BAN XIA HOU PO TANG- pINELLIA & Magnolia CombinationPinellia and Magnolia combination Bàn xià hòu po wán             
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Qi Regulating
1. Disperses stagnant Qi, moves the Qi and dissipates lumps, direction rebellious Qi downwards, transforms Phlegm.
INDICATIONS
1.
Emotional disorders with retention of Phlegm: obstructive feeling in the throat, difficulty swallowing or vomiting, cough with profuse sputum. T- white and greasy coat. P- wiry and slippery.
APPLICATIONS: Globus hystericus, chronic laryngitis, hysteria, gastrointestinal neurosis, chronic gastritis.
INGREDIENTS
Pinellia ternata- 半夏 Bàn xià- Pinellia
Magnolia officinalis- 厚朴 Hòu pò- Magnolia
Poria cocos- 茯苓 Fú líng- Hoelen fungus
Zingiber officinale- 生姜 Shēng jiāng- Fresh Ginger rhizome
Perilla fructescens- 紫苏叶 Zǐ sū yè Perilla Leaf  
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Yin deficiency, Hyperactivity of Yang or Heat syndrome with retention of Phlegm.
COMMENTS : This formula is suitable for functional disorders of the nervous system causing sensations of obstruction in the digestive tract.


Research

Antidepressant effects of Ban xia Hou pu decoction , a traditional Chinese medicinal empirical formula.
Abstract Banxia Houpu Decoction, having been used for the treatment of depression-related diseases since ancient times, is a traditional Chinese medicinal empirical formula consisting of Pinellia ternata, Poria cocos, Magnolia officinalis, Perilla frutescens and Zingiber officinale. The effects of the total decoction extract and five fractions therefrom, were evaluated in mice by tail suspension and forced swimming tests. The total 90% ethanol extract of the decoction was shown to possess an antidepressant activity that was close to that of Prozac, an antidepressant agent being applied clinically. Furthermore, the active principles were desmonstrated to be mainly in the aqueous (Bx4) and lipophic (Bx5) parts of the decoction extract while the polyphenol fraction (Bx2) exhibited a moderate action.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Nov;73(1-2):277-81. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov