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Pinellia Heart-Draining Decoction
半夏泻心汤 〔半夏瀉心湯〕bàn xià xiè xīn tāng
Source: Shāng Hán Lùn 伤寒论
Ingredients:
- Bàn xià (半夏 Pinelliae Rhizoma, pinellia [rhizome]) 6–9g
- Huáng qín (黄芩 Scutellariae Radix, scutellaria [root]) 6–9g
- Gān jiāng (干姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma, dried ginger) 3–6g
- Huáng lián (黄连 Coptidis Rhizoma, coptis [root]) 3–6g
- Rén shēn (人参 Ginseng Radix, ginseng) (or Dǎng shēn (党参 Codonopsis Radix, codonopsis [root])) 6–12g
- Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]) 3–6g
- Dà zǎo (大枣 Jujubae Fructus, jujube) 4 pieces
Action: Harmonizes the stomach and downbears counterflow; frees binds and eliminates glomus.
Indication: Impaired gastrointestinal function with the presence of both cold and heat, characterized by glomus below the heart, no desire for food and drink, nausea and vomiting, rumbling intestines, and diarrhea. Tongue fur: Yellow, thin, and slimy.
Category: Harmonization formulas / Gastrointestinal harmonization formula
Method: Decoct with water.
Rationale: Bàn xià is slippery in substance and dry in nature. Gān jiāng is acrid in flavor and warm in nature. The two warm and disperse cold-damp. Huáng qín and Huáng lián are cold bitter heat-draining agents. The four together thus perform the function of acrid opening and bitter downbearing.
The Rén shēn —or Dǎng shēn—, Dà zǎo, and Zhì gān cǎo fortify the spleen, and restores normal upbearing and downbearing of the stomach and spleen.
Variations:
- Damp-heat brewing in the center burner with retching and
glomus : Omit Dǎng shēn (党参 Codonopsis Radix, codonopsis [root]), Gān jiāng (干姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma, dried ginger), Dà zǎo (大枣 Jujubae Fructus, jujube), and Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]), and add Zhǐ shí (枳实 Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, unripe bitter orange), Hòu pò (厚朴 Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, officinal magnolia bark), and Shēng jiāng (生姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, fresh ginger). Food accumulation : Add Zhǐ shí (枳实 Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, unripe bitter orange) and Lái fú zǐ (莱菔子 Raphani Semen, radish seed).