Sterculia, Pang Da Hai 胖大海

Pang Da Hai (TCM)
Picture Sterculia lychnophora
Pierre, J.B.L., Flore forestiere de la Cochinchine (1890-1891)

Picture Sterculia lychnophora seeds
(Photo by Daderot, cropped) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:


Sterculia lychnophora (syn. Scaphium affine)
Sterculia scaphigera (syn. Scaphium scaphigerum) is used similarly in India.

Parts used:


Seed

Temperature & Taste:


Cool, moist. Sweet

Classification:


P. Clear Hot Phlegm

Uses:


1. Clears Heat, Opens the Lungs:
-Sore Throat, Hoarseness
-Phlegm-Heat or Wind-Heat dry Cough
-obstructed or constrained Lung Qi with chest tightness and lack of free breath
-gently moistens the Lungs and benefits the Throat

2. Moistens the Intestines, Moves the Stool:
-Constipation from Heat obstructing the bowels
-especially Constipation with Headache, red eyes
-can be used as a solo herb in mild cases

3. Externally:
-as a wash to promote expression of rashes


Dose:


Decoction: 2–3 fruit (up to 5 fruit); can be infused in boiling water.

Main Combinations:


1. Sore Throat, Hoarseness, Cough:
i. from Heat or Phlegm-Heat, Sterculia seed with Platycodon Jie Geng, Fritillaria Bei Mu
ii. from Wind-Heat, Sterculia seed with Acorus Shi Chang Pu, Mint (Bo He)
iii. from Lung Heat damaging fluids, Sterculia seed with Adenophora Sha Shen, Licorice
iv. from Yin-deficient Heat, Sterculia seed with Figwort (Xuan Shen)
v. Wind-Heat or Phlegm-Heat Sore Throat and Hoarseness, Sterculia seed with Platycodon Jie Geng, Chebula (He Zi), Fritillaria thunbergi Zhe Bei Mu, Forythia Lian Qiao, Mint (Bo He), Rhubarb (Da Huang), Licorice (as in Huang Shi Xiang Sheng Pian of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
vi. Sore Throat or acute Upper Respiratory tract infection from Heat and dryness, Sterculia seed with Figwort (Xuan Shen), Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong, Chebula (He Zi), Rehmannia Sheng Di huang, Platycodon Jie Geng, Licorice (as in Jian Min Yan Hou Pian of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
vii. Pharyngitis, Tonsillitis from Wind-Heat, Sterculia seed with Scutellaria Huang Qin, Chebula (immature), Platycodon Jie Geng, Citrus Ju Hong, Mulberry leaf (Sang Ye), Cyperus rotundus, vinegar-prepared (Xiang Fu), Licorice (as in Qing Hou Li Yan Keli of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
2. Constipation from Dryness, Sterculia seed with Cannabis seed (Huo Ma Ren)

Major Formulas:



Cautions:


Not used for loose stool or Diarrhea.

Main Preparations used: