Trichosanthes Pericarpium, Gua Lou Pi 瓜娄皮
Gua Lou Pi (TCM)
Dian Nan Ben Cao Tu Shuo (Illustrated Yunnan Pharmacopoeia) Ming Dynasty (1773 edition) (Welcome, Wikimedia)
Trichosanthes kirilowii var. japonica(Photo by 杉山龍彦) (Wikimedia)
Botanical name:
Trichosanthes kirilowii, T. rosthornii
Parts used:
Trichosanthes fruit peel
Temperature & Taste:
Cold, Sweet
Classification:
P. Clears Hot Phlegm
Uses:
1. Clears Phlegm-Heat, Stops Cough:
-dry Cough, hard-to-clear Phlegm
-dry, hoarse Throat from Wind-Heat
2. Moves the Qi, Opens the Chest:
-obstruction, constriction or pressure in the chest from Qi obstruction
-early stage of Breast Abscess
Dose:
Decoction: 6–12 grams
Main Combinations:
1. Phlegm-Heat Cough, with Platycodon Jie Geng, Almond kernel (Xing Ren)
2. Early stages of Breast Abscess, with Frankincense
Cautions:
1. Not used for those with Diarrhea from Stomach and Spleen weakness.
Drug Interactions:
1. Not used with Aconite species (counteracts); Incompatible with Ginger and Achyranthes Niu Xi.