Pinyin: Gualou
Aliases
Dilou, Wangbai, Tiangua, Tianyuanzi
Source
Cucurbitaceae plant Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim.Trichosanthes kirilowiiMaxim. or bilateral TrichosanthesTrichosanthes rosthorniiHarms.
Botanical Description
See entry under "Tianhuafen."
Harvesting and Processing
During autumn when the fruit is ripe, cut off the fruit stalks and dry in a ventilated place in the shade.
Medicinal Properties
This product is spherical or broadly ellipsoidal, 7-15 cm long, 6-10 cm in diameter. The surface is orange-red or orange-yellow, wrinkled or relatively smooth, with a circular style remnant at the apex and a slightly pointed base with a persistent fruit stalk. The weight varies. It is fragile and easily broken; the inner surface is yellowish-white with red-yellow fibrous strands, and the pulp is orange-yellow, sticky, and adheres with numerous seeds into a mass. The taste is slightly sour and sweet.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains tricin, karounidiol, isokarounidiol, vanillic acid, ethyl linolenate, and other components.
Pharmacology
Dilates coronary arteries; anti-myocardial ischemia; improves microcirculation; inhibits platelet aggregation; enhances hypoxia tolerance; anti-arrhythmia; anti-ulcer; antibacterial; anticancer; anti-aging.
Properties and Channel Entry
Sweet, slightly bitter, and cold; enters the Lung, Stomach, and Large Intestine channels.
Functions and Indications
Clears Heat, eliminates Phlegm, widens the chest and dissipates masses, moistens Dryness and lubricates the Intestines. Used for Lung Heat cough with thick yellow Phlegm, chest impediment (Bi) and heart pain, chest binding and distention, breast abscess (Yong), Lung abscess, Intestinal abscess, and constipation.
Dosage and Administration
Oral: decoct in water, 9-20 g; or made into pills or powder. External use: appropriate amount, mashed for application.
Precautions and Contraindications
Patients with Spleen and Stomach deficiency-cold, loose stools, and Cold Phlegm or Damp Phlegm should use with caution. It should not be used together with Chuanwu, processed Chuanwu, Caowu, processed Caowu, or Fuzi.
Prescriptions
1. For dry cough without phlegm: mash ripe Trichosanthes kirilowii fruit (Gualou), squeeze out juice, mix with equal parts honey, add 3 g of alum (Baifan), simmer into a paste, frequently hold in mouth and swallow the juice. (From *Compendium of Materia Medica*, citing *Simple and Effective Prescriptions*). 2. For diabetes with excessive urination: thinly slice Trichosanthes kirilowii fruit (Gualou), roast, take 150 g, add five sheng of water, decoct to four sheng, drink as desired. (From *Prescriptions for Emergencies*). 3. For breast abscess (mastitis): Trichosanthes kirilowii fruit (Gualou) 30 g, frankincense (Ruxiang) 3 g. Grind into fine powder, take 3 g per dose, mix with warm wine and swallow. (From *Wei Family’s Precious Book*, Gualou Powder). 4. For chest impediment (chest pain) with inability to lie down and pain radiating to the back: one whole Trichosanthes kirilowii fruit (Gualou) (mashed), Chinese chive (Xiebai) 90 g, Pinellia ternata (Banxia) 240 g, one sheng of rice wine. Decoct all ingredients together to obtain four sheng, take one sheng warm, two doses per day. (From *Synopsis of Prescriptions from the Golden Chamber*, Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction).
