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Source: Hé Jì Jú Fāng 和剂局方

Ingredients:

• Bàn xià (半夏 Pinelliae Rhizoma, pinellia [rhizome]) 5g
• Chén pí (陈皮 Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, tangerine peel) 4g
• Fú líng (茯苓 Poria , poria) 5g
• Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]) 1g
• Shēng jiāng (生姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, fresh ginger) 3g
• Wū méi (乌梅 Mume Fructus, mume [fruit]) 1 piece

Action: Dries dampness and transforms phlegm; rectifies qì and harmonizes the center.

Indication: Damp phlegm manifesting as cough with copious phlegm, distension and fullness in the chest and diaphragm, nausea and vomiting. Tongue fur: White, slimy, and glossy.

Category: Phlegm-dispelling formulas / Dampness-drying phlegm-transforming formulas

Method: Decoct with water. Note that the ginger and especially the mume are now commonly omitted.

Rationale: Bàn xià not only dries dampness and transforms phlegm but also harmonizes the stomach and downbears counterflow. Chén pí is aromatic and can arouse the spleen, and promote the movement and transformation of spleen yáng, help it to eliminate the dampness. The two are therefore complementary. Shēng jiāng transforms phlegm and relieves cough, and when combined with Gān cǎo, it resolves the toxin of Bàn xià. Wū méi acts with Bàn xià to transform phlegm.

Variations:

• Cold phlegm: Add Gān jiāng (干姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma, dried ginger) and Xì xīn (细辛 Asari Rhizoma et Radix, asarum).
• Heat phlegm: Guā lóu (瓜蒌 Trichosanthis Fructus, trichosanthes [fruit]) and Huáng qín (黄芩 Scutellariae Radix, scutellaria [root]).
• Qì stagnation: Hòu pò (厚朴 Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, officinal magnolia bark) and zhike.
• Stubborn phlegm: And Méng shí (礞石 Chloriti seu Micae Lapis, chlorite/mica [schist]) and Gé fěn (葛粉 Puerariae Amylum, pueraria starch).

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