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Tian Hua Fen天花粉

Trichosanthis Radix · Trichosanthes Root · Snakegourd Root

Herbs that Clear Heat 清热药《神农本草经》

Overview

The starchy root of the snakegourd vine, sweet and slightly bitter, slightly cold. It is the herb for heat that has burnt through the fluids: unrelenting thirst, a dry mouth and tongue, wasting-thirst, and a dry cough with sputum too thick and sticky to bring up. It also disperses swelling and drives out pus in the early stage of sores. Note that the same root yields trichosanthin, a protein used in China as an injectable abortifacient — the reason the pregnancy warning below is absolute rather than cautionary.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet, slightly bitter · Slightly cold

Channels

Lung · Stomach

Typical Dosage

10–15 g in decoction
天花粉Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Clears heat, generates fluids, stops thirstHeat patterns with a dry mouth and tongue and thirst that drinking does not settle, including wasting-thirst with constant hunger and copious urination.
  • Clears the Lung, transforms sticky phlegmDry cough with scant, thick, hard-to-expectorate sputum, sometimes blood-streaked, from heat drying the Lung.
  • Disperses swelling, expels pusEarly hot swollen sores and abscesses that have not yet come to a head; used internally and topically as a powder.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Tian Hua Fen

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Febrile disease with thirst and a dry mouth and tongue
    - Wasting-thirst with excessive drinking and urination
    - Dry cough with thick, sticky sputum
    - Early-stage hot sores and abscesses

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Type 2 diabetesDry mouthDry coughAbscessFever with dehydration

Contraindications

Cautions

The classical eighteen incompatibilities place this herb against aconite — do not combine it with Chuan Wu, Cao Wu or Fu Zi. It is cold and moistening, so it is wrong for Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold with loose stools, poor appetite and a pale swollen tongue, and for cough from wind-cold with thin, clear sputum. Allergic reactions have been reported with the injectable protein preparations; anyone with a known reaction to this root should not take it in any form. Wasting-thirst and persistent unexplained thirst need a medical diagnosis rather than herbs alone.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Contraindicated in pregnancy — a protein isolated from this root is used clinically as an abortifacient, and the herb is not taken at any stage of pregnancy.

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.