☯ TCM Properties
Clears Heat, expels Phlegm, e xpels pus and moistens the Lungs; Clears Heat and d rains Dampness
Traditional Chinese Uses
Dong Gua Zi (Semen Benincasae) is the seed of the winter melon/wax gourd, Benincasa hispida. Sweet and cold, entering the Lung, Stomach, Spleen and Intestine channels, it clears Heat, transforms Phlegm, expels pus and moistens the Lungs, and drains Damp-Heat from the lower burner. Its signature use is internal abscess: it clears the Heat driving the abscess while its moistening, Phlegm-resolving nature breaks down and expels thick purulent material.
It is a classic component of Wei Jing Tang (Reed Decoction) for Lung abscess, working with Lu Gen, Yi Yi Ren and Tao Ren to address Heat, Phlegm, pus and stasis; and of Da Huang Mu Dan Tang for intestinal abscess (appendicitis). Beyond abscess it treats Lung Phlegm-Heat cough, sinusitis with thick discharge, and Damp-Heat vaginal discharge. Usual dose is 9-30 g decocted.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Dong Gua Zi (also called Dong Gua Ren) is the seed of Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. (Cucurbitaceae), the wax gourd or winter melon, a vigorous annual climbing or trailing vine cultivated throughout China, India, and tropical Asia. Stems are stout, ridged, and densely hispid, bearing branched tendrils and large, palmately 5–7-lobed leaves 10–25 cm across with hispid surfaces. Solitary, large yellow flowers give rise to an oblong-cylindric to ovoid fruit 30–60 cm long covered in coarse hairs when young and developing a thick, whitish, waxy bloom at maturity. Inside the firm white flesh lie numerous flat, ovate, cream to pale brown seeds 10–15 mm long with a narrow marginal ridge. Ripe fruits are split in late autumn, the seeds washed, dried, and lightly stir-fried. In TCM they cool the Lung, clear phlegm, and discharge pus, and are a key ingredient of classic formulas such as Wei Jing Tang.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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