Xiao Ban Xia Tang
Star小半夏汤 (Minor Pinellia Decoction)
Source: Jin Gui Yao Lue (c. 220)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Xiao Ban Xia Tang (Minor Pinellia Decoction), from Essentials from the Golden Cabinet (Jin Gui Yao Lue).
Actions: Dissipate rheum (fluid retention) and direct counterflow downward, harmonize the stomach, and arrest vomiting
Indications: Indicated for the treatment of nausea, vomiting, incapability of eating, no thirst, or unceasing hiccup, wiry pulse, white and glossy coating
Category: Formulas That Warm the Center and Dispel Cold.
Source: Xi S, Gong Y. Essentials of Chinese Materia Medica and Medical Formulas: New Century Traditional Chinese Medicine. Academic Press/Elsevier, 2017, pp. 532–533.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ban Xia
as printed: Rhizoma Pinelliae (ban xia) 12 g
|
12g | 54.55% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Sheng Jiang
as printed: Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens (sheng jiang) 10 g
|
10g | 45.45% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
Dui Yao — Core Herb Pairs
The classical two-herb combinations at the heart of this formula, as recorded on the herbs' own pages — each pair has an action neither herb has alone.
Together they strongly direct stomach qi downward to stop vomiting, while the ginger moderates the toxicity of the pinellia.
Classic for vomiting from fluid and phlegm retained in the stomach.
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 warm (+1.00)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: warm 100%.
Taste
- pungent 100%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Lung 100%
- Stomach 100%
- Spleen 100%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
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
Decoct the ingredients with water for oral use
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- Chai Hu Xian Xiong Tang = this formula + Chai Hu, Gua Lou Ren, Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Jie Geng and Zhi Shi
- Chai Hu Zhi Jie Tang = this formula + Ju Pi Tang + Chai Hu, Huang Qin, Jie Geng, Lu Cha and Zhi Ke
- Lei Shi Xuan Tou Mo Yuan Fa = this formula + Bing Lang, Cao Guo, Chinese giant-hyssop, Gan Cao, Hou Po and Huang Qin
- Sang Bai Pi Tang = this formula + Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Sang Bai Pi, Xing Ren, Zhe Bei Mu, Zhi Zi and Zi Su Zi
- She Gan Ma Huang Tang = this formula + Da Zao, Kuan Dong Hua, Ma Huang, She Gan, Wu Wei Zi, Xi Xin and Zi Wan
- Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan = this formula + Er Chen Tang + Cang Zhu, Shen Qu, Tian Nan Xing, Xiang Fu and Zhi Ke
- Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang = this formula + Ban Xia Hou Po Tang + Zi Su Zi, Qian Hu, Da Zao, Dang Gui, Rou Gui and Gan Cao
- Zheng Rong Tang = this formula + Bai Fu Zi, Dan Nan Xing, Fang Feng, Fu Shen, Gan Cao, Jiang Can, Mu Gua, Qiang Huo and Qin Jiao
- 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
- Kai Yu Er Chen Tang = this formula + Er Chen Tang + Bing Lang, Cang Zhu, Chuan Xiong, E Zhu, Mu Xiang, Qing Pi and Xiang Fu
- Qing Shi Hua Tan Tang = this formula + Er Chen Tang + Bai Jie Zi, Bai Zhi, Cang Zhu, Gan Jiang, Huang Qin, Qiang Huo and Tian Nan Xing
- Chai Hu Tang = this formula + Da Chai Hu Tang + Ci Wu Jia, Huang Qi, Lu Cha, Qing Pi and Zao Jiao
- 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
- Zhong Man Fen Xiao Wan = this formula + Ban Xia Hou Po Tang + Ju Ban Zhi Zhu Wan + Chun Ze Tang + Gan Cao, Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Jiang Huang, Sha Ren and Zhi Mu
- Chai Hu An Shen Tang = this formula + Yi Gan San + Xiao Chai Hu Tang + Da Huang Gan Cao Tang + Gui Zhi, Mu Li, Suan Zao Ren, Xi Yang Shen, Ye Jiao Teng and Zhi Zi
- Ding Xian Wan = this formula + Er Chen Tang + Dan Nan Xing, Tian Ma, Zhu Li, Chuan Bei Mu, Dan Shen, Deng Xin Cao, Fu Shen, Hu Po, Jiang Can, Mai Men Dong, Quan Xie, Zhu Sha, Shi Chang Pu and Yuan Zhi
- Zhong Man Fen Xiao Tang = this formula + Ban Xia Hou Po Tang + Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang + Zuo Jin Wan + Bi Cheng Qie, Cao Dou Kou, Chai Hu, Gan Jiang, Huang Bai, Ma Huang, Mu Xiang, Qing Pi, Ren Shen, Sheng Ma, Yi Zhi Ren, Ze Xie and Zhi Chuan Wu
- Ge Gen Huo Xiang Shao Yao Tang = this formula + Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San + Xie Xin Tang + Jiao Tai Wan + Bai Shao, Chun Pi, Dang Gui, Ge Gen, Qing Pi, Wu Wei Zi, Xiang Fu and Zhi Ke
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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