Crow-dipper / ban xia (半夏)
Pinellia ternata
Photo credit: The original uploader was Polyhedron at Chinese Wikipedia.
This plant carries serious safety risks. All information is for educational reference only.
Safety information
Toxicity: Raw rhizome is toxic — strong irritant (insoluble calcium-oxalate raphides + protoxins) causing intense oral/throat/GI mucosal irritation, swelling, risk of airway/cardiotoxicity; reproductive and hepatotoxicity signals. Detoxified by traditional processing.
Contraindications: Pregnancy (especially raw); never use raw/unprocessed.
Interactions: Classic incompatibility with Aconitum (wu tou/fu zi) in the 'eighteen incompatibilities.'
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Pregnancy: especially raw — avoid.
Evidence level
Supported by laboratory or animal studies; not yet confirmed in humans.
Preparations
This plant carries serious safety risks. All information is for educational reference only.
processed (with ginger + alum / lime) then decocted in formula — raw form is toxic · rhizome
Part used: rhizome
Traditional use: dries dampness, transforms phlegm, descends rebellious qi, stops vomiting; anti-nausea / phlegm herb
Proposed mechanism: antiemetic, antitussive, antiulcer; processing markedly lowers toxicity
Dosage note (descriptive only): never use raw/unprocessed
Reference only — not a dosage instruction
Associated conditions
Nutritional notes
n/a
Healing traditions
Sources (2)
- [E16] Pinellia ternata comprehensive ethnopharmacology/toxicology review (J. Ethnopharmacol)
- [E17] review of processing methods to reduce Pinellia toxicity