Luo Han Guo (罗汉果) is the fruit of momordica, recorded as Fructus Momordicae. It is sweet in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Lung and Large Intestine channels. The catalogue files it among the substances that transform Phlegm and stop cough.

Pinyin

luo han guo

Chinese

罗汉果

Latin Name

Fructus Momordicae

English Name

grosvenor’s momordica fruit·Momordica Fruit·momordica fruit; grosvenor’s momordica fruit

Japanese

rakanka

Korean

nahangwa

Actions and indications

Moistens and cools the Lungs, transforms Phlegm and stops cough

Cough from Lung Heat or Dryness
Chronic cough during the day, productive or dry
Lung Yin deficiency
Chronic dry, hot cough with a dry throat, sometimes with scant yellow sputum that is hard to bring up or streaked with blood
Loss of voice with a sore throat

Generates Fluids and relieves thirst

Thirst when Summerheat has damaged the Fluids
Thirst from depleted Fluids

Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels

Dry-type constipation with hard stools from lack of moisture, especially when Lung Qi fails to disperse

Dissipates nodules

Phlegm nodules of the neck
Scrofula

Combinations

zhe bei mu + xia ku cao

Scrofula

lean pork

Lung Deficiency with cough

bei sha shen + mai men dong + bai he

Dry cough

yu zhu

Cough from Lung Dryness

bo he + jie geng + sang bai pi

Cough from Wind-Heat

chen pi + zhi ban xia

Lingering Damp-Phlegm in the Lungs causing cough

mai men dong + fu ling

Summerheat damaging fluids, with thirst and a dry throat

ju hua

Lung Qi failing to disseminate, so fluids are depleted and constipation follows

huo ma ren + xing ren + yu li ren

Depleted fluids causing constipation

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 9-16g; Tincture: 2-4ml

9-16 g

—

2-4 ml

—

Cautions

caution Less suited to a Cold-type cough with plentiful thin white sputum

caution Spleen deficiency with loose stools, since sweet, moistening herbs can add to Damp

caution Known allergy to the gourd family (melon, cucumber, pumpkin)

caution Concentrated commercial sweetener extracts are a different exposure from the decocted fruit; their European regulatory assessment is still unresolved, which is a status rather than a shown harm

caution Get medical assessment for a dry cough beyond a few weeks, lingering hoarseness, or sputum containing blood

luo han guo

About luo han guo

Names

Classification