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Dong Gua Pi冬瓜皮

Benincasae Exocarpium · Winter Melon Peel · Wax Gourd Rind

Herbs that Drain Dampness 利水渗湿药《开宝本草》

Overview

The pared rind of the winter melon: sweet, cool and almost weightless, it moves water out through the urine without the cold bite or the drying edge of the stronger diuretics. That mildness is the point — it can be given in large amounts, over long stretches, and in summer heat, where a harsher herb would strain the fluids it is meant to protect.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet · Cool

Channels

Spleen · Small Intestine

Typical Dosage

15–30 g in decoction
冬瓜皮Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

2 core actions

  • Promotes urination, reduces swellingPuffy face and ankles, abdominal fullness from retained water, scanty urination — used alone in mild cases and added to Fu Ling 茯苓 or Ze Xie 泽泻 to widen their reach.
  • Clears summerheat, relieves thirstSummer irritability with thirst, a heavy head and dark scanty urine; commonly simmered with watermelon rind as a household drink.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Dong Gua Pi

No published formula lists this herb yet — the library is growing.

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Oedema of the face, legs or abdomen with scanty urine
    - Summerheat with thirst, heaviness and dark urine
    - Damp accumulation where a stronger diuretic would be too harsh

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

OedemaFluid retentionHeat exhaustionOliguria

Contraindications

Cautions

Cooling and draining with nothing tonifying behind it: on its own it is the wrong herb for oedema arising from yang deficiency with cold, and it should not be run continuously at high dose in a patient who is already thin, dehydrated or short of fluids.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: No specific restriction — practitioner judgment applies

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. 《中华人民共和国药典》.
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中药大辞典》(Encyclopedia of Chinese Materia Medica).

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.