Bencao Index https://bencaoindex.com/ https://bencaoindex.com/herbs/gua-lou/ Free to use and republish with visible attribution and a link back to the source page. The catalogue is a reference work and is knowingly incomplete; nothing in it is medical advice. <a href="https://bencaoindex.com/herbs/gua-lou/">Bencao Index</a> gua lou 瓜蒌 Fructus Trichosanthis snakegourd fruit karo gwaru Cool & Transform Phlegm Heat Lung Large Intestine Stomach

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