Bencao Gangmu Reference Library
胖大海 / 通大海 / 大海子 / 膨大海 / 杀那子 / 安南子 — Scaphium affine (Mast.) Pierre (syn. Sterculia lychnophora, Scaphium scaphigerum)
Pinyin: Pàngdàhǎi / Tōngdàhǎi / Dàhǎizǐ · Malay: Kembang Semangkok / Kembang Semangkuk / Merpayang · Family: Malvaceae (锦葵科 / 梧桐科)
Energetics
Cool to Cold (寒 / 甘寒)
Flavor
Sweet, bland, soothing mucilaginous (甘、淡、微苦、滑利)
Meridians
Lung (肺), Large Intestine (大肠)
Traditional Edict
Malva Nut (Kembang Semangkok / Pang Da Hai). Small wrinkled brown nuts swelling 8x into spongy jelly bowls in boiling water. Guardian Monarch of Professional Voice Users (Singers, Teachers): opens lost voice, soothes burning sore throat, lubricates dry constipation.
Cautions & Contraindications
- Take for short-term courses (do not drink continuously for >7-10 days as cold mucilage may weaken Spleen-Yang). CONTRAINDICATED in cold watery diarrhea without heat signs.
Clinical Applications
- Acute and chronic laryngitis with aphonia and hoarseness, vocal cord nodules and burning throat tickle, dry hacking cough with yellow sputum, and dry atonic constipation.
Quality Markers
Mechanism & Phytochemistry
1. Hydrophilic bassorin arabinogalactans expand 8x into a demulcent mucosal coating that covers laryngeal and vocal fold epithelium, suppressing friction and inflammation. 2. Colonic water retention for laxation. 3. Downregulates IL-1b/TNF-a.
Preparation & Dosage
THE SOVEREIGN VOCAL RECOVERY THERMOS INFUSION: 2 to 3 whole Pang Da Hai nuts placed in a 500 mL thermos, filled with boiling water (swells into brown jelly); sip warm with Luo Han Guo throughout the day. Chronic constipation: 3-4 nuts steeped before sleep.
Appended Prescriptions
- 1. The Sovereign Singer's & Teacher's Vocal Recovery Quadriad with Oroxylum indicum (Mu Hu Die), Platycodon, and Luo Han Guo. 2. Intestinal Lubricating Laxative Tea with Cassia seeds.
Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only
