Chinese: 半硫丸
Pinyin: Bàn Liú Wán
Other names: Pinellia and Sulphur Pill
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that warm and purge
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: ImpotenceConstipationChronic diarrhea and one other condition
- Fortifies the Fire at the Gate of Vitality
- Expels Cold
- Unblocks the Yang
- Drains Turbidity
Contraindications: Although this formula is advised for elderly constipation, it should not be... Although this formula is advised for elderly constipation, it should not be taken in cases of Yin or Blood Deficiency. see more
Source date: 1107
Source book: Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People in the Taiping Era
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Ban Liu Wan is a 3-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Sulfur (Liu Huang) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 1107, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm and purge. Its main actions are: 1) fortifies the Fire at the Gate of Vitality and 2) expels Cold.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Ban Liu Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang or Empty-Cold. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as constipation in the elderly, chronic diarrhea or impotence for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the three ingredients in Ban Liu Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Ban Liu Wan helps treat.
The three ingredients in Ban Liu Wan
Liu Huang is a king ingredient in Ban Liu Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Sulfur (Liu Huang)
Part used: The mineral
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: SpleenKidneyLarge intestinePericardium
Category: Herbs for external application
Liu Huang strongly fortifies the Fire at the Gate of Vitality and activates Yang Qi. Furthermore, its sour taste protects the Yin, keeping Body Fluids in the Intestines to facilitate bowel movement. Warm herbs mostly cause constipation. Sulphur is the only one that is gentle and is able to promote bowel movement.
Ban Xia is a deputy ingredient in Ban Liu Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia)
Part used: Dried rhizome and tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Ban Xia is acrid and warm, which harmonizes the Stomach, and descends Qi. It is also bitter, which dries turbid Yin.
It thereby focuses the action of the key herb on the Yang
Brightness.
Sheng Jiang is an assistant ingredient in Ban Liu Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
3. Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang)
Sheng Jiang reduces the Toxicity of the two main ingredients, warms
the Middle Burner, disperses Cold, and facilitates the Qi movement by unblocking the Interstices. It acts as both assistant and envoy. It often used as form of Fresh ginger juice.
Conditions and patterns for which Ban Liu Wan may be prescribed
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Ban Liu Wan is used by TCM practitioners to treat two different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Constipation in the elderly Chronic diarrhea Impotence Constipation
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Ban Liu Wan treats constipation in the elderly" for instance. Rather, Ban Liu Wan is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind constipation in the elderly.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Ban Liu Wan.
'Deficient' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Deficiency / Empty in Chinese Medicine
Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Empty (Xu), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Edema Fatigue Lassitude Pale face Impotence Frigidity Pale urine Low energy Cold limbs Infertility Fear of cold Loose stools Desire warmth Watery stools Feeling of cold Profuse urination Frequent urination Night time urination Premature ejaculation Undigested food in the stools Clear white vaginal discharge abdominal pain relieved by presure and warmth
Ban Liu Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang. This pattern leads to symptoms such as feeling of cold, desire warmth, pale urine and undigested food in the stools. Patients with Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang typically exhibit deep (Chen), empty (Xu), slow (Chi) or weak (Ruo) pulses as well as Pale, swollen and moist tongue with possible white or wet coating.
Yang Deficiency is an Empty-Cold condition characterized by Coldness and Deficiency. If there is inadequate amount of Yang energy to warm the body or internal Organs, a general hypoactivity of the organic processes occurs, hence the patient is tried and not willing to move. Qi and Blood is more... read more about Yang Deficiency or Empty Yang
'Cold' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Cold pattern in Chinese Medicine
Empty-Cold
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Symptoms: Anemia Nasitis Sweating Pale face No thirst Dizziness No period Cold limbs Weak Limbs Weak voice Leukorrhea Listlessness Loose stools Palpitations Poor appetite Painful period Scanty periods Feeling of cold Clear urination Aversion to cold Frequent urination Shortness of breath
Ban Liu Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Empty-Cold. This pattern leads to symptoms such as feeling of cold, cold limbs, pale face and no thirst. Patients with Empty-Cold typically exhibit deep (Chen), slow (Chi) or weak (Ruo) pulses.
Full-Cold is mainly caused by external Cold Evil invasion or Yin Excess, while Empty-Cold is largely due to Deficient Yang or Qi, which fails to warm the body. Therefore the patients have cold limbs, feel cold and dislike cold.
Both pattern has Cold manifestations, but the Empty type is more for... read more about Empty-Cold
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