燥湿痰、宣通阴阳。
辛温。体滑性燥。能走能散。和胃健脾。除湿化痰。发表开郁。下逆气。止烦呕。发声
音。
救暴卒。（凡遇五绝之病、用半夏末吹入鼻中、即活、盖取其能作嚏也、五绝、谓缢死、溺
死、压死、魇死、产死也。）又能行水气。以润肾燥。利二便。止咽痛。（辛通、使气能化液
、故润燥、丹溪谓二陈汤、能使大便润而小便长、成无己伤寒明理论曰∶半夏辛散、行水气
而润肾燥、又惠民和剂局方、半硫丸、治老人虚秘、皆取其润滑也、俗以半夏南星为燥、误
矣、湿去则土燥、痰涎不生、非二物性燥也、古方治咽痛喉痹、吐血下血、非禁剂也、二物
亦能散血、故破伤扑打皆主之、唯阴虚劳损、则非湿热之邪、而用利窍行湿之药、是重竭其
津液、医之罪也、岂药之咎哉、皇甫谧甲乙经、用治不眠、是果性燥者乎、半硫丸与硫黄等
分、生姜糊丸。）治咳逆头眩。（火炎痰升则眩。）痰厥头痛。眉棱骨痛。（风热与痰。）胁痛
胸胀。伤寒寒热。痰疟不眠。（素问曰∶胃不和则卧不安、半夏能和胃气、而通阴阳、灵枢
曰∶阳气满、不得入于阴、阴气虚、故目不得瞑、饮以半夏汤、阴阳既通、其卧立至、又有
喘嗽不得眠者、左不得眠属肝胀、宜清肝、右不得眠属肺胀、宣清肺、服药无效者、不治。
）反胃吐食。（痰膈。）散痞除瘿。（瘿多属痰。）消肿止汗。（胜湿。）为治湿痰之主药。（汪
机
曰∶脾胃湿滞、涎化为痰、此非半夏、曷可治乎、若以贝母代之、翘首待毙、好古曰∶肾主
五液、化为五湿、本经为唾、入肝为泪、入心为汗、入肺为涕、入脾为痰、痰者、因咳而动
、脾之湿也、半夏泄痰之标、不能治痰之本、治本者、治肾也、咳无形、痰有形、无形则润
、有形则燥、所以为流脾湿而润肾燥之剂也、俗以半夏为肺药、非也、止呕为足阳明、除痰
为足太阴、小柴胡汤用之、虽云止呕、亦助柴芩、主寒热往来、是又为足少阳也、时珍曰∶
脾无湿不生痰、故脾为生痰之源、肺为贮痰之器、按有声无痰曰咳、盖伤于肺气、有痰无声
曰嗽、盖动于脾湿也、有声有痰曰咳嗽、或因火、因风、因寒、因湿、因虚劳、因食积、宜
分证论治、大法治嗽当以治痰为先、而治痰又以顺气为主、气顺则火降而痰消、宜以半夏南
星燥其痰、枳壳橘红利其气、肺虚加温敛之味、肺实加凉泻之剂。）主治最多。莫非脾湿之
证。（俗以半夏专为除痰、而半夏之功用、不复见知于世矣、小柴胡汤、半夏泻心汤、皆用
半夏、岂为除痰乎。）苟无湿者。均在禁例。古人半夏有三禁。谓血家、渴家、汗家也。若
非脾湿。且有肺燥。误服半夏。悔不可追。（赵继宗曰∶二陈治痰、世医执之、内有半夏、
其性燥烈、若风寒湿食诸痰则相宜、至于劳痰、失血诸痰、反能燥血液而加病。）孕妇服之
。能损胎。（若与参术并行、但有开胃之功、亦不损胎。）圆白而大。陈久者良。（合陈皮茯
苓甘草、名二陈汤、为治痰之总剂、寒痰佐以干姜芥子、热痰佐以黄芩栝蒌、湿痰佐以苍术
茯苓、风痰佐以南星前胡、痞痰佐以枳实白术、更看痰之所在、加引导药。）韩飞霞造曲十
法。一姜汁浸造。名生姜曲。治浅近诸痰。一矾水煮透。兼姜和造。名矾曲。矾最能却水。
治清水痰。一煮皂角汁炼膏。和半夏末为曲。或加南星。或稍加麝香。名皂角曲。治风痰。
开经络。一用白芥子等分。或三分之一竹沥和成。略加曲和。名竹沥曲。治皮里膜外。结核
隐显之痰。一麻油浸半夏三五日。炒干为末。曲糊造成。油以润燥。名麻油曲。治虚热劳咳
之痰。一用腊月黄牛胆汁。略加熟蜜和造。名牛胆曲。治癫痫风痰。一用香附苍术抚芎等分
。熬膏。和半夏末作曲。名开郁曲。治郁痰。一用芒硝居半夏十分之三。煮透为末。煎大黄
膏和成。名硝黄曲。治中风卒厥。伤寒宜下。由于痰者。一用海粉雄黄居半夏之半。为末
。炼蜜和造。名海粉曲。治积痰沉痼。一用黄牛肉煎汁炼膏。即霞天膏。和半夏末为曲。名
霞天曲。治沉 痼痰。以上并照造曲法。草罨七日。待生黄衣。悬挂风处。愈久愈佳。浸七
日。逐日换水。沥去涎。切片。姜汁拌炒。（性畏生姜、用之以制其毒、而功益彰。）柴胡、
射干为使。畏生姜、秦皮、龟甲、雄黄。忌羊血、海藻、饴糖。恶皂角。反乌头。（盘肠生
产、产时子肠先出、产后不收者、以半夏末、频 鼻中、则上也。）
Dries damp-phlegm, promotes the free flow of Yin and Yang.
