气微寒，味辛苦，而辛浓于苦，气味俱轻，有小毒，阳中之阴也，降也。入足阳明太阴
少阳三经之药也。主治湿痰，不能治热痰，医概用之，误矣。盖脾胃之所喜者，燥也，所恶
者，湿也。半夏性燥而去湿，故脾胃得之而健也。火痰黑、老痰胶，须加芩连栝蒌海粉。寒
痰清、湿痰白，要入姜附苍术陈皮。风痰卒中昏迷，加皂荚天南星。痰核延生肿突，入竹沥
白芥子。凡诸血证妊妇，及少阳伤寒而渴，并诸渴症，皆不可用，半夏惟其性燥，损血耗气，
而燥津液也。治饮冷伤肺而嗽，除痰厥头疼而愈。夫曰止呕，为足阳明药也。夫曰消痰，为
足太阴药也。小柴胡用之，虽为止呕，亦助柴胡以去恶寒，是又为足少阳药也。小柴胡用之，
虽能去寒，亦助黄芩以去湿热，是又为足阳明药也。往来寒热，在表里之中，用此有各半之
意，故名半夏。经曰，肾主五液，化为五湿，自入为唾，入肝为泣，入心为汗，入脾为涎，
入肺为涕。有痰涎曰嗽，无痰涎曰咳。痰者，因嗽而动脾之湿也。半夏能泄痰之标，不能泄
痰之本。本者，肾也。嗽无形、痰有形，无形则润，有形则燥，所以为流湿就燥也。脾主湿
主痰，脾淫于湿，则因而失运化之职，诸液浸淫，统血不荣，凡诸津液悬敛，皆凝滞壅遏，
随气上升，而成咳唾之痰，日久郁注而成诸病之痰。故半夏性热味辛，所以燥湿也。射干为
使，恶皂荚，畏雄黄生姜干姜秦皮龟板，反乌头乌喙。
药性微寒，味道辛苦，其中辛味重于苦味，气味都轻清，有小毒，属于阳中的阴类，作用趋势是下降。它是入足阳明经、足太阴经和足少阳经这三条经脉的药物。主要治疗湿痰，不能治疗热痰，医生一概使用它，是错误的。大概脾胃所喜欢的是燥，所厌恶的是湿。半夏性质燥烈而能去除湿气，所以脾胃得到它就能健运。火痰颜色黑、老痰胶结，必须加入黄芩、黄连、瓜蒌和海粉。寒痰色清、湿痰色白，要加入生姜、附子、苍术和陈皮。风痰导致卒中昏迷，加入皂荚和天南星。痰核蔓延生长肿起突起，加入竹沥和白芥子。凡是各种出血证候的孕妇，以及患少阳伤寒而口渴的人，还有各种口渴病症，都不可使用，因为半夏性质燥烈，会损伤血液、耗气并干燥津液。治疗因饮冷损伤肺脏而引起的咳嗽，消除因痰厥引起的头痛而痊愈。说它能止呕，是因为它是足阳明经的药。说它能消痰，是因为它是足太阴经的药。小柴胡汤中使用它，虽然是为了止呕，也是帮助柴胡来去除恶寒，这又是作为足少阳经的药。在小柴胡汤中使用它，虽然能去寒，也是帮助黄芩来去除湿热，这又是作为足阳明经的药。往来寒热，处于表里之间，使用它有各取一半的意思，所以名叫半夏。经文说，肾主管五液，化为五种湿气，进入体内成为唾，进入肝成为泪，进入心成为汗，进入脾成为涎，进入肺成为涕。有痰涎叫做嗽，没有痰涎叫做咳。痰，是因为咳嗽而动摇了脾的湿气。半夏能泄除痰的标象，不能泄除痰的根本。根本，是指肾。咳嗽无形、痰有形，无形则滋润，有形则燥烈，所以这是流湿趋向于燥的过程。脾主管湿和痰，脾被湿气浸淫，就会因此失去运化的职能，各种体液浸渍泛滥，统摄血液使其不荣养，凡是各种津液悬聚收敛，都凝滞壅塞遏阻，随着气上升，形成咳嗽吐出的痰，日久郁结注积而形成各种疾病的痰。所以半夏性质热、味道辛，用来燥湿。以射干为使药，厌恶皂荚，畏惧雄黄、生姜、干姜、秦皮、龟板，与乌头、乌喙相反。
The medicinal property is slightly cold, the taste is pungent and bitter, with the pungency being stronger than the bitterness. The qi and flavor are both light and clear, possessing slight toxicity; it belongs to Yin within Yang, and its action is descending. It is a herb that enters the Foot-Yangming, Foot-Taiyin, and Foot-Shaoyang meridians. It primarily treats Damp-Phlegm (Dampness-induced Phlegm) but cannot treat Heat-Phlegm (Heat-induced Phlegm); physicians using it indiscriminately are mistaken. Generally, the Spleen and Stomach prefer Dryness and dislike Dampness. Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) has a drying nature that removes dampness, thereby strengthening the Spleen and Stomach. For Fire-Phlegm (black in color) and old, sticky Phlegm, one must add Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Gualou (Trichosanthis Fructus), and Haifen (Natrii Carbonas). For Cold-Phlegm (clear in color) and Damp-Phlegm (white in color), one should add Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), and Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium). For Wind-Phlegm causing stroke and coma, add Zaojiao (Gleditsiae Sinensis Spina) and Tiannanxing (Arisaematis Rhizoma). For phlegm nodules spreading and swelling, add Zhuli (Bambusae Caulis in Taenia Succus) and Baijiezi (Sinapis Semen). For all