gua lou

瓜蒌·Fructus Trichosanthis

snakegourd fruit

About gua lou

Gua Lou (瓜蓌) is the fruit of the snakegourd, recorded as Fructus 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; its peel and its seed are entered separately.

Names

Pinyingua lou
Chinese瓜蒌
Latin NameFructus Trichosanthis
English Namesnakegourd fruit·snakegourd fruit; trichosanthes fruit·Trichosanthes Fruit
Japanesekaro
Koreangwaru

Classification

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

Actions and indications

Clears Lung Heat and transforms Phlegm-Heat

  • Cough or wheezing from Phlegm-Heat, with sticky yellow phlegm that is hard to bring up
  • Can be given as a single herb, particularly to children

Regulates Qi and unbinds the chest

  • Chest Bi: a stifling, distended or tight chest with pain or pressure at the diaphragm, when Qi or Phlegm-Heat accumulates and blocks the Yang Qi of the chest
  • Phlegm-Heat knotted in the chest and epigastrium, as chief herb of Xiao Xian Xiong Tang
  • Chest Bi with an oppressive feeling, in the Gua Lou Xie Bai family of formulas

Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels

  • Constipation from Heat or dried-out fluids

Reduces abscesses, dissipates nodules and expels pus

  • Abscesses of the lung, intestine or breast, often with herbs that clear Heat and toxicity
  • Nodules from Phlegm-Heat

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 9-30g; Tincture: 2-5ml9-30 g2-5 ml

Cautions

Interactions

Antagonistic with