Trichosanthes Fructus, Gua Lou 瓜蒌 Gua Lou (TCM) Dian Nan Ben Cao Tu Shuo (Illustrated Yunnan Pharmacopoeia) Ming Dynasty (1773 edition) (Welcome, Wikimedia) Trichosanthes kirilowii var. japonica(Photo by 杉山龍彦) (Wikimedia) Trichosanthes kirilowii fruit(Photo by 杉山龍彦) (Wikimedia) Botanical name: Trichosanthes kirilowii (syn. T. japonica), T.  rosthornii (syn. T. uniflora) Parts used: Fruit Temperature & Taste: Cold, Moist. Sweet Classification: P. Clear Phlegm Uses: 1. Moistens the Lungs, Clears Phlegm-Heat:-Cough with yellow, hard-to-clear sputum-Chest obstruction with pain and stuffiness (Ming Yi Bie Lu)-“It moistens Lung Dryness and brings down Fire. It is good for treating coughing, dispersing accumulation of phlegm, facilitating throat” (Li Shi Zhen)2. Moves Qi, Opens the Chest:-pressure, a stifling feeling, constriction or pain in the chest and diaphragm-“improves and brightens the complexion” (Ming Yi Bie Lu)3. Clears Pus, Resolves Abscesses:-Abscess of the Lungs, Breast or Intestines-“eliminates carbuncle, swelling and pyogenic infection” (Li Shi Zhen) Dose: 9–20 grams in Decoction Main Combinations: 1. Cough from Hot-Phlegm:i. with hard-to-clear sputum, Trichosanthes Fructus Gua Lou with Fritillaria Zhe Bei Mu and Platycodon Jie Geng.ii. with focal distention in the chest and abdomen Trichosanthes Fructus Gua Lou with Pinellia Ban Xia and Citrus Chen Pi2. Painful Chest obstruction Trichosanthes Fructus Gua Lou with…

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