Araceae · tuber
Pinellia
Pinellia ternata
Prepared tuber mapped as Ban Xia, chief of Er Chen Tang and Ban Xia Hou Po Tang. Restricted because raw is toxic.
Safety first
RAW tuber is toxic (raphides, acridity, mucous-membrane injury). Only prepared ban xia (zhi ban xia, fa ban xia, etc.) belongs in professional TCM. Ginger reduces toxicity classically — that is not a kitchen workaround for raw tuber. Not a DIY plum-pit-Qi tea.
Tradition vs trials
Traditional record. Bensky: Ban Xia dries damp, transforms phlegm, descends rebellious Qi, and dissipates nodules — prepared only.
Trial literature. Human files are formula-level. Safety is the monograph.
Practical ranges
Educational ranges — not a prescription. Culinary use is not an extract.
prepared tuber in formulas
Pharmacopoeia ranges for prepared pinellia in formulas — professional only
Chinese Pharmacopoeia / Bensky — Educational range only — not a prescription. A licensed clinician individualizes product, dose, and duration.
Pregnancy, nursing, children
- Pregnancy. Professional only; some texts caution.
- Nursing. Insufficient reliable data; avoid unless a clinician directs otherwise.
- Children. Insufficient reliable data; avoid unless a clinician directs otherwise.
Contraindications
- raw pinellia
- DIY processing
- throat-numbing after a 'phlegm' soup is an emergency
Key interactions
- antitussives / sedatives · note
Formula-level; raw toxicity dominates.