Acrid and warm in nature. The substance is slippery, and its property is drying. It can circulate and disperse. Harmonizes the Stomach, strengthens the Spleen. Removes dampness, transforms phlegm. Releases the exterior, opens depression. Directs rebellious Qi downward. Stops vexation and vomiting. Restores voice.
Rescues sudden collapse. (Whenever encountering "Five Extinctions" conditions, blow Banxia powder into the nose, and life is restored, likely because it induces sneezing. "Five Extinctions" refers to hanging, drowning, crushing, night terrors, and dystocia.) It can also move Qi of water, thereby moistening Kidney dryness. Promotes urination and defecation. Stops throat pain. (Because acridity promotes unblocking, allowing Qi to transform into fluids, thus moistening dryness. Zhu Danxi stated that Erchen Tang can make stools moist and urine abundant. Cheng Wuji in *Shanghan Mingli Lun* said: Banxia is acrid and dispersing, moves water Qi and moistens Kidney dryness. Additionally, Banshu Wan in *Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang* treats elderly constipation due to deficiency, all utilizing its lubricating properties. The common belief that Banxia and Tian Nan Xing are drying agents is mistaken. When dampness is removed, the Earth becomes dry, and phlegm-fluids do not generate; it is not that these two substances are inherently drying. Ancient formulas treating throat pain, sore throat, hematemesis, and hematochezia were not contraindicated. These two substances can also dissipate blood stasis, hence they treat traumatic injuries. Only in cases of Yin deficiency and consumptive disease, where there is no damp-heat pathogen, using drugs that promote orifices and move dampness would further deplete fluids; this is the physician's fault, not the drug's. Huangfu Mi's *Jiayi Jing* uses it for insomnia; does this truly indicate a drying nature? Banshu Wan consists of equal parts Banxia and Sheng Huang, made into pills with ginger paste.) Treats cough with rebellious Qi and dizziness. (When Fire flares up and Phlegm rises, dizziness occurs.) Headache due to Phlegm-Jue. Pain in the supraorbital ridge. (Caused by Wind-Heat and Phlegm.) Hypochondriac pain and chest distension. Cold and heat alternating in Shanghan. Insomnia due to Phlegm-Malaria. (*Suwen* states: "When the Stomach is disharmonious, sleep is uneasy." Banxia can harmonize Stomach Qi and regulate Yin and Yang. *Lingshu* states: "When Yang Qi is full and cannot enter Yin, and Yin Qi is deficient, the eyes cannot close for sleep. Drinking Banxia Tang allows Yin and Yang to connect, and sleep follows immediately." For those with wheezing and coughing unable to sleep, inability to sleep on the left belongs to Liver distension, suitable for clearing the Liver; inability to sleep on the right belongs to Lung distension, suitable for clearing the Lungs. If medication is ineffective, it is incurable.) Regurgitation and vomiting of food. (Phlegm obstruction in the diaphragm.) Dissolves痞 (masses) and eliminates Ying (goiter). (Ying often belongs to Phlegm accumulation.) Reduces swelling, stops sweating. (Overcomes dampness.) As the principal herb for treating damp-phlegm. (Wang Ji said: "Spleen-Stomach damp stagnation causes saliva to transform into phlegm; without Banxia, who could treat this? If substituted with Bei Mu, one would merely wait for death." Li Haoguo said: "The Kidney governs the five fluids, transforming into five dampnesses. In *Benjing*, it is saliva; entering the Liver, it becomes tears; entering the Heart, sweat; entering the Lung, nasal discharge; entering the Spleen, phlegm. Phlegm arises from movement during coughing, which is Spleen dampness. Banxia drains the branch of phlegm but cannot treat the root. Treating the root means treating the Kidney. Cough is formless, phlegm is formed. Formless implies moisture, formed implies dryness. Thus, it is an agent to drain Spleen dampness and moisten Kidney dryness. The common view that Banxia is a Lung herb is incorrect. Stopping vomiting relates to the Foot-Yangming channel; eliminating phlegm relates to the Foot-Taiyin channel. In Xiaochaihu Tang, although used for stopping vomiting, it also assists Chaihu and Huangqin to treat alternating cold and heat, relating to the Foot-Shaoyang channel." Li Shizhen said: "Without Spleen dampness, phlegm is not generated; thus, the Spleen is the source of phlegm