Chinese: 半夏白术天麻汤
Pinyin: Bàn Xià Bái Zhú Tiān Má Tāng
Other names: Pinellia White Atractylodes and Gastrodia Decoction, Ban Xia Tian Ma Bai Zhu Tang
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that transform Phlegm and extinguish Wind
Mother formula: Er Chen Tang
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: HypertensionMeniere's diseaseTubercular meningitis and one other condition
- Dries and dissolves Phlegm
- Strengthens the Spleen
- Smoothes the Liver and calms Liver Wind (antispasmodic)
Contraindications: Contraindicated for vertigo from either ascendant Liver Yang or Blood... Contraindicated for vertigo from either ascendant Liver Yang or Blood Deficiency. see more
Source date: 1732 AD
Source book: Awakening of the Mind in Medical Studies
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 Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia) and Gastrodia Rhizomes (Tian Ma) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1732 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that transform Phlegm and extinguish Wind. Its main actions are: 1) dries and dissolves Phlegm and 2) strengthens the Spleen.
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 Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Phlegm or Wind-Phlegm. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as meniere's disease, hypertension or tubercular meningitis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eight ingredients in Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang helps treat.
The eight ingredients in Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang
Ban Xia is a king ingredient in Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia)
Part used: Dried rhizome and tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Ban Xia dries Dampness, transforms Phlegm, and directs Rebellious Qi downward (to treat the nausea and vomiting).
Tian Ma is a king ingredient in Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Gastrodia Rhizomes (Tian Ma)
Part used: Dried tuber
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: Liver
Category: Herbs that pacify Internal Liver Wind and stop Tremors
Tian Ma enters the Liver Channel to nourish the Yin Fluids, calm the Liver, and extinguish Wind. It is a good complement to Crow-dipper rhizome (Ban Xia) because, without it, its pungent nature could easily stir up even more Wind. This doesn't happen thanks to the moistening character of Gastrodia rhizome which helps extinguish Wind. As the 13th-century physician Li Dong-Yuan wrote in Discussion of the Spleen and Stomach: "Headache due to Phlegm rebelling in the leg greater Yin [Meridian and Organ] cannot be treated without Crow-dipper rhizome (Ban Xia); spots before the eyes and vertigo are due to internal movement of Wind from Deficiency and cannot be eliminated without Gastrodia rhizome (Tian Ma)."
Bai Zhu is a deputy ingredient in Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Bai Zhu reinforces the actions of the main ingredients in treating Phlegm. Its sweet warmth tonifies the Spleen, its bitterness dries Dampness, and its aromatic quality supports the transportive and transformative functions of the Spleen. It promotes water metabolism, yet also generates Body Fluids and thereby addresses the Fluids disharmony that is at the heart of the pattern treated by this formula.
Chen Pi is an assistant ingredient in Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi)
In general Chen Pi's main actions are as follows: "Warms the Spleen and regulates the Middle Burner Qi. Dries Dampness and disperses Phlegm from the Lungs and Middle Burner. Reduces the potential for Stagnation caused by tonifying herbs."
In the context of Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang, it is used because it regulates the Qi by directing excessive Qi downward, transforming and eliminating Phlegm.
Fu Ling is an assistant ingredient in Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
In general Fu Ling's main actions are as follows: "Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit."
In the context of Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang, it is used because it strengthens the Spleen and leaches out Dampness.
Sheng Jiang is an envoy ingredient in Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
6. Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang)
In general Sheng Jiang's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Warms and circulates Qi in the Middle Burner. Calms a restless fetus and treats morning sickness. Treats seafood poisoning."
In the context of Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang, it is used because it , together with Jujube dates (Da Zao), harmonizes the Stomach and Spleen.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
7. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Gan Cao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs."
In the context of Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang, it is used because it harmonizes the actions of the other herbs and mildly regulates the functions of the Middle-Burner.
8. Jujube Dates (Da Zao)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Da Zao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Qi. Tonifies the Blood. Calms the Shen (spirit). Moderates the actions of other herbs in formula."
Conditions and patterns for which Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang 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 Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang 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:
Meniere's disease Hypertension Tubercular meningitis Benign positional vertigo
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang treats meniere's disease" for instance. Rather, Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind meniere's disease.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang.
Body Fluids (Jin Ye) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Body Fluids in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Thick coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
Symptoms: Lumps Nausea Tumors Oedema Nodules Obesity Fatigue Vertigo Delirium Belching Vomiting Dizziness Moodiness Overweight Bad breath Depression Watery milk Clear mucus Irritability Poor appetite Low metabolism Chest fullness Chest pressure Breast distention Abdominal fullness Sputum in the chest Feeling of heaviness Thick tongue coating Muzziness of the head Numbness in the limbs Thick greasy secretions Feeling of oppression of the chest No feeling of distension of the breasts
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Phlegm. This pattern leads to symptoms such as feeling of oppression of the chest, muzziness of the head, dizziness and nausea. Patients with Phlegm typically exhibit slippery (Hua) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as swollen tongue with sticky coating .
Phlegm has a great importance in Chinese Medicine as it is both a condition in and of itself as well as a cause for other diseases.
The main cause for the formation of Phlegm is Spleen Deficiency since the Spleen rules the transformation and transportation of Body Fluids. If this function is... read more about Phlegm
Body Fluids (Jin Ye) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Body Fluids in Chinese Medicine
Wind-Phlegm
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating
Tongue shape: Deviated, Swollen
Symptoms: Anger Aphasia Dizziness Headaches Itchy ears Chest pain Constipation Copious sputum Coughing of phlegm Nausea or vomiting Dizziness or vertigo Numbness in the limbs Rattling sound in the throat Stifling sensation in the chest Feeling of oppression of the chest
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Wind-Phlegm. This pattern leads to symptoms such as dizziness, feeling of oppression of the chest, aphasia and coughing of phlegm. Patients with Wind-Phlegm typically exhibit wiry (Xian) pulses as well as Swollen and deviated tongue with stick coating .
Also known as an "upward disturbance of Wind-Phlegm", Wind-Phlegm particularly affects those who overwork, overindulge in rich foods or otherwise lead an irregular lifestyle.
These activities injure the Spleen and Stomach, which in turn impairs their functions of transforming foods, and thus leads... read more about Wind-Phlegm
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