Trichosanthes Semen, Gua Lou Ren 瓜娄仁
Gua Lou Ren (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)
Members CLICK HERE for the PRO VERSIONBotanical name:
Trichosanthes kirilowii, T. rosthornii
Parts used:
Trichosanthes Seed
Temperature & Taste:
Cold, moist. Sweet
Classification:
P. Clears Hot Phlegm
Uses:
1. Moistens the Lungs, Opens the Chest, Clears Phlegm-Heat:
-Phlegm-Heat Cough with yellow, sticky, hard-to-clear Phlegm
-stifling feeling in the chest, Chest pain or pressure from Phlegm obstruction
-“quenches thirst due to consumptive disease. It moistens the Heart and Lungs” (Da Ming)
2. Moistens the Intestines:
-dry Constipation
-also for Dysentery with Blood (Da Ming)
3. Clears Pus, Resolves Abscesses:
-adjunct for Swellings and Abscesses; Sores that have not suppurated
-Abscess of the Lung, Breast or Intestines
Dose:
Decoction: 9–15 grams
Powder: 1–3 grams
Preparation:
… available in PRO version
Main Combinations:
1. Phlegm-Heat Cough:
i. Trichosanthes Semen Gua Lou Ren with … available in PRO version
2. Chest pain from Phlegm and Qi obstruction, Trichosanthes Semen Gua Lou Ren with … available in PRO version
3. Constipation:
i. Trichosanthes Semen Gua Lou Ren with … available in PRO version
ii. from deficiency Trichosanthes Semen Gua Lou Ren with … available in PRO version
4. Abscess:
i. Lung abscess, Trichosanthes Semen Gua Lou Ren with … available in PRO version
ii. Breast Abscess, Trichosanthes Semen Gua Lou Ren with … available in PRO version
iii. Intestinal Abscess, Trichosanthes Semen Gua Lou Ren with … available in PRO version
Cautions:
Avoid in those with weakness of the Stomach and Spleen, Nausea, loose stool etc.