generation, and the Lung is the vessel storing phlegm. Sound without phlegm is called 'Ke', likely injuring Lung Qi; phlegm without sound is called 'Sou', likely moving Spleen dampness; sound with phlegm is 'Kesu'. Causes may include Fire, Wind, Cold, Dampness, Deficiency-Labor, or Food Stagnation; treatment should be differentiated by syndrome. Generally, treating Sou prioritizes treating phlegm, and treating phlegm prioritizes regulating Qi. When Qi is smooth, Fire descends and phlegm dissipates. Use Banxia and Nanting to dry phlegm, Zhike and Ju Hong to benefit Qi regulation. Add warming and astringent flavors for Lung deficiency, cooling and purgative agents for Lung excess.") Its indications are numerous, none other than Spleen-dampness syndromes. (The common view that Banxia is solely for eliminating phlegm has caused its other functions to be unknown. Xiaochaihu Tang and Banxia Xiexin Tang both use Banxia; is it only for eliminating phlegm?) If there is no dampness, it falls under contraindications. The ancients stated three prohibitions for Banxia: Blood families (hemorrhagic patients), Thirst families (polydipsic patients), and Sweat families (hyperhidrotic patients). If not Spleen-dampness, and accompanied by Lung dryness, accidental ingestion of Banxia leads to irreparable regret. (Zhao Jizong said: "Erchen Tang treats phlegm; physicians cling to it. It contains Banxia, which is acrid and drying. Suitable for phlegm due to Wind-Cold, Dampness, or Food, but for Labor-phlegm or hemorrhagic phlegm, it can dry blood and worsen the condition.") Pregnant women taking it can damage the fetus. (If administered concurrently with Renshen and Baizhu, it only benefits the Stomach appetite and does not damage the fetus.) Round, white, and large. Aged ones are superior. (Combined with Chenpi, Fuling, and Gancao, named Erchen Tang, the general formula for treating phlegm. For Cold-phlegm, assist with Ganjiang and Jiezi; for Heat-phlegm, assist with Huangqin and Gualou; for Damp-phlegm, assist with Cangzhu and Fuling; for Wind-phlegm, assist with Nanting and Qianhu; for Pi-phlegm, assist with Zhishi and Baizhu. Further, add guiding herbs based on the location of the phlegm.) Han Feixia's ten methods for making Qu (fermented medicine): 1. Soak in Ginger Juice. Named Shengjiang Qu. Treats superficial phlegm. 2. Boil in Alum Water until permeated, combined with Ginger. Named Fan Qu. Alum best removes water. Treats clear-water phlegm. 3. Boil Zaojiao juice to make paste, mix with Banxia powder to form Qu. Or add Nanting or a little Muxiang. Named Zaojiao Qu. Treats Wind-phlegm. Opens meridians. 4. Equal parts Baijiezi, or one-third Zhuli mixed together. Slightly mixed with Qu. Named Zhuli Qu. Treats phlegm nodules hidden within fascia and membranes. 5. Soak Banxia in Sesame Oil for 3-5 days. Stir-fry until dry, powder it. Form pills with Qu paste. Oil moistens dryness. Named Mayou Qu. Treats phlegm from deficiency-heat and consumptive cough. 6. Use bile from a yellow ox slaughtered in the twelfth lunar month. Mix with cooked honey. Named Niudan Qu. Treats epilepsy and Wind-phlegm. 7. Equal parts Xiangfu, Cangzhu, and Fuxiong. Boil to paste. Mix with Banxia powder to make Qu. Named Kaiyu Qu. Treats Depressed-phlegm. 8. Mangxiao constitutes three-tenths of Banxia. Boil until permeated, powder it. Mix with Dahuang paste. Named Xiaohuang Qu. Treats stroke and sudden syncope. Shanghan requiring purgation due to phlegm. 9. Haifen and Xionghuang constitute half of Banxia. Powder them. Mix with refined honey. Named Haifen Qu. Treats accumulated and entrenched phlegm. 10. Decoct yellow beef meat to make paste, i.e., Xiatiang Gao. Mix with Banxia powder to make Qu. Named Xiatiang Qu. Treats entrenched phlegm. All follow the Qu-making method. Cover with grass for seven days. Wait for yellow mold to grow. Hang in a windy place. The longer, the better. Soak for seven days. Change water daily. Drain saliva. Slice. Stir-fry with Ginger Juice. (Banxia fears Ginger; using it controls toxicity and enhances efficacy.) Chaihu and Shegan act as guides. Fears Ginger, Qinpi, Guijia, and Xionghuang. Avoids Yangxue, Haizao, and Yitang. Dislikes Zaojiao. Incompatible with Wutou. (In placenta entrapment, where the uterus prolapses first during delivery and fails to retract postpartum, frequently blow Banxia powder into the nose to cause sneezing, which helps the uterus retract.)