House of Botanicals · Buda, Texas · Est. 2015

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Herb module

Ban Xia

Pinellia (Crow Dipper)Pinellia ternata

A small, prepared root that dries Dampness, clears Phlegm, and sends upward-rushing Qi back down where it belongs.

Found inSpleen Meridian

Ban Xia is the prepared root of pinellia, a low woodland plant also called crow dipper. In Spleen Meridian™ it does the drying work. It is used to clear away the heavy, sticky Dampness and Phlegm that can weigh down digestion. It also helps settle the Stomach when Qi rises the wrong way.

Best functions

  • Traditionally used to dry Dampness and transform Phlegm
  • Descends rebellious Qi and settles the Stomach to stop vomiting
  • Dissipates nodules and reduces Stagnation
  • Used for sores and to reduce swelling
  • Studies suggest it may calm nausea and help loosen and clear mucus

Fascinating facts

  • The name Ban Xia means "half summer" because the root is traditionally gathered around midsummer.
  • The plant belongs to the arum family. Its hooded green flower resembles a small jack-in-the-pulpit, which is where the folk name "crow dipper" fits.
  • Noa's notes call Ban Xia a classic Spleen-Stomach mover. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is valued for drying Dampness and transforming Phlegm.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine

Ban Xia is warm with a pungent flavor. It is a Dampness-resolving herb that enters the Lung, Spleen, and Stomach meridians.

Go deeperDownload the fact sheet on the Spleen Meridian page
Biomedical deep dive

Ban Xia Pinellia (Crow Dipper)

From the Zoi Medicinals fact sheets’ Biomedical Details, with lines from Noa’s herb notes marked “Noa’s notes”.

On the fact sheet

  • Ban Xia (Crow Dipper, Rhizoma Pinellia Preperata) is warm and enters the Lung, Spleen, Stomach meridians; dries Damp and transforms Phlegm, descends rebellious Qi, dissipates nodules and reduces Stagnation, is used for sores and reduces swelling. Spleen Meridian sheet

Formula-level notes (about the whole formula, not this herb alone)

  • Spleen Meridian sheet: the formula is made of herbs that affect metabolism and the digestive system; some protect the liver, nerves, stomach and kidneys from damage, and others have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, immunomodulatory and antimicrobial actions. Among the sources behind that last line, the sheet cites a review of the genus Pinellia, Ban Xia’s genus (Ji et al., Fitoterapia 2014).

Key active constituents

The fact sheets don’t name constituents for this herb.

Pharmacology and mechanisms

  • Antiemetic (anti-nausea), likely by modulating the vagus nerve and gut motility. Noa’s notes
  • Expectorant; reduces mucus secretion in the airways. Noa’s notes
  • Showed anti-tumor activity against certain carcinoma cell lines in vitro (lab dish studies only). Noa’s notes

What the research says

No herb-specific study on the fact sheets.

Safety, interactions and cautions

  • Every Zoi fact sheet: do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding unless directed by your health care practitioner.
  • Contraindicated in pregnancy. Noa’s notes
  • The raw root is toxic; only the processed form (Fa Ban Xia) is used internally. Noa’s notes
  • Use caution with CNS depressants (sedating medicines). Noa’s notes

In these Zoi formulas

  • Spleen Meridian (#7 on the fact sheet)

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.