Banxia Houpo Tang

Classical Name:

Pinellia and Magnolia Bark Decoction半夏厚朴湯

General Support:

Chronic, Mental-Emotional, Endocrine, Cognitive, Respiratory, Immune, Digestive, Menopause

Formula Family:

Overall Warming, Descending and/or Moistening with Pinellia and/or Apricot Seed

Organ Systems:

Stomach, Lung, Heart

Six Stages:

Taiyin, Yangming

FGS:

Chronic

FGS:

Mental-Emotional

FGS:

Endocrine

FGS:

Cognitive

FGS:

Respiratory

FGS:

Immune

FGS:

Digestive

FGS:

Menopause

FFF:

Overall Warming

FFF:

Descending and/or Moistening with Pinellia and/or Apricot Seed

About Banxia Houpo Tang

Banxia Houpo Tang first appeared 1,850 years ago in Zhang Zhongjing’s classic formula compendium, Essentials from the Golden Cabinet (Jingui yaolüe). Listed in the “Chapter on Miscellaneous Gynecological Disorders”, the remedy stands out by way of its highly specific indication “for women who feel as if there is a lump of roasted meat stuck in their throat.” This condition is now most often referred to as “plum-pit syndrome” (meihe qi), characterized by chronic discomfort in the throat region that is typically aggravated by emotional distress. As one of the representative remedies in the pinellia family of herbs, Banxia Houpo Tang is a safe and efficient way to address a broad variety of counterflow issues afflicting the respiratory system, the digestive system, the nervous system, the endocrine system and the cardiovascular system. Common diagnostic markers for these variegated afflictions are non-specific throat discomfort and symptoms of emotional distress.

Therapeutic Principles

Restore downward momentum of Stomach and Lung qi; clear both physical and emotional stagnation in head, throat and chest areas
Disperse stagnant qi and accumulation, especially in the throat, thyroid, chest and solar plexus region
Dry Spleen damp, transform phlegm, regulate fluid metabolism

Formula Ingredients

CHINESE	PINYIN	COMMON NAME; PAOZHI (PROCESSING)	AMOUNT
半夏 (法制)	Banxia	Pinellia; lime cured	37.27%
厚朴 (薑制)	Houpo	Magnolia bark; ginger treated	13.44%
茯苓	Fuling	Poria	17.93%
紫苏叶	Zisuye	Perilla leaf	8.96%
生薑	Shengjiang	Ginger, fresh	22.40%