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Various Remarks on Pinellia Pastes (Banxia Qu)

Recently, all physicians have been using this medicine. Pharmacies also prepare it in large quantities. It is said that the preparation method was transmitted by immortals, hence the name "Immortal Pinellia" (Xian Banxia). It can resolve phlegm miraculously. If you do not believe it, grind seven or eight grains of Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia) and put them into a bowl of phlegm; the phlegm will immediately turn into clear water. The method is as follows: Take one jin (approx. 500g) of large Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia) and one jin of Calcined Lime (Duanshi). Add seven or eight bowls of boiling water to a basin, stir until cool, let it settle, and remove the dregs. Put the Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia) into the basin and stir by hand. Expose it to sun during the day and dew at night for seven days. Remove it and drain well. Wash it three or four times with Well Water (Jinghua Shui - drawn from a well early in the morning), soak for three days, changing the water three times daily. Remove and drain well. Then take eight liang of Alum (Baifan) and one jin of Mirabilite (Pinxiao/Mangxiao). Add seven or eight bowls of boiling water to a basin, mix the alum and mirabilite, stir until warm, and immerse the Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia) for seven days, again exposing it to sun and dew. Remove, wash with clean water three or four times, soak for three days, changing the water three times daily, then remove and drain well. Add the following herbs: Licorice Root (Gancao) and Southern Mint Herb (Nan Bohe), each four liang; Clove Flower Bud (Dingxiang), five qian; White Cardamom Seed (Baidoukou), three qian; Agarwood Wood (Chenxiang), one qian; Immature Bitter Orange Fruit (Zhishi), Costus Root (Muxiang), Szechwan Lovage Rhizome (Chuanxiong), and Cinnamon Twig (Rougui), each three qian; Tangerine Peel (Chenpi), Immature Bitter Orange Fruit (Zhiqiao), Schisandra Berry (Wuweizi), Green Tangerine Peel (Qingpi), and Amomum Fruit (Sharen), each five qian. These fourteen ingredients are sliced. Add fifteen bowls of boiling water and let cool to warm temperature. Soak the Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia) together with the herbs in the basin for two periods of seven days (fourteen days), exposing to sun and dew. Stir, then remove the herbs. Wrap the Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia) together with the herbs in white cloth, place on a hot kang (heated brick bed), cover with a vessel, and wait for the time it takes to burn three incense sticks. The herbs and Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia) will separate. Dry the Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia) for use. Patients with Phlegm-Fire syndrome should take this; within one day, fish-jelly-like substance will be excreted in stool, and within one night, the root of phlegm will be completely eliminated, never to return. In the *Compendium of Materia Medica* (*Bencao Gangmu*), under the section on Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia), an attached formula describes Processed Pinellia Rhizoma (Fazhi Banxia), whose preparation method differs from this. Currently, the "Immortal Pinellia" sold in pharmacies is merely soaked Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia) with its juice and flavor completely removed, then soaked in Licorice Root (Gancao) and dried. It tastes bland and slightly sweet upon entry, having completely lost its original nature. Although named "Immortal Pinellia," it is not prepared according to the aforementioned formula. Physicians also use this for deficient patients with phlegm, believing its nature is mild and non-desiccating. This is no different from eating Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia) dregs; what benefit does it offer?

For clearing phlegm, opening depression (resolving Qi stagnation), moving Qi, treating obstruction due to phlegm, managing phlegmatic diseases, and aphasia due to Stroke (Zhongfeng): Grind seven or eight grains, administer with Well Water (Jinghua Shui), and simultaneously massage the abdomen. After burning one incense stick, the patient will awaken and be able to speak.

Note by Zhao Xuemin: Gong Yunlin stated: The Pinellia prepared by the Immortal Formula, which transforms phlegm into water, is effective for treating conditions of excess Phlegm-Fire in robust individuals. It is contraindicated for deficient individuals with Phlegm-Fire.

Various Pinellia Pastes (Banxia Qu):
*Bencao Gangmu*, section on Processing Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia Xiuzhi): Cites Han Feixia's *Yitong* regarding the manufacture of Pinellia Paste (Banxia Qu), stating it can specifically treat various diseases, but does not record the preparation method.

Ginger Paste (Shengjiang Qu): Prepared by soaking in Ginger Juice (Jiangzhi); treats superficial and mild phlegm conditions.

Alum Paste (Fan Qu): Boiled thoroughly with Alum solution, mixed with Ginger; most effective for eliminating fluid retention, treating watery phlegm.

Soap Pod Paste (Zaojiao Qu): Soap pod juice is boiled down to a paste, mixed with Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia) powder to form the paste, or added with Aconite Lateral Root (Tian Nanxing) and a small amount of Musk (Shexiang); treats Wind-Phlegm and opens collaterals.

Bamboo Sap Paste (Zhuli Qu): Equal parts of White Mustard Seed (Baijiezi) or one-third, mixed with Bamboo Sap (Zhuli), slightly blended with paste starter; treats latent phlegm nodules located between the skin and fascia.

Hemp Seed Oil Paste (Mayou Qu): Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia) is soaked in Hemp Seed Oil (Mayou) for five days, fried dry, ground to powder, and formed into paste with starter; the oil moistens dryness, treating phlegm from deficiency cough and internal heat.

Ox Gallbladder Paste (Niudan Qu): Prepared in the twelfth lunar month using Ox Gallbladder (Niudan Dan) mixed with cooked honey; treats epilepsy and Wind-Phlegm.

Depression-Opening Paste (Kaiyu Qu): Equal parts of Cyperus Rhizome (Xiangfu), Atractylodes Rhizome (Cangzhu), and Chuanxiong, boiled into a paste, mixed with Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia) powder; treats stagnant phlegm.

Mirabilite and Rhubarb Paste (Xiaohuang Qu): Uses three-tenths Mirabilite (Mangxiao), boiled thoroughly with paste starter, ground to powder, and mixed with Rhubarb Decoction (Dahuang Gao); treats sudden stroke syncope or cold damage requiring purgation due to phlegm obstruction.

Sea Powder Paste (Haifen Qu): Contains half the amount of Sea Powder (Haifen) and Realgar (Xionghuang) relative to Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia), mixed with refined honey; treats chronic, entrenched phlegm accumulation.

Rosy Sky Paste (Xiatian Qu): Beef broth from yellow ox is boiled down to a paste named Rosy Sky Paste (Xiatian Gao). Mixed with Pinellia Rhizoma (Banxia) powder to form the paste; treats chronic, entrenched phlegm. All the above pastes are prepared according to the standard paste-making method: placed in a thatched hut for seven days until yellow mold grows, then hung in a ventilated place; the longer they age, the better.