellaria (Huang Qin), etc.

2. Used for nausea and vomiting caused by rebellious Stomach qi, including regurgitation and hiccup. For water retention below the heart causing vomiting without thirst, often combined with fresh ginger (Sheng Jiang), as in Xiao Ban Xia Tang; for vomiting due to Stomach heat, combined with Coptis (Huang Lian), Bamboo shavings (Zhu Ru), etc.; for vomiting due to yin deficiency, combined with Gypsum (Shi Gao), Ophiopogon (Mai Dong), etc.; for vomiting due to Stomach qi deficiency, combined with Ginseng (Ren Shen), white honey, as in Da Ban Xia Tang; for pregnancy-related vomiting, often combined with Perilla stem (Su Geng), Amomum (Sha Ren), etc.

3. Used for epigastric fullness, chest binding syndrome, plum-pit qi, and scrofula phlegm nodules. For epigastric fullness due to phlegm-heat obstruction, combined with dried ginger, Coptis, Scutellaria, as in Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang; for phlegm-heat chest binding, combined with Trichosanthes fruit, Coptis, as in Xiao Xian Xiong Tang; for qi stagnation and phlegm accumulation causing plum-pit qi with sensation of obstruction in the throat, combined with Magnolia bark (Hou Po), Perilla leaf (Su Ye), Poria, as in Ban Xia Hou Po Tang; for scrofula and phlegm nodules, combined with kelp (Kun Bu), seaweed (Hai Zao), Zhejiang fritillary (Zhe Bei), etc.

4. Used for headache, dizziness, and insomnia. For headache due to phlegm reversal or dizziness due to phlegm-dampness, sometimes with vomiting of phlegm, often combined with Gastrodia (Tian Ma), Atractylodes (Bai Zhu), as in Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang; for internal phlegm-fluid retention with disharmony of Stomach qi causing restless sleep and insomnia, combined with millet (Shu Mi), as in Ban Xia Shu Mi Tang.

5. Used topically for carbuncles, sores, and snake bites. Fresh Ban Xia powder mixed with egg white can be applied externally, or fresh herb mashed and applied.

Additionally, for elderly patients with cold-type constipation or chronic diarrhea due to cold-dampness, Ban Xia combined with sulfur is used, as in Ban Liu Wan.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 3–9 g; or incorporated into pills or powders. External use: appropriate amount of raw herb powdered and mixed with water for topical application, or mixed with wine or vinegar for topical use. This herb is toxic and should be processed before use; raw herb is generally not taken internally.

[Cautions] Contraindicated with Aconitum (Fu Zi). Due to its warm and drying nature, it is forbidden in cases of bleeding disorders, yin deficiency with dry cough, or fluid injury with thirst.

[Modern Research] 1. Chemical constituents: Ban Xia contains levo-ephedrine, choline, hexadecenedioic acid, baicalin, baicalein, β-sitosterol and its glucosides, carotene glycosides, various amino acids, volatile oils, fatty oils, etc. It also contains proto-catechuic aldehyde and exogenous lectins.

2. Pharmacological effects: Experiments show that raw Ban Xia induces vomiting, while processed Ban Xia has antiemetic and anti-vomiting effects; Ban Xia has codeine-like antitussive effects, though weaker than phlegm-transforming codeine; its sterols, total alkaloids, or aqueous extracts inhibit growth of liver cancer cells, cervical cancer cells, and chronic myelogenous leukemia cells; Ban Xia aqueous extract has bronchodilatory and some antiarrhythmic effects; Ban Xia decoction alcohol precipitate protects gastric mucosa.

3. Clinical reports: (1) Coronary heart disease: raw Ban Xia and raw Nan Xing in equal parts, ground into fine powder, made into pills with water, 3.5 g per dose, three times daily. Treated 50 cases with a total effective rate of 71%. [Zhong Cao Yao, 1989,(4):10] (2) Chronic pharyngitis: processed Ban Xia (crushed) 500 g, with 2500 ml vinegar, made into oral liquid. 10 ml per dose, 2–3 times daily. Treated 564 cases: 342 cured, 170 improved, 52 ineffective. [Liaoning Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1981,(3):21] (3) Cervical erosion: raw Ban Xia ground into fine powder for local application, 1–2 times weekly, 8 times per course. Treated 1347 cases with a total effective rate of 97.2%. [Intermediate Medical Journal, 1983,(6):28] (4) Common warts: soften warts with warm water, scrape off keratinized layer, apply peeled fresh Ban Xia washed clean, rubbed on wart area for 1–2 minutes, 3–4 times daily. Treated 215 cases with a cure rate of 96.74%. [Shandong Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1991,(4):54]

Addendum: Fa Banxia (processed Ban Xia) is Ban Xia processed with licorice and fresh lime. It is pungent and warm, enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Lung meridians. Its action is mainly drying dampness and transforming phlegm, used for copious phlegm cough and asthma, phlegm-fluid palpitation, wind-phlegm dizziness, and phlegm-reversal headache. Internal use: decoction, 3–9 g.