Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
半夏白朮天麻湯 · Bàn Xià Bái Zhú Tiān Má Tāng
A classical formula for dizziness and headache from wind-phlegm rising, often with Spleen damp.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Phlegm-Resolving Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Phlegm-Dampness
- Primary Function
- Dry damp, resolve phlegm, calm Liver, extinguish wind
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Transform wind-phlegm and calm ascending Liver wind
- Classical Source
- Li Dongyuan school / classical
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
A classical formula for dizziness and headache from wind-phlegm rising, often with Spleen damp.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected for dizziness and headache from wind-phlegm rising with Spleen damp, rather than Liver Yang rising heat, thin fluid retention, or plain phlegm-damp without wind.
Composition: Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, Envoy
Every herb in the formula, grouped by the job it does in the classical hierarchy.
君SovereignTreats the main pattern
臣MinisterReinforces the sovereign
佐AssistantTreats accompanying patterns
Classical Composition
- Pinelliae Rhizoma (Ban Xia) 1.5 qian (4.5g)
- Gastrodiae Rhizoma (Tian Ma) 1 qian (3g)
- Poria (Fu Ling) 1 qian (3g)
- Citri Expocarpium Rubrum (Ju Hong) 1 qian (3g)
- Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Bai Zhu) 3 qian (9g)
- Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gan Cao) 5 fen (1.5g)
- Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Sheng Jiang) 1 piece
- Jujubae Fructus (Da Zao) 2 pieces
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Dries dampness and dissolves phlegm
- calms the liver and extinguishes wind.
Indications
- Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang is designed to treat the pattern of wind-phlegm harassing the upper body.
- Symptoms include dizziness, headache, pi and oppression in the chest and diaphragm, nausea, and vomiting.
Tongue & pulseThe tongue coating is greasy and white. The pulse is wiry and slippery.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- Spleen deficiency easily leads to phlegm or damp production.
- Phlegm-dampness may travel upward and harass the body along with internal liver wind causing various disorders.
- When it harasses the brain, headache and dizziness occur.
- When it blocks the center jiao disorders including chest and diaphragm pi and oppression, nausea and vomiting will appear.
- The treatment principle is to dissolve phlegm wind and extinguish wind, reinforce the spleen and dispel dampness.
Clinical presentation
Tongue & pulseThe white and greasy tongue coating indicates internal phlegm-turbidity. The wiry and slippery pulse indicates wind-phlegm.
Treatment strategy
- The treatment principle is to transform wind-phlegm and calm ascending Liver wind.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang, Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin, Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang and Er Chen Tang address dizziness or phlegm. Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin calms Liver Yang rising with heat; Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang warms and transforms thin fluid; Er Chen Tang is plain phlegm-damp. Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang transforms wind-phlegm and strengthens Spleen for dizziness and headache from phlegm with internal wind.
Clinical Differentiation
- Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang is a representative formula used to treat dizziness and headache caused by wind and phlegm.
- This clinical pattern is marked by dizziness and headache, white and greasy tongue coating, wiry and slippery pulse.
Safety notes: This formula is not appropriate for dizziness caused by yin deficiency and yang hyperactivity or insufficiency of qi and blood.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang?
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang has the actions of transforming Phlegm, extinguishing Wind, strengthening the Spleen, and drying Dampness. It is the representative formula for Wind-Phlegm rising to disturb the head and cause dizziness and headache.
Which modern diseases is Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within Wind-Phlegm, including Meniere’s disease or aural vertigo, hypertension-related dizziness of Phlegm type, neurological or cervical vertigo with a heavy foggy head, and certain migraines or headaches accompanied by nausea and a greasy tongue coating.
Is Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang suitable for improving dizziness, a heavy head, and nausea?
For presentations of dizziness or spinning vertigo, heavy or muzzy headache as if the head were wrapped, chest or epigastric fullness, nausea or vomiting of Phlegm, a white greasy tongue coating, and a wiry-slippery pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms Wind-Phlegm rising from Spleen Dampness — TCM commonly applies Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang as an adjunct. It cannot replace evaluation of inner-ear, neurological, or cardiovascular causes of vertigo.
Related Products
Hoi Tin Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang (Pinellia, Atractylodes and Gastrodia Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules
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Tian Jiang Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang (Pinellia, Atractylodes and Gastrodia Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules
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Related Articles
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Wind-Phlegm, Dizziness, Headache & Vertigo
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin: Classic TCM Formula for Liver Yang Rising, Headache, Dizziness & Hypertension
Er Chen Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Phlegm-Damp, Cough, Nausea & Spleen Deficiency
Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Phlegm-Fluid Retention, Dizziness & Spleen Deficiency
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Medical Disclaimer
For general TCM education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified TCM practitioner or licensed healthcare provider before use, especially if pregnant, nursing, on medication, or managing a chronic condition.