What are the effects of Pinellia (Banxia)?
Oct 30, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Ziyi
Introduction
Pinellia, also known as processed Pinellia or Arisaema ternatum, is the tuber of the plant Pinellia ternata from the Araceae family. It is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine that generally has effects including drying dampness and resolving phlegm, reducing nausea and vomiting, relieving epigastric fullness and dispersing nodules, warming the lungs to dispel cold, alleviating pain, and detoxifying. Pinellia is warm in nature and pungent in taste, entering the spleen, stomach, and lung meridians. With its property of drying dampness and resolving phlegm, it can be used to treat conditions such as damp-phlegm or cold-phlegm, cough with reversed qi flow, and excessive thin sputum.
Pinellia, also known as processed Pinellia or Arisaema ternatum, is the tuber of the plant *Pinellia ternata* from the Araceae family. It is a commonly used traditional Chinese herb that generally has effects including drying dampness and resolving phlegm, lowering rebellious Qi to stop vomiting, relieving痞 (stagnation) and dispersing nodules, warming the lungs to dispel cold, alleviating pain, and detoxifying. Specific functions are analyzed as follows:
1. Drying Dampness and Resolving Phlegm
Pinellia is warm in nature and pungent in taste, entering the spleen, stomach, and lungs. It effectively dries dampness and resolves phlegm, and can be used to treat conditions such as damp-phlegm or cold-phlegm, cough with reversed Qi flow, and excessive thin, clear sputum.
2. Lowering Rebellious Qi and Stopping Vomiting
Pinellia helps suppress upward counterflow of stomach Qi and stops nausea and vomiting. It is commonly used to treat symptoms like vomiting, gastric reflux, chest and epigastric fullness, and distention.
3. Relieving Stagnation and Dissolving Nodules
Pinellia helps resolve stagnation and dissipate nodules. It is effective in improving discomforts caused by accumulation of damp-phlegm and stagnation of Qi and blood, such as chest obstruction, chest pain, and abdominal fullness.
4. Warming the Lungs and Expelling Cold
With its pungent and bitter taste and warm, drying nature, Pinellia primarily enters the lung, spleen, and liver meridians. It warms the lungs and dispels cold, mainly treating conditions of cold-phlegm or damp-phlegm, such as cough with wheezing, copious white sputum, dizziness, numbness of limbs, and other symptoms caused by cold- or damp-phlegm.
5. Alleviating Pain and Detoxifying
Pinellia also possesses analgesic and detoxifying properties. It can be used internally in decoctions combined with other herbs, or applied externally. In cases of snakebites or abscesses with swelling and toxicity, crushed Pinellia can be directly applied to the affected area. Changing the dressing daily may rapidly reduce swelling and pain.
It should be noted that patients must use Pinellia under the guidance of a physician to avoid improper use that could worsen their condition. Additionally, individuals with yin deficiency accompanied by dry cough, injury to body fluids, or thirst should avoid using Pinellia, as it may aggravate their symptoms. If any discomfort occurs after taking Pinellia, prompt medical attention is recommended.
