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Pungent, warm, toxic. Soak in decoction, cook together with *Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus* (Zaojiao, 皂荚) and *Alumen* (Baifan, 白矾) until cooked, mix with *Zingiberis Recens Rhizoma* (Shengjiang, 生姜) juice, and dry by baking; or the four-method processing using Zaojiao, Baifan, Shengjiang juice, and *Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam* (Zhuli, 竹沥) is particularly excellent. For sore throat, use vinegar-processed Banxia. For pediatric convulsions due to phlegm-wind and insomnia due to Gallbladder deficiency, use pork bile-processed Banxia. When entering pills for the Spleen and Stomach, grind into fine powder, mix with Shengjiang juice as a binder, and process after aging. It is incompatible with *Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata* (Fuzi, 附子) and *Aconiti Radix* (Wutou, 乌头), due to its pungent-dry nature stimulating fierce properties. Avoid mutton blood, *Sargassum* (Haizao, 海藻), and *Saccharum* (Yitang, 饴糖), because sweet and greasy substances congeal and obstruct dispersing forces.

The *Shennong Bencao Jing* treats cold-heat alternating from Taiyang cold damage, hardness below the heart, chest distension, cough and qi reversal, dizziness, sore and swollen throat, borborygmus with descending qi, and stopping sweating.

Invention: Banxia is the principal herb of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder channel, also entering the Foot-Yangming Stomach and Foot-Taiyin Spleen channels. It is suitable for addition in cases of deficiency with phlegm-qi, and is most essential in formulas for cold-Stomach vomiting and hiccups. Stopping vomiting targets the Foot-Yangming, eliminating phlegm targets the Foot-Taiyin, and *Bupleuri Radix* (Chaihu, 柴胡) acts as its guiding herb; thus it is used in Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction). Although used to stop vomiting, it also assists Chaihu and Huangqin in treating alternating cold and heat. Does the *Bencao Jing*'s treatment of cold-heat in cold damage not rely on its pungent-warm power to dissipate nodules? Does the treatment of hardness below the heart and chest distension not rely on its power to break down accumulation and eliminate fullness? Does the treatment of cough/qi reversal and dizziness not rely on its power to wash out phlegm and scatter pathogens? Does the treatment of sore/swollen throat not rely on its power to resolve Yin-fire? Does the treatment of borborygmus, descending qi, and stopping sweat not rely on its power to promote urination and open phlegm? Combined with *Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma* (Cangzhu, 苍术) and *Poria* (Fuling, 茯苓) to treat damp-phlegm; combined with *Trichosanthis Fructus* (Gualou, 瓜蒌) and *Scutellariae Radix* (Huangqin, 黄芩) to treat hot-phlegm; combined with *Acoris Tatarinowii Rhizoma* (Nanxing, 天南星 - note: usually Aconitum carmichaelii lateral root processed, but here refers to Pinellia/Typhonium context, standardly Nanxing is Typhonii Rhizoma) and *Peucedani Radix* (Qianhu, 前胡) to treat wind-phlegm; combined with *Sinapis Semen* (Jiezi, 芥子) and Shengjiang juice to treat cold-phlegm. Only dry-phlegm is suitable for Gualou and *Ostreae Concha* (Beimu, 贝母); Banxia cannot treat it. Banxia’s dry nature removes dampness, resolves phlegm, and strengthens the Spleen. Nowadays people only know Banxia eliminates phlegm, ignoring its benefit to the Spleen and promotion of urination. If the Spleen has no retained dampness, it does not generate phlegm; thus, the Spleen is the source of phlegm generation, and the Lung is the vessel storing phlegm. Banxia can mainly treat phlegm-fluids and abdominal distension because its texture is slippery, taste pungent, and nature warm. Er Chen Tang (Two-Cured Decoction) makes stool moist and urine long. The common belief that Banxia and Nanxing are dry in nature is mistaken. When dampness is removed, Earth becomes dry, and phlegm-saliva does not form; this is not due to the dry nature of these two herbs. Ancient formulas treating sore throat, bi-throat, hematemesis, and lower bleeding often use these two herbs; they are not prohibited agents. Note: The *Ling Shu* states, "When Yang Qi is full, Yang is excessive and cannot enter Yin; when Yin is deficient, the eyes cannot close." Drinking one dose of Banxia Tang (Pinellia Decoction) to unblock Yin and Yang results in immediate sleep. Banxia combined with Gualou fruit and Huanglian is named Xiao Xian Xiong Tang (Minor Intrapectoral Decoction), treating minor intrapectoral syndrome in cold damage. Combined with egg white and vinegar, it is named Ku Jiu Tang (Bitter Wine Decoction), treating Shaoyin sore throat with sores and inability to speak. Combined with Shengjiang, it is named Xiao Ban Xia Tang (Minor Pinellia Decoction), treating fluid retention causing vomiting. Combined with Ginseng and white honey, it is named Da Ban Xia Tang (Major Pinellia Decoction), treating vomiting and retrograde regurgitation. Combined with *Ephedrae Herba* (Mahuang, 麻黄) and made into honey pills named Banxia Mahuang Wan (Pinellia-Ephedra Pill), treating palpitations below the heart. Combined with Fuling and *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma* (Gancao, 甘草), with Banxia boiled in vinegar and ground to powder, formed into pills with ginger juice and flour paste, named Xiao Shu Wan (Summerheat-Dispelling Pill), treating latent summerheat inducing thirst and Spleen-Stomach disharmony. These are all examples of the wonderful uses of Banxia. However, it is contraindicated in cases of Yin deficiency with emaciation, bone-steaming night sweats, headache due to fire stagnation, cough due to heat injury, as well as Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst) and Fei Wei (Lung Atrophy), cough with qi reversal and hemoptysis, and limb emaciation, because these are not damp-heat pathogens, yet using drugs that open orifices and move dampness will further exhaust body fluids. This is the physician's fault, not the herb's blame!