hemorrhagic conditions in pregnant women, as well as those suffering from Shaoyang Taiyang disease with thirst, and all types of thirst syndromes, it must not be used. Because Banxia is drying, it damages blood, consumes Qi, and dries up body fluids. It treats cough caused by lung injury from drinking cold liquids and cures headache due to Phlegm-Jue (Phlegm obstruction leading to syncope or severe pain). That it stops vomiting is because it acts on the Foot-Yangming meridian. That it eliminates phlegm is because it acts on the Foot-Taiyin meridian. In Xiao Chaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction), it is used to stop vomiting, but also assists Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) in relieving aversion to cold, thus acting as a drug for the Foot-Shaoyang meridian. In Xiao Chaihu Tang, although it can dispel cold, it also assists Huangqin in clearing Damp-Heat, thus acting as a drug for the Foot-Yangming meridian. Alternating chills and fever occur between the exterior and interior; using this herb implies taking half from each, hence the name "Banxia" (Half Summer). The Classic states: The Kidney governs the five fluids, transforming them into five dampnesses. Entering internally, it becomes saliva; entering the Liver, it becomes tears; entering the Heart, it becomes sweat; entering the Spleen, it becomes drool; entering the Lung, it becomes nasal mucus. Coughing with phlegm-drool is called Sou (cough with sputum); coughing without phlegm-drool is called Ke (dry cough). Phlegm arises when coughing disturbs the dampness of the Spleen. Banxia can drain the branch manifestation of phlegm but cannot drain the root cause. The root is the Kidney. Ke (cough) is formless, while Tan (phlegm) has form. Formless things are moist, while formed things are dry; thus, this represents dampness flowing toward dryness. The Spleen governs dampness and phlegm. When the Spleen is invaded by dampness, it loses its function of transportation and transformation. Various fluids overflow, failing to nourish the blood. All suspended and condensed body fluids become stagnant and obstructed, rising with Qi to form phlegm expelled during coughing. Over time, stagnation accumulates to form phlegm causing various diseases. Therefore, Banxia’s hot nature and pungent taste are used to dry dampness. Shegan (Belamcandae Rhizoma) serves as the guiding herb. It is incompatible with Zaojiao, fears Xionghuang (Realgar), Shengjiang, Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), Qinpi (Fraxini Cortex), and Guiban (Testudinis et Carapacis Plastrum), and is contrary to Wutou (Aconiti Radix) and Wuwei (Aconiti Radix Cum Caulice).