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Knowledge baseHerbs

Gua Lou (Shi)栝楼

Fructus TrichosanthisTrichosanthes Fruit

Also known asSnakegourd Fruit

Category
Herbs that Cool and Transform Phlegm-Heat
Nature
cold
Taste
sweet
Channels entered
Large Intestine, Lung, Stomach
Dosage
9–30 g

Usual doses

Dosage
9–30 g
Tincture
2–5 ml

Actions & indications

Clears Lung Heat and transforms Hot Phlegm
  • Phlegm-Heat cough and asthma with thick, difficult-to-expectorate Phlegm
  • It can be used as a stand alone herb, especially for children
Regulates Qi (unbinds the chest)
Qi accumulation in the chest with a stifling or distended sensation in the chest, constriction and pain or pressure in the diaphragm
Reduces abscesses, dissipates nodules and eliminates pus
Lung, intestinal or breast abscesses

Contraindications

  • Contraindicated in diarrhea from Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold.
  • Contraindicated in Phlegm-Cold.
  • Contraindicated in Phlegm-Dampness.

Incompatibilities

  • Incompatible with Rx. Aconiti Wu Tou.
  • Antagonistic to Rz. Zingiberis Officinalis Gan Jiang.
  • Counteracts the action of Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae Niu Xi.

Combinations

  • Cough with thick yellow sputum and a stifling chest sensation from Phlegm-Heat with constrained, clumped Qi; used as a complete formula for chest pain from Phlegm and thin mucus.

  • Dry cough and dry throat with thick, hard-to-expectorate sputum from Wind-Heat.

  • Phlegm-Heat accumulated in the chest and epigastrium, tender to pressure, with coughing of thick yellow sputum (Xiong Bi from Phlegm-Heat accumulation beneath the Heart).

  • Chest painful obstruction (Chest Bi) from Cold turbidity stagnating in the Upper Jiao.

  • Cough from Phlegm-Heat.

  • Lung abscess with irritability, chest stifling sensation, and coughing up of pus and Blood.

  • Intestinal abscess with pus already formed, or in patients with Qi and Blood Deficiency.

  • Breast abscess in its early stage.

  • Breast carbuncle; pulmonary abscess.

  • Mastitis.

  • Pulmonary abscess with coughing of purulent, blood-tinged sputum.

  • Constipation.

  • Moves Qi and Blood to disperse swelling and clumping, treating postpartum breast disorders of accumulation, Stagnation, distention, and pain — such as blocked, insufficient lactation or early breast abscess.

  • Focal distention of the chest and diaphragm from clumped Phlegm-Heat causing Qi Stagnation; Chest Bi from clumped, sticky, thick, turbid Phlegm.

  • Productive cough with yellow, sticky Phlegm, chest congestion, and hard stools from Heat in the Lung and Large Intestine.

Notes

  • Older texts made no distinction between this herb (the fruit), the seed Gua Lou Ren, and the husk Gua Lou Pi.
  • Fr. Trichosanthis Gua Lou can stand in for either Sm. Trichosanthis Gua Lou Ren or Per. Trichosanthis Gua Lou Pi.
  • The whole fruit is preferred for chest obstruction and for subcutaneous swelling or abscess.
  • The husk, Gua Lou Pi, is best for clearing Heat, resolving Phlegm, and moving Qi in the chest.
  • The seed, Gua Lou Ren, is used to loosen the bowels and relieve constipation.
  • Its moistening, bowel-moving action suits wheezing and constipation that arise when Phlegm-Heat accumulates in the Lungs and then obstructs the Large Intestine.
  • Its most valuable property is directing Phlegm and turbidity downward.
  • It may be used alone for infant wheezing caused by Phlegm Obstruction.
  • Research has shown this herb inhibits cancer cell growth.
  • Gua Lou and Sm. Sinapis Bai Jie Zi both move Qi in the chest and scour out Phlegm, treating turbid Phlegm that obstructs Qi and causes chest pain and stifling sensation. Gua Lou, moist and cold, suits conditions where Heat and Phlegm have clumped in the chest, while Bai Jie Zi, warm, drying, and forceful, suits Cold-Phlegm accumulating there instead.

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