gua di san

Melon Pedicle Powder

About gua di san

Gua Di San, Melon Pedicle Powder, pairs Gua Di with Chi Xiao Dou. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that induce vomiting to discharge Phlegm, and records it as doing exactly that, whether what is held is Phlegm, retained food or a toxic substance.

Ingredients

Herb	Amount
gua di	3 g
chi xiao dou	3 g

Actions and indications

Induces vomiting to discharge Phlegm, retained food or toxic substances

Phlegm blocking the chest and diaphragm
Retained food lodged in the epigastrium, or a toxic substance sitting high in the chest and stomach, in an excess pattern and a robust patient
Firm focal distension in the chest and below the Heart, with a hard, distended epigastrium
Breathing made difficult by a feeling of Qi rushing up into the throat
Vexation, anguish and irritability with nausea, and an urge to vomit that cannot be completed
Tongue normal or with a spongy, curdy coat; pulse slightly floating at the distal (cun) position

Modern uses

Poisoning
Acute gastritis
Indigestion
Stomach flu
Acute hepatitis
Acute jaundice
Common cold
Fever
Tonsillitis
Pulmonary tuberculosis
Epilepsy
Schizophrenia
Manic-depression
Bi-polar disorder
Depression
Neurotic vomiting

Symptoms

Abdominal rigidity
Chest fullness
Emotional distress
Epigastric distention
Irritability
Nausea
Restlessness
Sensation of qi rushing upward
Shortness of breath

Modifications

Qi deficiency: + ren shen
Acute jaundice with a hard, firm epigastrium, harsh breathing and severe thirst: − dan dou chi
Greater irritability, chest distension and a wish to vomit: + zhi zi, − dan dou chi
Acute poisoning: + sheng ma, + gan cao, − dan dou chi, − chi xiao dou

Cautions

caution Gua Di is a toxic emetic (graded slightly toxic or toxic depending on the reference; its action is attributed to cucurbitacin B): historically given only to robust patients under direct supervision of an experienced practitioner, never for self-treatment or repeated use
pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy
contraindication Postpartum period
paediatric Children: use with caution; traditionally regarded as unsuitable
caution Elderly or weak patients, Spleen and Stomach deficiency, and dizziness or palpitations from Qi and Blood deficiency: use with caution
contraindication Marked Blood deficiency, or insufficiency of the heart or lungs
contraindication When the Phlegm is not lodged in the chest, or when retained food or a toxic substance has already moved on into the intestines
contraindication Never to be used to make a patient vomit up a corrosive substance
caution If vomiting will not stop, Ding Xiang or She Xiang was the traditional remedy to settle it
caution If poisoning is suspected, call emergency services or poison control at once; this formula is not a home remedy for it

Preparation

Powder: Gua Di is dry-fried until yellow and ground with Chi Xiao Dou, then taken on an empty stomach with a separately made decoction of Dan Dou Chi as the liquid

Names

Pinyin	gua di san
English Name	Melon Pedicle Powder

Classification

Category: Induce Vomiting to Discharge Phlegm