Common Names
- Banxia Xiexin Decoction
- Pinellia Decoction for Draining the Heart
- TJ-14
- Hangeshashinto
- Banha-sasim-tang
For Patients & Caregivers
Tell your healthcare providers about any dietary supplements you’re taking, such as herbs, vitamins, minerals, and natural or home remedies. This will help them manage your care and keep you safe.
What is it?
Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang (BXXXT) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula. It’s made up of 7 different herbs.
What are the potential uses and benefits?
Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang is used to treat:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Functional dyspepsia (indigestion)
- Gastritis (swelling in the lining of the stomach)
- Gastric ulcers (sore in the lining of your stomach)
- Oral mucositis (swelling in the lining of the mouth)
Talk with your healthcare providers before taking herbal formulas. They can interact with some medications and affect how they work. For more information, read the “What else do I need to know?” section below.
What are the side effects?
Side effects of BXXXT may include:
- Nausea (feeling like you’re going to throw up)
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea (loose or watery bowel movements).
- Abdominal distension (abdominal swelling)
- Constipation (difficult or infrequent bowel movements)
What else do I need to know?
- Stop taking BXXXT at least one week before surgery. It may increase your risk of bleeding.
For Healthcare Professionals
Clinical Summary
Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang (BXXXT) is an herbal formula with a long history of use as a treatment for dyspepsia, gastroenteritis, and oral mucositis. Documented in the classical TCM text Treatise on Febrile Diseases and Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber, it consists of seven herbs: Zhi Ban Xia (Prepared Pinellia corm), Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger root), Huang Qin (Chinese Skullcap root), Huang Lian (Goldthread root), Ren Shen (Asian Ginseng root), Da Zao (Chinese Date), and Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-baked Licorice root).
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses found BXXXT and modified BXXXT formulas useful in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (1), functional dyspepsia, pouchitis, gastritis, gastric ulcers, and postprandial distress syndrome (2) (3).
BXXXT is also among the top prescribed herbal formulas in patients with colon cancer in Taiwan (4). Its use has been associated with reduced risk of colon cancer in diabetic patients (5) and in improving post-surgical survival rates in gastric cancer patients (6). Additional findings suggest that it may help prevent chemo-induced delayed diarrhea (7) (8), acute radiation-induced enteritis (9), and chemo-induced oral mucositis (10) (11) (12).
Larger trials with methodological rigor are needed to expand the evidence base surrounding BXXXT.
Purported Uses and Benefits
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Functional dyspepsia
- Gastritis
- Gastric ulcers
- Oral mucositis
Mechanism of Action
BXXXT was shown to have a protective effect against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in a murine model. Suggested mechanisms include inhibition of NF-κBp65 (chronically active in inflammatory diseases) activation, and increase in Nrf2, which is involved inflammation-associated pathogenesis (13). BXXXT was also found to reduce hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance by increasing Cidea and Cidec-mediated mitochondrial and peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation in mice that were fed a high-fat diet (14).
Mechanisms underlying BXXXT’s effects in patients with functional dyspepsia include modulation of ghrelin, a peptide hormone known to stimulate appetite (15).
Contraindications
BXXXT should not be used in perioperative settings because it contains ginger and Asian ginseng, which may increase the risk of bleeding.