The Health Benefits of Pinellia Ternata
Pinellia ternata, also known as Banxia in Chinese, is a medicinal plant that belongs to the order of Araceae. It is widely distributed in the Yangtze River Basin, as well as in Northeast and North China. It has the functions of drying dampness and transforming phlegm, descending rebellious qi and stopping vomiting, and can be used externally to treat abscesses and swelling. It is also used in veterinary medicine to treat equine strangles. It can be found in Tibet at an altitude of around 3000m.
Other names: Scorpion Herb (Plants Illustrated and Described), Three-Leafed Pinellia (Shanxi, Henan, Guangxi), Three-Step Jump (Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan), Mahuaguo (Guizhou), Tian Suixin, Wuxin Cai, Laoya Yan, Laoya Yutou (Shandong), Yanzhuiwei, Dici Gu (Guangxi), Laohuangzui, Lao Heshangkou (Jiangsu), Three-Step Huai (Sichuan), Yao Goudan (Northeast, North China), Three-Leafed Head Herb, Three-Edge Herb (Shanghai), Yang Lito (Fujian), Koushilian (Jiangxi), Banzi, Sanpian Ye, Sankaiflower, Sanjiaocao, Sanxingcao (Gansu), Dizhu Banxia (Yunnan).
Taste and effects: It has a pungent taste, warm nature, and toxic properties. It can dry dampness, transform phlegm, descend rebellious qi, and stop vomiting.
Clinical applications: It is suitable for digestive tract tumors, lung cancer, and other conditions. It is also used in combination with other herbs for the treatment of various types of tumors.
It is often combined with Chenpi (dried tangerine peel), Foshou (Buddha's hand), Zhike (fructus aurantii immaturus), and other herbs to treat digestive tract tumors with qi stagnation and blood stasis, and phlegm-dampness obstruction.
It is often combined with Xingren (apricot kernel), Kunbu (kelp), Haizao (sargassum), Baizhu (atractylodes macrocephala), and other herbs to treat lung cancer caused by spleen deficiency and dampness accumulation, and phlegm-drool stagnation.
It is often combined with Chenpi, Jiangzhugu (ganoderma lucidum), Jiaoshanzha (hawthorn fruit), Liushenqu (six-god wine), Fuling (poria cocos), and other herbs to treat various tumors associated with poor appetite, chest and epigastric distension, nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
In addition, it is also applicable for cough with excessive phlegm, chest and epigastric stuffiness, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, loss of appetite, and phlegm nodules. Externally, it can be used to treat abscesses and swelling.
Dosage: Take 6-15g per day, decocted in water.
Precautions: Raw Pinellia ternata is toxic and should be processed before internal use. When using the raw herb for anti-tumor purposes, caution should be exercised.
