Mù Guā (木瓜), known in English as Chinese quince fruit (Chaenomeles speciosa), is a warm, sour Chinese herb from the Expel wind-damp category. It enters the Liver and Spleen channels. Its main action: expels Wind-Damp, relieves Bi — especially sinews and muscles.
| Pinyin | Mù Guā (Mu Gua) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 木瓜 |
| English | Chinese quince fruit |
| Botanical name | Chaenomeles speciosa |
| Category | Expel wind-damp |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Sour |
| Channels | Liver, Spleen |
| Dosage | 6–9g |
| Cautions | No Damp; no spasm from Blood deficiency |
Actions
- Expels Wind-Damp, relieves Bi — especially sinews and muscles
- Relaxes sinews, relieves spasms
- Harmonises Stomach, resolves Damp
Indications
- Wind-Damp Bi with muscle cramps and stiffness
- Beriberi
- Vomiting and diarrhoea with cramps
How to remember Mù Guā
Expel wind-damp herbs are mostly bitter, and most enter the Liver and Kidney channels.
- You can work these out
- Liver channel: from its action “relieves Bi — especially sinews and muscles”
- Learn by heart
- Warm: Expel wind-damp herbs vary in nature
- Sour: unusual for Expel wind-damp herbs (most are bitter)
- Spleen channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Other Expel wind-damp herbs
- Dú Huó
- Qiāng Huó
- Wēi Líng Xiān
- Fáng Jǐ
- Sāng Jì Shēng
- Wǔ Jiā Pí
- Luò Shí Téng
- Xī Xiān Cǎo
- Qín Jiāo
- Hǎi Tóng Pí
- Sāng Zhī
- Gǒu Jǐ
- Bái Huā Shé
- Cǎo Wū
- Hǎi Fēng Téng
- Chuān Wū
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Mù Guā?
Mù Guā is warm and sour.
Which channels does Mù Guā enter?
Mù Guā enters the Liver and Spleen channels.
What are the actions of Mù Guā?
Expels Wind-Damp, relieves Bi — especially sinews and muscles; Relaxes sinews, relieves spasms; Harmonises Stomach, resolves Damp.
What is Mù Guā used for?
Wind-Damp Bi with muscle cramps and stiffness; beriberi; vomiting and diarrhoea with cramps.
Practise Mù Guā 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.