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Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma)

Pungent, neutral in nature; raw is slightly cold, cooked is warm, and it is toxic. It mainly treats chills and fever caused by Shanghan (Cold Damage), hardness below the heart, descends rebellious Qi, relieves swelling and pain of the throat and pharynx, dizziness, chest distension with cough and rebellious Qi, abdominal borborygmus, stops sweating, eliminates phlegm-heat accumulation in the heart, abdomen, chest, and diaphragm, treats cough with rebellious Qi, acute pain and hard palpable masses below the heart, vomiting and rebellious Qi due to seasonal epidemics, dissipates carbuncles and swellings, induces abortion, treats sallow complexion, and enhances facial luster. Raw Banxia causes vomiting, while cooked Banxia promotes bowel movement. When used, it must be washed with hot water until the slippery sensation is completely removed. Also known as Shoutian, Diwen, Shuiyu, and Shigu. Grows in the valleys of Huaili. The roots are harvested in May and August and dried in the sun. (Shegan (Belamcandae Rhizoma) serves as its guiding herb; it is incompatible with Zaojia (Gleditsiae Fructus Spina); it fears Xionghuang (Realgar), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), Qinpi (Ailanthi Cortex), and Guijia (Testudinis et Chelonis Carapax et Plastrum); it is chemically opposite to Wutou (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata).)

Tao Hongjing stated: Huaili belongs to Fufeng Commandery. Currently, the best quality comes from Qingzhou, though Wuzhong also produces it. Those with white flesh are superior. It does not spoil with age. Before use, it must be washed with hot water more than ten times until the slippery sensation is gone; otherwise, it will irritate the throat. In prescriptions containing Banxia, Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) must be included to counteract its toxicity. Tang Ben Zhu noted: Banxia is found everywhere. Those growing in flat marshes are called Yangyan Banxia (Sheep's Eye Pinellia), and those that are round and white are considered excellent. However, those from Jiangnan are large, up to one cun in diameter, and highly valued by Southerners. Recently, they have been used interchangeably, but their efficacy differs significantly. Inquiry with Southerners revealed that its sprout is Youba (Iris tectorum). Tao's annotation states: Huzhang (Arisaema cum Baccis) resembles Banxia closely. The annotation mentions Youba refers to Iris tectorum, yet in this note, it seems to refer to Youba, causing confusion among the three items, which Tao Hongjing ultimately failed to distinguish. Ministers Yuxi and others carefully followed the Shu Ben Cao stating: Cooked Banxia can resolve phlegm. Tu Jing stated: The sprout has a single stem with three leaves at the tip, and two overlapping roots, smaller at the top and larger at the bottom. Harvested in May, they are hollow and small; harvested in August, they are solid and large. Upon harvesting, they should be buried in ash for two days, washed with hot water, and dried. Yao Xing Lun stated: For Banxia, avoid Yangxue (Ovis Blood), Haizao (Sargassum), and Yitang (Maltose); Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) serves as its guiding herb. It has great toxicity. It should be rinsed with hot water ten times to remove all saliva/phlegm. Its toxicity is controlled by using equal parts of Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens). It can eliminate phlegm and saliva, open the stomach and strengthen the spleen, stop vomiting, remove fullness of phlegm in the chest, descend Lung Qi, and treat cough with congestion. Fresh Banxia, when ground and applied externally, can resolve persistent carbuncles and remove tumors and goiter qi. It is added for deficiency with phlegm-q stagnation. Ri Hua Zi stated: Sour and pungent. It treats vomiting and food regurgitation, cholera with muscle cramps, intestinal and abdominal cold-phlegm malaria.

Tu Jing stated: Banxia grows in the valleys of Huaili and is now found everywhere, with the best quality coming from Qizhou. In February, a single stem emerges with three leaves at the tip, light green, resembling bamboo leaves but glossy; those in Jiangnan resemble Peony leaves. The roots grow overlapping below, larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, with yellow skin and white flesh. Roots are harvested in May or August, buried in ash for two days, washed with hot water, and dried. One theory says May-harvested ones are hollow and small, while August-harvested ones are solid and large. However, round, white, and aged ones are best. Those growing in marshes are very small and named Yangyan Banxia (Sheep's Eye Pinellia). Additionally, Youba (Iris tectorum) strongly resembles Banxia, but its sprout is nearly one to two chi tall, and the root is egg-sized, often growing under forests. Some say it is a small form of Huzhang (Arisaema cum Baccis), which can cause confusion. Banxia mainly treats cold-stomach vomiting and hiccups, being one of the most essential herbs in formulas. Zhang Zhongjing treated food regurgitation and vomiting with Dabanxia Tang (Major Pinellia Decoction): Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) 3 sheng, Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) 3 liang, White Honey 1 sheng. Mix with 12 sheng of water, stir vigorously 120 times, decoct to obtain 3.5 sheng. Take 1 sheng warm, twice daily. It also treats fluid retention between the diaphragm. It further treats vomiting and hiccups where grain cannot pass down, dizziness, and palpitations. Banxia Jia Fuling Tang (Pinellia Decoction with Poria) consists of: Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) 1 sheng, Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) half a jin, Fuling (Poria) 3 liang. Cut into pieces, decoct with 7 sheng of water to obtain 1.5 sheng. Divide into warm doses. It also treats palpitations below the heart. Banxia Mahuang Wan (Pinellia and Ephedra Pill) uses equal parts of the two herbs, sifted into powder, formed into honey pills the size of small beans. Take 3 pills per dose, three times daily. Other formulas include Hanjue Chi Wan (Cold Reversal Red Pill) for cold reversal, and Sini Tang (Four Reversals Decoction) for vomiting. Fuzi Jingmi Tang (Aconite and Coix Seed Decoction) is a Shanghan formula: Use Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) 1 sheng, wash to remove slipperiness, dry and roast, grind to powder. Mix with Wheat Flour 1 sheng, knead with water until cooked, form into pills the size of quail eggs. Boil in water until the flour is cooked, then the medicine is ready. Swallow 4-5 pills initially, twice daily, gradually increasing to 15 pills. Cook and take immediately. If symptoms subside, continuing the dosage is beneficial. Avoid eating maltose and mutton.

