Da Ban Xia Tang
Star大半夏汤 (Major Pinellia Decoction)
Source: Jin Gui Yao Lue (c. 220)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Da Ban Xia Tang (Major Pinellia Decoction), from Essentials from the Golden Cabinet (c. 220).
Actions: Harmonizes the Stomach; Augments the qi; Nourishes what has become dry
Indications: Vomiting long after eating, after which the patient feels better, a sense of firm fullness in the epigastrium, fatigue, weakness, lusterless complexion, emaciation, and either dried stool that can be like sheep droppings or scanty, loose stools. The tongue is usually pale with either little coating or a thin, white coating, and the pulse is thin and weak or deficient and lax.
Pattern: Stomach reflux from middle-burner cold-deficiency with damaged fluids
Modifications:
- More intense vomiting: Add Inulae Flos (xuan fu hua) and Haematitum (dai zhe shi)
- Severe Spleen/Stomach cold from deficiency with cold extremities: Add Evodiae Fructus (wu zhu yu) and Caryophylli Flos (ding xiang)
- Chronic disease with exhausted blood and sheep-dropping stools: Add Angelicae sinensis Radix (dang gui), Cannabis Semen (huo ma ren), and Pruni Semen (yu li ren)
- Yin damaged by constrained fire with blood in stool, dry mouth, bitter taste: Add Scutellariae Radix (huang qin), Ophiopogonis Radix (mai men dong), and Bletillae Rhizoma (bai ji)
- Belching and vomiting from emotional upset: Add Linderae Radix (wu yao) and Citri reticulatae viride Pericarpium (qing pi)
Commentary: Addresses root and branch of Stomach reflux: pinellia descends and disperses phlegm, ginseng tonifies, honey moistens; later physicians dropped honey and added bai zhu, fresh ginger, poria or cinnamon twig when phlegm predominates.
Category: Formulas that Direct Rebellious Qi Downward.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 549.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ban Xia
dose printed as 15-30g; as printed: Pinelliae Rhizoma preparatum (zhi ban xia) 15-30g
|
g | — | Jun (Chief) | Large dose harmonizes the Stomach, stops vomiting, dries dampness, transforms phlegm and disperses clumps |
|
Ren Shen
as printed: Ginseng Radix (ren shen) 9g
|
9g | 100% | Chen (Deputy) | Augments the qi and strengthens Spleen and Stomach (root) |
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net nature not shown: the chief herb (Ban Xia) has no dose in grams.
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: warm 100%.
Taste
- sweet 50%
- bitter 50%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 100%
- Spleen 100%
- Heart 100%
- Kidney 100%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
1 herb without a dose in grams, so left out of every figure above: Ban Xia.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Preparation
Source: mix honey into 12 cups of water, stir 240 times, decoct to 2.5 cups. Today usually decocted normally and divided into two doses.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- Wei Shi Wen Dan Tang = this formula + Chen Pi, Fu Ling, Gan Cao, Zhi Shi and Zhu Ru
- Bai Zi Ren Wan = this formula + Bai Zhu, Bai Zi Ren, Fu Xiao Mai, Ma Huang Gen, Mu Li and Wu Wei Zi
- Chai Ping Tang = this formula + Cang Zhu, Chai Hu, Chen Pi, Gan Cao, Hou Po and Huang Qin
- Yan Shi Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang = this formula + Chen Pi, Chi Fu Ling, Gan Cao, Mai Men Dong, Pi Pa Ye and Zhu Ru
- Di Tan Tang = this formula + Fu Ling, Ju Hong, Shi Chang Pu, Zhi Shi, Zhu Ru, Dan Nan Xing and Gan Cao
- Yan Nian Ban Xia Tang = this formula + Gan Jiang Ren Shen Ban Xia Wan + Bie Jia, Bing Lang, Jie Geng, Qian Hu, Wu Zhu Yu and Zhi Shi
- Shi Wei Wen Dan Tang = this formula + Chen Pi, Fu Ling, Gan Cao, Shu Di Huang, Suan Zao Ren, Wu Wei Zi, Yuan Zhi and Zhi Shi
- Gou Teng San = this formula + Gou Teng, Chen Pi, Fang Feng, Fu Ling, Fu Shen, Gan Cao, Ju Hua, Mai Men Dong and Shi Gao
- Liu He Tang = this formula + San Wu Xiang Ru Yin + Gan Cao, Chi Fu Ling, Chinese giant-hyssop, Mu Gua, Sha Ren and Xing Ren
- Shen Su Yin = this formula + Jie Geng Tang + Ge Gen, Zi Su Ye, Chen Pi, Fu Ling, Mu Xiang, Qian Hu and Zhi Ke
- Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang = this formula + Xiao Chai Hu Tang + Xiao Ban Xia Jia Fu Ling Tang + Da Huang, Gui Zhi, Long Gu, Mu Li and Qian Dan
- Wen Jing Tang = this formula + Gui Zhi Tang + Wu Zhu Yu, Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui, E Jiao, Mai Men Dong and Mu Dan Pi
- Li Shi Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang = this formula + Gan Jiang Ren Shen Ban Xia Wan + Ze Xie Tang + Er Miao San + Fu Ling, Huang Qi, Ju Hong, Mai Ya, Shen Qu and Tian Ma
- Huang Qi Bie Jia San = this formula + Bao Yuan Tang + Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang + Bie Jia, Chai Hu, Di Gu Pi, Fu Ling, Jie Geng, Qin Jiao, Sang Bai Pi, Sheng Di Huang, Tian Men Dong and Zi Wan
- Ren Shen Huang Qi San = this formula + Qin Jiao Bie Jia San + Jie Geng Tang + Chi Shao, Fu Ling, Huang Qi, Sang Bai Pi, Sheng Di Huang, Tian Men Dong and Zi Wan
- Sheng Yang Yi Wei Tang = this formula + Xiao Chai Hu Tang + Tong Xie Yao Fang + Ze Xie Tang + Huang Qi, Du Huo, Fu Ling, Huang Lian and Qiang Huo
Each entry reads as the larger formula written out: “+” adds its other catalogue cores, then the herbs none of them hold. A catalogue formula counts as a core only when at least 80% of its herbs are present, no more than 1 is absent, and the absent herb is not its chief.
Formula Network
Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.
Similar Formulas by composition
Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).
Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.
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