Guā Lóu (瓜蒌), known in English as Trichosanthes fruit (Trichosanthes kirilowii), is a cold, sweet and slightly bitter Chinese herb from the Resolve phlegm category. It enters the Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine channels. Its main action: clears Heat-Phlegm, moistens Lung.
| Pinyin | Guā Lóu (Gua Lou) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 瓜蒌 |
| English | Trichosanthes fruit |
| Botanical name | Trichosanthes kirilowii |
| Category | Resolve phlegm |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Sweet, Slightly bitter |
| Channels | Lung, Stomach, Large Intestine |
| Dosage | 9–15g (full fruit); seeds 9–15g |
| Cautions | Cold-Phlegm; Spleen deficiency diarrhoea; incompatible with Fu Zi (18 incompatibilities) |
Actions
- Clears Heat-Phlegm, moistens Lung
- Unbinds chest, dissipates nodules
- Moistens intestines, unblocks bowels
Indications
- Heat-Phlegm cough
- Chest Bi with phlegm
- Breast abscess
- Constipation from dryness
How to remember Guā Lóu
Most Resolve phlegm herbs enter the Lung channel.
- You can work these out
- Lung channel: from its action “moistens Lung”
- Large Intestine channel: from its action “Moistens intestines”
- Learn by heart
- Cold: Resolve phlegm herbs vary in nature
- Sweet: Resolve phlegm herbs vary in flavour
- Slightly bitter: Resolve phlegm herbs vary in flavour
- Stomach channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Other Resolve phlegm herbs
- Bàn Xià
- Tiān Nán Xīng
- Zào Jiǎo Cì
- Jié Gěng
- Chuān Bèi Mǔ
- Zhè Bèi Mǔ
- Zhú Rú
- Tiān Zhú Huáng
- Hǎi Zǎo
- Kūn Bù
- Pí Pá Yè
- Xìng Rén
- Zǐ Wǎn
- Bǎi Bù
- Kuǎn Dōng Huā
- Sāng Bái Pí
- Tíng Lì Zǐ
- Bái Jiè Zǐ
- Bái Qián
- Qián Hú
- Xuán Fù Huā
- Zǐ Sū Zǐ
- Bái Guǒ
- Qīng Méng Shí
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Guā Lóu?
Guā Lóu is cold and sweet and slightly bitter.
Which channels does Guā Lóu enter?
Guā Lóu enters the Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine channels.
What are the actions of Guā Lóu?
Clears Heat-Phlegm, moistens Lung; Unbinds chest, dissipates nodules; Moistens intestines, unblocks bowels.
What is Guā Lóu used for?
Heat-Phlegm cough; chest Bi with phlegm; breast abscess; constipation from dryness.
Practise Guā Lóu and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.