Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 3

Pinellia ternata (commonly known as Pinellia or Ban Xia) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb widely used in the treatment of coughs associated with "dampness" (phlegm retention), a concept from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In TCM, Pinellia is considered to have the properties of drying dampness, transforming phlegm, and stopping coughs, especially where there is an accumulation of phlegm or "damp-phlegm" impeding the lungs. Classic TCM texts such as the "Shennong Bencao Jing" and later materia medica (e.g., "Compendium of Materia Medica" by Li Shizhen) cite Pinellia as a key ingredient in herbal formulas for cough with copious sputum, chest congestion, and nausea due to phlegm-dampness.

Scientific research on Pinellia's efficacy for cough or its purported "damp-phlegm" clearing effects is limited and primarily based on in vitro or animal studies. Some studies indicate antitussive and anti-inflammatory properties, but clinical trials in humans for cough (particularly in the context of TCM-defined "damp-phlegm") are lacking. Thus, the primary justification for its use in this context remains traditional, though there is some emerging pharmacological interest. Importantly, Pinellia is toxic in its raw form and is traditionally processed to reduce toxicity before medicinal use.

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