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Pinellia Rhizome (Banxia): Flavor pungent, nature warm, toxic. All substances with an extremely pungent flavor inherit the property of autumnal Metal to converge and descend; therefore, their force is capable of moving downward, making them the principal herbs for descending stomach Qi and pacifying rebellious Qi. Because they can descend stomach Qi and pacify rebellious Qi, they are able to stop vomiting, guide damp-phlegm from the lungs and stomach downward, grasp Qi, and calm asthma. They treat rebellious Qi of the Stomach, hematemesis, and epistaxis (The *Neijing* states that rebellious Qi of the Yangming channel causes epistaxis and vomiting blood; rebellious Qi of the Yangming channel refers to rebellious Qi of the Stomach). However, pharmacies, due to its toxicity, boil it in alum water. This excessive counteraction eliminates the pungent flavor entirely, leaving mostly the taste of alum, which induces vomiting. Even the "Qing Banxia" sold by pharmacies contains alum. While it may be acceptable for draining damp-phlegm, it is highly unsuitable for stopping vomiting, hematemesis, or epistaxis. In treating such conditions, I always rinse it several times with lukewarm water before use. However, repeated rinsing reduces its potency; thus, the dosage must be increased.

Since the processing of Pinellia Rhizome in pharmacies was improper, during mid-spring or mid-autumn, I would take several jin of raw Pinellia Rhizome, soak it in hot water, changing the water once daily. After ten days, I would split the rhizomes into two halves, place them back in a pot, add ample cool water, bring to a boil once, quickly remove them along with the decoction, place them in a basin, wait for the water to cool, then wash and sun-dry them for preparation. For each usage of one liang, decoct in enough water to yield two teacups of liquid, mix in two liang of pure honey, and swallow slowly. Regardless of how severe the vomiting, it invariably stops. The ancients used Pinellia Rhizome after soaking in boiling water seven times; initially, there was no use of alum processing.

[Attached Case] A boy surnamed Wang from a neighboring village, aged twelve or thirteen, suddenly found himself unable to move his body upon waking in the morning. His family was too poor to afford medicine. I gifted him my self-prepared Pinellia Rhizome, advising him to grind it into powder. He took half a qian per dose, delivered with a decoction of fresh ginger, twice daily. After approximately twenty days, his illness was completely cured. This is because the self-prepared Pinellia Rhizome retained its pungent flavor; not only could it drain phlegm, but it also possessed the power to open blockages caused by wind-cold-dampness.

On a certain day in Japan, a British military surgeon suffered from recurrent vomiting and had been fasting for a long time. His brother and an American physician, Mr. XX, collaborated on his treatment, but the vomiting persisted. They sought my consultation. At that time, he was considered incurable, and they merely asked me to determine his prognosis. The American physician and others recounted the patient's symptoms and the course of treatment to me in detail. I said to them: "I have a strategy; let us try it tentatively." I returned home, consulted Chinese medical texts, prepared Xiao Banxia Jia Fuling Tang (Minor Pinellia Decoction plus Poria), stored it in a bottle for their administration. After one or two doses, a miraculous effect appeared, and within a few days, he made a complete recovery. Since then, Pinellia Rhizome infusions have become a type of antiemetic, first popularized in medical universities, and subsequently adopted by various hospitals and practitioners.

Note: If this condition were treated with Da Banxia Tang (Major Pinellia Decoction) added with Hematitum (Ochre), the efficacy would be even greater. Prolonged vomiting damages fluids and Qi; Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) in the formula generates fluids and tonifies Qi, while adding Ochre assists this action, directing the force specifically downward. If heat signs are present, Asparagus Fern Root (Tian Dong) can be added as an assistant. If self-prepared Pinellia Rhizome is unavailable, one may use about one liang of pharmacy-grade Qing Banxia, thoroughly rinsed to remove the alum taste, before decocting.