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TCM Treasures - Ban xia 半夏
By Wing Tan |
December 2, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
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BAN xia is a poisonous plant, yet a useful medical herb to treat coughing, vomiting and diarrhea and nourish the spleen.
The whole plant is poisonous, particularly the tuber. If not prepared properly or eaten raw, it can lead to numbness, swelling, a painful throat, temporary voice loss, drooling, breathing difficulties and even cause spasms.
However, if processed properly, ban xia is very effective in treating coughs and vomiting, among other conditions.
Though most poisonous, it is the tuber that is dried for medical treatment.
Good medicinal ban xia is large, white colored, with a smooth surface. When gently touched, its flesh turns to powder easily.
There are different ways to process ban xia. Qing ban xia, which has been soaked in alum water to lower its poisonous content, is used to get rid of phlegm and relieve coughs.
Ginger ban xia, which has been soaked then boiling in ginger and alum water, can treat vomiting and remove phlegm.
Fa ban xia, that was soaked and boiled with liquorice and lime for days, is used to nourish the spleen and improve stomach function.
Ban xia and bai zhu decoction
Boil 4.5g ban xia, 3g bai zhu, 3g tian ma, 3g chen pi, 1.5g liquorice, two slices of ginger, three jujubes and 3g man jing zi to get the decoction.
Remove the dregs and drink the hot soup before meals.
Benefits: Resolves phlegm, relieves cough, improves the liver function and dispels cold.
Ban xia soup
Cook 10g ban xia and 15g shu rice with 600ml water.
Get about 360ml decoction.
Drink twice a day with 180ml each time.
Benefits: Resolves phlegm, relieves headache, nourishes stomach and treats insomnia.
The whole plant is poisonous, particularly the tuber. If not prepared properly or eaten raw, it can lead to numbness, swelling, a painful throat, temporary voice loss, drooling, breathing difficulties and even cause spasms.
However, if processed properly, ban xia is very effective in treating coughs and vomiting, among other conditions.
Though most poisonous, it is the tuber that is dried for medical treatment.
Good medicinal ban xia is large, white colored, with a smooth surface. When gently touched, its flesh turns to powder easily.
There are different ways to process ban xia. Qing ban xia, which has been soaked in alum water to lower its poisonous content, is used to get rid of phlegm and relieve coughs.
Ginger ban xia, which has been soaked then boiling in ginger and alum water, can treat vomiting and remove phlegm.
Fa ban xia, that was soaked and boiled with liquorice and lime for days, is used to nourish the spleen and improve stomach function.
Ban xia and bai zhu decoction
Boil 4.5g ban xia, 3g bai zhu, 3g tian ma, 3g chen pi, 1.5g liquorice, two slices of ginger, three jujubes and 3g man jing zi to get the decoction.
Remove the dregs and drink the hot soup before meals.
Benefits: Resolves phlegm, relieves cough, improves the liver function and dispels cold.
Ban xia soup
Cook 10g ban xia and 15g shu rice with 600ml water.
Get about 360ml decoction.
Drink twice a day with 180ml each time.
Benefits: Resolves phlegm, relieves headache, nourishes stomach and treats insomnia.
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