gua lou ren

Name: gua lou ren
Creator: Bencao Index

瓜蒌仁·Semen Trichosanthis

snakegourd seed

About gua lou ren

Gua Lou Ren (瓜蓌仁) is the seed of the snakegourd, recorded as Semen 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

Pinyin	gua lou ren
Chinese	瓜蒌仁
Latin Name	Semen Trichosanthis
English Name	snakegourd seed·Trichosanthes Seed·trichosanthes seed; snakegourd seed
Japanese	karonin
Korean	gwaruin

Classification

Category: Cool & Transform Phlegm Heat
Channels: Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach
Flavour: Sweet
Temperature: Cold
Part used: Seed
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Species: Trichosanthes Kirilowii|Trichosanthes rosthornii
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Clears Heat, transforms Phlegm-Heat, and cools and moistens the Lungs

Phlegm-Heat cough, particularly with thick, sticky sputum that is hard to expectorate, sometimes with chest pain

Expands the chest

Phlegm collecting in the chest, felt as stifling, oppressive fullness, pain, or pressure at the diaphragm

Moistens the Intestines and moves the bowels

Dry stools and constipation with Heat in the Lungs, Stomach or Large Intestine, often with a dry mouth, thirst and irritability

Promotes healing of sores, dissipates nodules and expels pus

Breast or intestinal abscesses, carbuncles, and swollen sores that have not yet formed pus, as a supporting herb

Promotes urination

Edema

Combinations

zhi ban xia + huang lian
Chest pain and cough with sputum that is hard to bring up
zhi ban xia + huang lian + chai hu + huang qin
Intense Heat with cough, chest pain and sputum that is difficult to cough up
zhi ban xia + xie bai
Painful blockage of the Heart or chest
huo ma ren + tao ren + bai zi ren
Phlegm-Heat obstructing internally with constipation, thirst and a dry mouth; wasting and thirsting disorder
dang gui + bai zi ren + he shou wu + xing ren
Moistens the bowels.
yu xing cao + jie geng
Lung abscess.
zao jiao ci + chuan shan jia + jin yin hua
Breast abscess.
pu gong ying
Intestinal abscess.
huang qin + zhi shi + dan nan xing
Accumulated Phlegm and Heat causing constipation, a sense of oppression in the chest and profuse yellow sputum
huo ma ren + yu li ren + zhi ke
Constipation.
gan cao + ru xiang + mo yao
Cough bringing up Blood and sputum, with the chest feeling congested and oppressed
jin yin hua + lian qiao + dang gui + huang qi
Qi and Blood Deficiency with Intestinal abscess

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 2-18g; Tincture: 2-5ml	2-18 g	—	2-5 ml	—	—

Cautions

contraindication Weak, deficient Spleen with nausea or loose stools; where Phlegm-Heat still needs treating, the de-oiled seed (Gua Lou Ren Shuang) is the traditional alternative
contraindication Diarrhea from deficiency Cold of the Spleen and Stomach
contraindication Phlegm-Cold, with thin, white, watery phlegm

Interactions

Antagonistic with

gan jiang Antagonistic with Gan Jiang (dried ginger)
huai niu xi Works against Niu Xi (Achyranthes root)

Drug interactions

Laxatives: the oily seed loosens the stool, so the effects may add together (general reasoning, not studied)

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