Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang (Pinellia Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium)
- Harmonize the Stomach and Intestines
- Huang Lian
- Huang Qin
- Gan Jiang
- Ban Xia
- Ren Shen
- Zhi Gan Cao
- Da Zao
- Huang Lian and Huang Qin are bitter and cold to descend and drain heat.
- Gan Jiang and Ban Xia are pungent and warm to disperse cold and clumps.
- Ren Shen, Zhi Gan Cao, and Da Zao tonify the Sp Qi and harmonize the MJ.
Function: Harmonizes the St, directs rebellious Qi downward, disperses clumps, and eliminates Pi.
Indications: Pi (oppressed sensation) syndrome due to disharmony of Stomach and Intestines.
Symptoms: Oppression, distention and fullness without pain in the epigastrium, soft upon palpation, accompanied by dry heaves, or vomiting, increased borborygmus and diarrhea.
Tongue: Thin, yellow and greasy coating
Pulse: Wiry and rapid
Clinical Applications:
- This formula is used for Pi syndrome that is due to Sp and St deficiency and external evil sinking which causes a combination of cold and heat, disorder of Qi mechanism: ascending and descending, mixture of clear Qi and turbid Qi.
- The key symptoms are epigastric oppression, distention and fullness, vomiting, diarrhea, yellow and greasy tongue coating.
- For severe vomiting without Qi deficiency, or with thick and greasy tongue coating, omit Ren Shen and Da Zao, replace with Zhi Shi and Sheng Jiang.
- Currently used for acute chronic gastroenteritis, chronic colitis, nervous gastritis, chronic hepatitis, early stage cirrhosis due to MJ Qi deficiency and accumulation of connected cold and heat marked by Pi, vomiting and diarrhea.