Gua Lou Pi
StarTrichosanthes kirilowii Maxim.
☯ TCM Properties
Clears Heat and Transforms Phlegm; Opens the Chest and Disperses Stagnation; Clears Lung Heat and Stops Cough; Dissipates Nodules and Softens Hardness
Traditional Chinese Uses
Gua Lou Pi (trichosanthes fruit peel) is a cool, sweet-bitter herb used to clear Phlegm-Heat from the Lungs and relieve chest tightness. It addresses coughs with thick, yellow, difficult-to-expectorate phlegm associated with Lung Heat, and its Qi-regulating action relieves the constricting chest fullness and pain of Phlegm-Heat obstructing the thorax. It is a key ingredient in classical formulas for both Lung Heat cough and chest pain related to cardiac conditions.
Botanical Description
Trichosanthes kirilowii is a perennial dioecious climbing vine in the Cucurbitaceae, native to northern and central China, Korea, and Japan. From a large fleshy tuberous root system, slender ridged stems climb by branched tendrils to 5 metres or more. The alternate leaves are deeply palmately three- to seven-lobed with coarsely toothed margins. White flowers, the corolla lobes fringed with long thread-like segments, open at dusk; male flowers are borne in racemes, female flowers solitary. The fruit is a smooth ovoid to globose pepo about 8-10 cm in diameter, ripening from green to orange-yellow, with a thin leathery rind enclosing yellow pulp and flat ovate seeds. The dried mature rind, separated from pulp and seed, constitutes Gua Lou Pi.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | 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.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Gua Lou Pi.
No notes yet.