gua lou pi

瓜蒌皮·Pericarpium Trichosanthis

Trichosanthes Peel

About gua lou pi

Gua Lou Pi (瓜蓌皮) is the peel of the snakegourd fruit, recorded as Pericarpium Trichosanthis. It is sweet in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine channels. The catalogue files it among the substances that cool and transform Phlegm-Heat.

Names

Pinyingua lou pi
Chinese瓜蒌皮
Latin NamePericarpium Trichosanthis
English NameTrichosanthes Peel
Japanesekarochi·karohi
Koreangwarupi

Classification

Channels
Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach
Flavour
Sweet
Temperature
Cold
Part used
Peel
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Species
Trichosanthes Kirilowii|Trichosanthes rosthornii
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Clears and moistens the Lungs and transforms Phlegm-Heat

  • Hot Phlegm lodged in the chest
  • Lung infections
  • Dry cough and dry throat from Wind-Heat, with yellow sputum that will not come up easily
  • Cough and wheezing with hot, sticky phlegm

Regulates Qi and expands the chest

  • Qi accumulation in the chest with stuffiness and pain
  • Chest Bi
  • A tight, oppressed or painful chest as the leading complaint, rather than dryness
  • Breast abscess at its very beginning, before it is established

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 6-30g; For dispersing clumps: up to 60g6-30 g

Cautions

Interactions

Antagonistic with