Lei Gong stated: When using, do not mistakenly use the seeds of Bai Pangzi, which look like Banxia but taste slightly sour when chewed, and are not used medicinally. If processing 4 liang of Banxia, mix with 2 liang of ground Baijiezi (Brassicae Semen) and 6 liang of first vinegar. Stir until turbid, immerse the Banxia, wash three times, and use. Banxia contains interstitial saliva; if not washed clean, it causes rebellious Qi and liver qi stagnation with anger. Shenghui Fang treated epidemic fevers with vomiting and inability to eat: Use Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) half a liang, soak in hot water and wash seven times to remove slipperiness. Mix with 1 liang of chopped Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens). Decoct with one large bowl of water until reduced to 60%. Strain. Divide into two doses, take warm at any time. Another prescription treated scorpion stings where five holes were connected: Grind Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) one fen into powder, mix with water, and apply. Jingyan Houfang regulated the stomach: Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) 2 liang, Tian Nanxing (Arisaematis Rhizoma) 2 liang. Grind into powder. Place in a jar with 5 sheng of water, stir well, soak overnight, discard clear water, dry and roast, grind finely. Take 2 qian of powder with 2 bowls of water and 3 slices of ginger, decoct to 80%, take warm. Effective after five doses. Doumen Fang treated chest and diaphragm stagnation, resolving phlegm and opening the stomach: Wash and dry clean Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), grind into powder. Mix with fresh juice of Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) to form cakes. Wrap in wet paper, bake slowly over low heat until fragrant and cooked. Add one cake (size of a quail egg) to 2 bowls of water with half a qian of salt, decoct to 1 bowl, take warm. It removes chest-diaphragm rebellious Qi, suppresses phlegm toxins, and treats damage from alcohol and food, with verified efficacy. Jianyao Zhizhong treated long-standing cold accumulation, inability to eat, incessant vomiting, and cold in the stomach: Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) 5 liang, washed and powdered. Take 2 qian per dose. Mix with 1 liang of white flour, knead with water, cut into chess-piece shapes, boil until flour is cooked. Take mixed with Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and vinegar. Gujin Luyan treated throat obstruction (Houbi): Take Banxia powder one square inch scoop. Open an egg at the head, remove yolk and white, fill with pure vinegar, add Banxia powder, stir inside the eggshell. Sit the shell on a ring over charcoal, cook until done. Place in a cup, swallow when slightly warm. Qian Xiang Gong's Box Formula treated scorpion stings: Grind Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) with water and apply; relief is immediate. Shenshi Fang treated continuous sweating in Shanghan disease: Wash cooked Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), dry, powder, and take one qian-bi with Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) tea. Zimu Milu treated pediatric abdominal distension: Wash a small amount of Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), powder, mix with wine to form pills the size of millet grains. Take 2 pills swallowed with Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) tea. If not cured, increase dosage, twice daily. Alternatively, roast over fire, powder, and apply to the umbilicus. Another prescription treated "Five Extinctions" (sudden death-like states): 1. Hanging, 2. Crushed by walls, 3. Drowning, 4. Nightmares/demonic possession, 5. Childbirth complications. For all five, use 1 liang of Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), powder, form pills the size of soybeans, insert into the nose. If the heart is still warm, it can be treated within one day. Chanshu treated postpartum fainting: 1 liang of Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), powder, mix with cold water to form soybean-sized pills, insert into nostrils for immediate recovery. This is the method of Bian Que.

Yuyao Yuan treated diaphragmatic stagnation and wind-phlegm: Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) as needed. Soak in sour bean water overnight, wash 5-7 times with warm water to remove bad odor, dry in the sun, powder. Knead with rice water to form cakes, dry in the sun, powder again. For every 5 liang, add 1 qian of Sheng Naozi (Borneolum Syntheticum), grind uniformly. Form chicken-head-sized pills with thick rice water. Store in gauze bags, dry in shade in a ventilated place. Take one pill with good tea or Mint Tea. Ziling Yuanjun Nanyue Furen Neizhuan treated sudden death: Blow Banxia powder (soybean-sized) into the nose.

Yanyi stated: People today only know Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) resolves phlegm, not that it benefits the spleen, likely because it separates fluids. The Spleen dislikes dampness; dampness makes it soggy and sluggish, preventing it from controlling fluids. The Classic states: Excess dampness leads to diarrhea. A man suffered frequent nocturia. Someone advised crushing 1 liang of Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), washing Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) with hot water, mixing with 30 dates, boiling in 1 sheng of water in a porcelain bottle over slow fire to make a tea. Sip occasionally. Cured in a few days.