Trichosanthes Semen, Gua Lou Ren

Trichosanthes Semen, Gua Lou Ren 瓜娄仁

Gua Lou Ren (TCM)

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Dian Nan Ben Cao Tu Shuo (Illustrated Yunnan Pharmacopoeia) Ming Dynasty (1773 edition) (Welcome, Wikimedia)

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Trichosanthes kirilowii var. japonica
(Photo by 杉山龍彦) (Wikimedia)

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Members CLICK HERE for the PRO VERSION


Botanical name:

Trichosanthes kirilowii, T.  rosthornii

Parts used:

Trichosanthes Seed

Temperature & Taste:

Cold, moist. Sweet

Classification:

P. Clears Hot Phlegm

Uses:

1. Moistens the Lungs, Opens the Chest, Clears Phlegm-Heat:
-Phlegm-Heat Cough with yellow, sticky, hard-to-clear Phlegm
-stifling feeling in the chest, Chest pain or pressure from Phlegm obstruction
-“quenches thirst due to consumptive disease. It moistens the Heart and Lungs” (Da Ming)
2. Moistens the Intestines:
-dry Constipation
-also for Dysentery with Blood (Da Ming)
3. Clears Pus, Resolves Abscesses:
-adjunct for Swellings and Abscesses; Sores that have not suppurated
-Abscess of the Lung, Breast or Intestines

Dose:

Decoction: 9–15 grams
Powder: 1–3 grams

Preparation:

… available in PRO version

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Main Combinations:

1. Phlegm-Heat Cough:
i. Trichosanthes Semen Gua Lou Ren with … available in PRO version
2. Chest pain from Phlegm and Qi obstruction, Trichosanthes Semen Gua Lou Ren with … available in PRO version
3. Constipation:
i. Trichosanthes Semen Gua Lou Ren with … available in PRO version
ii. from deficiency Trichosanthes Semen Gua Lou Ren with … available in PRO version
4. Abscess:
i. Lung abscess, Trichosanthes Semen Gua Lou Ren with … available in PRO version
ii. Breast Abscess, Trichosanthes Semen Gua Lou Ren with … available in PRO version
iii. Intestinal Abscess, Trichosanthes Semen Gua Lou Ren with … available in PRO version

Cautions:

Avoid in those with weakness of the Stomach and Spleen, Nausea, loose stool etc.

Main Preparations used: