Trichosanthes Fruit Gua Lou: A Traditional Herb for Clearing Phlegm and Relieving Chest Pain
- Hongji Medical
- Jun 13
- 4 min read
Trichosanthes Fruit, known as Gua Lou in Chinese, is the dried, mature fruit of Trichosanthes kirilowii or Trichosanthes rosthornii from the Cucurbitaceae family. It is used in three forms—whole fruit (Quan Gua Lou), fruit peel (Gua Lou Pi), and seeds (Gua Lou Ren)—each with specific benefits. Valued for its ability to moisten the lungs, clear phlegm, and relieve chest tightness, it is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for respiratory and chest-related conditions.
A Historical Remedy in Chinese Medicine
Trichosanthes Fruit has been documented in ancient Chinese medical texts for centuries. The Shennong Bencao Jing (Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica) lists it as a middle-grade herb, noting it "treats chest and abdominal stagnation, masses, hernias, breast difficulties, and abscesses." The Mingyi Bielu further describes it as effective for "heart pain, cough, thirst, lung dryness, swelling, and dispersing masses."
Ancient healers highly valued Trichosanthes Fruit for its ability to clear phlegm and ease chest discomfort, making it a key remedy for coughs, chest pain, and related disorders.
Insights from Historical Texts
Bencao Gangmu: Li Shizhen provided a detailed account of Trichosanthes Fruit’s appearance, origin, and effects. He noted it grows wild in mountains, spreading like a melon vine with rough, sweet melon-like leaves.
The fruit, about the size of a chicken egg, is green when young and reddish-yellow when ripe, with white flesh and red pulp. Its root, called Gua Lou Gen, is also medicinal. He described the distinct effects of the whole fruit, peel, and seeds.
Yaoxing Fu: This text concisely summarizes its effects as "moistening the lungs, clearing phlegm, and relieving chest tightness."
Characteristics of Trichosanthes Fruit Gua Lou
Taste and Properties
Trichosanthes Fruit varies slightly by part:
Whole Fruit: Combines the effects of peel and seeds.
Fruit Peel: Sweet, slightly bitter, and cold, linked to the lung and stomach meridians.
Seeds: Sweet and cold, linked to the lung, stomach, and large intestine meridians.
Origin and Harvesting
It is grown across China, with higher yields in North and East China. The fruits are harvested in autumn when ripe, washed, split in half, and dried to produce whole fruit. The pulp and seeds are removed and dried for the peel, while the seeds are cleaned and dried separately.
Appearance
Whole Fruit: Spherical or oval halves, with an orange-yellow or yellowish-brown outer surface with wrinkles and raised vascular lines. The inner surface is yellowish-white with net-like patterns.
Fruit Peel: Irregular, curled pieces, yellow or yellowish-brown outside with wrinkles and vascular marks, and yellowish-white inside with net-like patterns.
Seeds: Flat, oval, 1.2–1.5 cm long and 0.6–0.8 cm wide, brownish or dark brown with a glossy surface. One end is pointed, the other rounded. The seed coat is thin and brittle, revealing two yellowish-white, oily cotyledons.
Preparation
Trichosanthes Fruit is used raw or stir-fried, depending on the desired effect.
Clinical Uses: Clearing Phlegm and Easing Chest Discomfort
Trichosanthes Fruit Gua Lou is used to treat conditions caused by phlegm-heat or chest stagnation. Its main applications include:
Lung Heat Cough: Symptoms like frequent coughing with thick, yellow phlegm, chest tightness, wheezing, dry mouth, or sore throat.
Chest Pain (Coronary Heart Disease): Intermittent chest pain or tightness, triggered by exertion or emotions, due to phlegm and blood stasis blocking the heart vessels.
Breast Abscess: Painful, swollen, red, and hot breasts with fever or chills, often due to heat toxins and milk stagnation.
Lung Abscess: Chest pain, coughing with pus or blood, fever, and stuffiness due to phlegm-heat and blood stasis in the lungs.
Intestinal Abscess: Right lower abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting due to damp-heat and pus in the intestines (seeds used).
Constipation: Hard, difficult stools due to dry intestines or qi stagnation (seeds used).
Key Benefits
Moistens Lungs and Clears Phlegm: Clears heat, moistens the lungs, and resolves thick phlegm.
Relieves Chest Tightness: Opens the chest and improves qi flow, easing pain and discomfort.
Lubricates Intestines: Seeds, rich in oils, promote bowel movements (seeds).
Reduces Swelling and Pus: Clears heat, disperses masses, and promotes pus drainage for abscesses.
Herbal Combinations for Enhanced Effects
Trichosanthes Fruit is often combined with other herbs in TCM formulas to boost its effectiveness. Common prescriptions include:
Xiao Xian Xiong Decoction: Combines Trichosanthes Fruit, coptis, and pinellia to clear phlegm-heat and relieve chest fullness, used for chest tightness and cough.
Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan: Includes Trichosanthes Seeds, scutellaria, pinellia, apricot kernel, immature bitter orange, tangerine peel, and poria to clear phlegm-heat, stop cough, and ease wheezing.
Gua Lou Xie Bai Decoction: Combines Trichosanthes Fruit and allium to clear phlegm, open the chest, and relieve heart-related chest pain.
Comparing Trichosanthes Fruit with Similar Herbs
Other herbs with phlegm-clearing and heat-dispersing effects include fritillaria, bamboo sap, and trichosanthes root, each with distinct traits:
Fritillaria (Chuan Bei Mu): Clears heat, moistens lungs, and stops cough, best for yin-deficient dry cough with scanty phlegm.
Bamboo Sap (Zhu Li): Clears heat, resolves phlegm, and stops cough, but its cold, slippery nature may harm the spleen and stomach.
Trichosanthes Root (Tian Hua Fen): Clears heat, generates fluids, and reduces swelling, ideal for thirst, dry mouth, and sores.
Trichosanthes Fruit balances lung moistening and chest relief; fritillaria targets yin deficiency; bamboo sap is colder; and trichosanthes root focuses on fluid generation.
Modern Research and Applications
Modern studies are limited but suggest Trichosanthes Fruit contains compounds like triterpenoids and oils with potential benefits:
Phlegm Clearance: Helps resolve thick phlegm in respiratory conditions.
Cardiovascular Support: May improve heart function and circulation.
Anti-Inflammatory: Reduces inflammation in abscesses and respiratory issues.
Laxative Effect: Seeds promote bowel movements.
Modern Uses
Respiratory Disorders: Used for bronchitis, asthma, and lung infections with thick phlegm.
Cardiovascular Conditions: Applied in managing chest pain from coronary heart disease.
Abscesses: Treats breast and intestinal abscesses.
Precautions
Trichosanthes Fruit should be used cautiously:
Weak Spleen/Stomach: Avoid in those with loose stools or weak digestion, as its cold nature may harm spleen yang.
Cold Phlegm Cough: Avoid in coughs with thin, clear phlegm, as it may worsen symptoms.
Pregnant Women: Use cautiously due to its slippery nature.
Conclusion
Trichosanthes Fruit is a valued TCM herb, celebrated for its ability to clear phlegm, moisten the lungs, and relieve chest discomfort. From ancient texts to modern applications, its role in treating respiratory issues, chest pain, and abscesses is well-established. With careful use, avoiding overuse in those with weak digestion or pregnancy, Trichosanthes Fruit remains a powerful remedy for health and vitality.
