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It primarily treats vomiting caused by Phlegm-Fluid (Tan Yin, fluid retention). It also treats Heart pain (Xin Tong), Qi reversal with fullness (Ni Man), throat pain (Yan Zhong Tong), cough accompanied by palpitations (Ke Ji), and borborygmus in the abdomen (Fu Zhong Lei Ming).

Evidence Examination
The syndrome of Da Banxia Tang (Major Pinellia Decoction) presents as: Vomiting.
In the above one formula, the dosage of Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) is two sheng.
The syndrome of Xiao Banxia Tang (Minor Pinellia Decoction) presents as: Vomiting, inability to swallow food.
The syndrome of Xiao Banxia Jia Fuling Tang (Minor Pinellia Decoction plus Poria) presents as: Vomiting. It also states: Dizziness accompanied by palpitations.
The syndrome of Banxia Houpo Tang (Pinellia and Magnolia Bark Decoction) presents as: A sensation of having a roasted meat piece stuck in the throat.
In the above three formulas, the dosage of Banxia is one sheng for each.
The syndrome of Banxia Xiexin Tang (Pinellia Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium) presents as: Vomiting accompanied by borborygmus.
The syndrome of Shengjiang Xiexin Tang (Ginger Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium) presents as: Fluid accumulation under the hypochondrium, borborygmus in the abdomen.
The syndrome of Gancao Xiexin Tang (Licorice Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium) presents as: Borborygmus in the abdomen. It also states: Dry retching.
The syndrome of Xiao Chaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) presents as: Vomiting. It also states: Cough. It also states: Palpitations in the epigastrium.
The syndrome of Da Chaihu Tang (Major Bupleurum Decoction) presents as: Unremitting vomiting.
The syndrome of Xiao Qinglong Tang (Minor Blue-green Dragon Decoction) presents as: Fluid accumulation in the epigastrium, dry retching, fever accompanied by cough. It also states: Spitting out saliva and froth.
The syndrome of Gegen Jia Banxia Tang (Kudzu Root plus Pinellia Decoction) presents as: Vomiting.
The syndrome of Huangqin Jia Banxia Shengjiang Tang (Scutellaria plus Pinellia and Ginger Decoction) presents as: Dry retching.
The syndrome of Yueshi Jia Banxia Tang (Jade Pillow plus Pinellia Decoction) presents as: Cough.
The syndrome of Linggan Jiangwei Xin Xia Tang (Poria, Atractodes, Zingiber, Schisandra, and Pinellia Decoction) presents as: Vomiting.
The syndrome of Gualou Xiebai Banxia Tang (Trichosanthes Fruit, Macrostemon Rhizome, and Pinellia Decoction) presents as: Heart pain.
The syndrome of Huanglian Tang (Coptis Decoction) presents as: Desire to vomit.
The syndrome of Fuzi Jingmi Tang (Aconite and Rice Decoction) presents as: Borborygmus in the abdomen. It also states: Qi reversal with fullness and vomiting.
The syndrome of Xiao Xianxiong Tang (Minor Chest Knot Decoction) presents as: Chest knot disease, located precisely in the epigastrium, painful upon pressure.
In the above fourteen formulas, the dosage of Banxia is half a sheng for each.
The syndrome of Banxia Kujiu Tang (Pinellia and Vinegar Decoction) presents as: Sores forming in the injured throat.
The syndrome of Gansui Banxia Tang (Kansui and Pinellia Decoction) presents as: Persistent hardness and fullness in the epigastrium.
In the above two formulas, the dosage of Banxia is fourteen or twelve rhizomes, approximately half a sheng.
The syndrome of Banxia San (Pinellia Powder) presents as: Throat pain.
The syndrome of Banxia Ganjiang San (Pinellia and Dried Ginger Powder) presents as: Dry retching with counterflow, spitting out saliva and froth.
The syndrome of Banxia Mahuang Wan (Pinellia and Ephedra Pill) presents as: Palpitations in the epigastrium.
In the above three formulas, Banxia and other herbs are used in equal proportions.

Having reviewed these formulas comprehensively, it is clear that Banxia primarily treats vomiting caused by Phlegm-Fluid; for the remaining syndromes, whenever vomiting is accompanied by Phlegm-Fluid, Banxia is indicated.

Cross-Examination
For vomiting, Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, Fresh Ginger) is the primary herb. For vomiting accompanied by Phlegm-Fluid, Banxia is the primary herb.
Xiao Banxia Tang and Wuling San (Five-Ling Powder) treat largely similar but slightly different conditions. Xiao Banxia Tang treats vomiting with Phlegm-Fluid, whereas Wuling San treats vomiting accompanied by difficult urination.
The record of the Da Banxia Tang syndrome in *Jinkui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet) is likely not the ancient original text. We now follow the text from *Waitai Miyao* (Secret Essentials of the Outer Palace).

Correction of Errors
I once read the entry for Banxia in *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica) stating: "Pregnant women should avoid Banxia because it dries up body fluids"; this thinking is extremely superficial. There is an ancient saying: "If there is a pathogen, there is no damage [to the healthy qi]." How sad! Pregnancy results from human effort and natural endowment, therefore Zhang Zhongjing did not prescribe specific fetal-nourishing drugs. This applies equally to postpartum periods. Thus, when treating illness with medicine, no contraindications were established. Therefore, for pregnant women with unremitting vomiting, Zhang Zhongjing used Ganjiang Renshen Banxia Wan (Dried Ginger, Ginseng, and Pinellia Pill). I have also treated pregnant women with retained fluid causing pulling pain, administering several doses of Shizao Tang (Ten Date Palm Fruit Decoction); they delivered on time without harm to mother or child. The ancient saying "If there is a pathogen, there is no damage" is indeed true. The notion that pregnant women must avoid Banxia is merely empty talk.

Product Examination
Banxia is identical in China and Japan. It is sliced before use. Contemporary physicians process it with ginger juice. This is because *Bencao* classified it under toxic herbs, and people feared its toxicity, thereby processing it to neutralize the toxicity, which consequently diminished its therapeutic efficacy.