Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Pinellia, specifically the processed tuber of Pinellia ternata (known as Ban Xia in Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM), is traditionally used in East Asian medicine to address conditions involving "phlegm," including respiratory and nasal symptoms. In TCM, rhinitis is often attributed to "phlegm-dampness" or "wind-cold" invading the nasal passages, leading practitioners to use Pinellia in herbal formulas to "dry dampness," "transform phlegm," and relieve symptoms such as nasal congestion and postnasal drip.

While Pinellia features in classic herbal combinations for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis (e.g., Er Chen Tang and Wen Dan Tang), its use is based on traditional theory rather than direct evidence from modern biomedical research. There are limited scientific studies investigating Pinellia or its active compounds specifically for rhinitis. Most modern research focuses on its antiemetic, antitussive, and anti-inflammatory effects in animal models or cell culture, but not directly on rhinitis in humans. As such, the evidence supporting its use for rhinitis is primarily traditional, with a low evidence rating due to the lack of direct clinical trials or mechanistic studies relevant to this condition. Its inclusion in rhinitis formulas persists due to centuries of empirical use rather than rigorous scientific validation.

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