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Gua Lou瓜蒌

Trichosanthis Fructus · Trichosanthes Fruit · Snakegourd Fruit

Herbs that Transform Phlegm and Stop Coughing 化痰止咳平喘药《神农本草经》

Overview

The whole ripe fruit — peel and seed used together — sweet, slightly bitter and cold. It clears heat and transforms thick phlegm in the Lung, unbinds a stifled chest, and moistens the bowel, so a single herb covers cough, chest oppression and dry stool at once. Its best-known role is with Xie Bai for chest painful obstruction.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet, slightly bitter · Cold

Channels

Lung · Stomach · Large Intestine

Typical Dosage

10–20 g in decoction
瓜蒌Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Clears heat, transforms phlegmCough with thick yellow sputum that will not come up, a hot and dry-feeling chest.
  • Unbinds the chest, disperses nodulesChest oppression and painful obstruction, phlegm nodules, early breast abscess — classically with Xie Bai and Ban Xia.
  • Moistens the intestinesDry, heat-type constipation, thanks to the oil-rich seed portion of the fruit.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Gua Lou

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Cough with thick, hard-to-expectorate yellow phlegm
    - Chest oppression and chest painful obstruction
    - Phlegm nodules, early breast abscess
    - Dry constipation with heat

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

BronchitisAnginaConstipationMastitis

Contraindications

Cautions

Cold and moistening: unsuitable in Spleen–Stomach cold deficiency with loose stools, and in cold-damp or thin watery phlegm. Classical incompatibility — it is not combined with Wu Tou / Fu Zi.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Use with caution in pregnancy — cold, and it loosens the stool; practitioner supervision required

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

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.