Chinese: 半夏厚朴汤
Pinyin: Bàn Xià Hòu Pǔ Tāng
Other names: Pinellia and Magnolia Bark Decoction
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that promote Qi movement
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: GoiterNeurosisHysteria and twelve other conditions
- Regulates the flow of Qi, treats esophageal spasm
- Clears Phlegm
Source date: 220 AD
Source book: Essentials from the Golden Cabinet
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 Hou Pu Tang is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia) and Houpu Magnolia Bark (Hou Pu) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that promote Qi movement. Its main actions are: 1) regulates the flow of Qi, treats esophageal spasm and 2) clears Phlegm.
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 Hou Pu Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Stomach Qi Stagnation, Heart Qi Stagnation or Pericardium Qi Stagnation. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as menopausal syndrome, morning sickness or globus hystericus for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the five ingredients in Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang helps treat.
The five ingredients in Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang
Ban Xia is a king ingredient in Ban Xia Hou Pu 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 transforms Phlegm, dissipates clumps, directs Rebellious Qi downward, and harmonizes the Stomach. It thereby addresses all the major aspects of Phlegm-Qi.
Hou Pu is a king ingredient in Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Houpu Magnolia Bark (Hou Pu)
Part used: Dried stem bark, root bark or branch bark
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: LungSpleenStomach
Category: Aromatic herbs that transform Dampness
Hou Pu eliminates the stifling sensation and assists the other key herb (Crow-dipper rhizome) in dissipating the clumps and directing the Rebellious Qi downward. Its ability to regulate the Qi and dry Dampness supports Crow-dipper rhizome in transforming the Phlegm.
Fu Ling is a deputy ingredient in Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Fu Ling leaches out Dampness and assists Crow-dipper rhizome, the key herb in this formula, in transforming Phlegm.
Zi Su Ye is a deputy ingredient in Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Perilla Leaves (Zi Su Ye)
Zi Su Ye reinforces the ability of Houpu Magnolia bark (Hou Po), one of the key herbs in this formula, to regulate the Qi and break up Stagnation. Entering the Lungs, which govern the throat, the place where the main symptom of Qi-Phlegm is located, this herb also serves as the envoy. It also helps focus the action of the formula on the Lungs Channel and relieves coughing, should it occur.
Sheng Jiang is an envoy ingredient in Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
5. Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang)
Sheng Jiang helps the key herbs in the formula harmonize the Stomach and thereby stops the vomiting, should it occur.
Conditions and patterns for which Ban Xia Hou Pu 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 Hou Pu Tang is used by TCM practitioners to treat eight 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:
Menopausal syndrome Morning sickness Globus hystericus Neurosis Neurogenic vomiting Irritable bowel syndrome Hysteria Psychosis Laryngitis Tonsillitis Edema of the vocal cords Goiter Hyperthyroid Esophageal strictures Esophageal spasms
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang treats menopausal syndrome" for instance. Rather, Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind menopausal syndrome.
Now let's look at the eight patterns commonly treated with Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang.
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Stomach Qi Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Wiry (Xian)
Symptoms: Nausea Belching Vomiting Hiccuping Irritability Epigastric pain Epigastric distension
Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Stomach Qi Stagnation. This pattern leads to symptoms such as epigastric pain, epigastric distension, belching and nausea. Patients with Stomach Qi Stagnation typically exhibit wiry (Xian) pulses.
Epigastric distension is the main symptom of Stomach Qi Stagnation.
Since the Stomach is part of the Middle Burner, the Qi Stagnation there disturbs the normal descending of Stomach Qi, which results in belching, nausea, vomiting and hiccups.
Irritability is also due to the Stagnation of Qi.
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Heart Qi Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Overflowing (Hong), Empty (Xu)
Symptoms: Nausea Depression Cold limbs Purple lips Palpitations Throat lumps Poor appetite Chest fullness Pale complexion Frequent sighing Shortness of breath Feeling of oppression of the chest
Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Heart Qi Stagnation. This pattern leads to symptoms such as palpitations, chest fullness, feeling of oppression of the chest and depression. Patients with Heart Qi Stagnation typically exhibit overflowing (Hong) or empty (Xu) pulses.
The symptoms of slight feeling of throat lump, the feeling of chest distension, frequent sighing and purple lips all indicate a certain degree of general Qi Stagnation.
As for the specific Heart Qi Stagnation, slight short breath is the typical symptom.
Pale face here is caused by stagnant Heart... read more about Heart Qi Stagnation
The Pericardium is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Pericardium in Chinese Medicine
Pericardium Qi Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Overflowing (Hong), Empty (Xu)
Symptoms: Depression Weak Limbs Cold limbs Purple lips Throat lumps Palpitations Irritability Poor appetite Chest fullness Mild chest pain Pale complexion Frequent sighing Shortness of breath Stifling sensation in the chest
Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Pericardium Qi Stagnation. This pattern leads to symptoms such as mild chest pain, chest fullness, stifling sensation in the chest and frequent sighing. Patients with Pericardium Qi Stagnation typically exhibit overflowing (Hong) or empty (Xu) pulses.
Pericardium is located in the center of the chest and it plays the connecting role for both the Heart and the Lung's Qi and Blood. Therefore, sighing and slightly shortness of breath are due to the chest Qi Stagnation of the Lung Channel. On the other hand, the Pericardium Channel's Qi Stagnation... read more about Pericardium Qi Stagnation
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach
Pulse type(s): Weak (Ruo), Wiry (Xian)
Symptoms: Belching Hiccuping Weak Limbs Irritability Epigastric pain Frequent sighing Hypochondrial pain Sour regurgitation Nausea or vomiting Epigastric distension Hypochondrial distention A feeling of oppression in the epigastrium
Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach. This pattern leads to symptoms such as irritability, epigastric pain, epigastric distension and hypochondrial pain. Patients with Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach typically exhibit weak (Ruo) or wiry (Xian) pulses.
Liver Qi is said to be rebellious when its horizontal movement is accentuated. This interferes with the descending of Stomach Qi, making it ascend instead. Hence the symptoms of belching, nausea and vomiting. It is one of the reason causing Rebellious Stomach Qi.
Rebellious Liver Qi also impairs... read more about Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Rebellious Stomach Qi
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Wiry (Xian)
Symptoms: Nausea Belching Vomiting Hiccuping Difficulty swallowing
Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Rebellious Stomach Qi. This pattern leads to symptoms such as nausea, difficulty swallowing, belching and vomiting. Patients with Rebellious Stomach Qi typically exhibit tight (Jin) or wiry (Xian) pulses.
When the Qi of the Stomach is obstructed or interfered with it "rebels", meaning it ascends rather than descends.
It results in symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, belching and hiccups.
This frequently appears with other patterns, such as Stomach Fire, Stomach Qi Stagnation or Cold invading the... read more about Rebellious Stomach Qi
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