Trichosanthes Fruit

Trichosanthes Fruit (Gua Lou): A Sweet Herb for Clearing Heat, Transforming Phlegm, and Expanding the Chest

Introduction

Trichosanthes fruit, known as Gua Lou (瓜蒌) in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is sweet and cold. It is valued for clearing heat, transforming phlegm, and unbinding the chest. Gua Lou is especially used for cough with thick phlegm, chest pain, and constipation due to dryness. With its cooling and moistening nature, it is often applied in both respiratory and digestive conditions.

What Is Trichosanthes Fruit?

Gua Lou comes from the mature fruit of Trichosanthes kirilowii or related species, a climbing plant in the gourd family. In TCM, it is classified as sweet and cold, entering the Lung, Large Intestine, and Stomach meridians. Its ability to disperse phlegm and expand the chest makes it effective for phlegm-heat and chest congestion.

Health Benefits of Trichosanthes Fruit

Clears heat and transforms phlegm – Relieves cough with thick, sticky sputum.

Expands the chest and relieves pain – Used for chest fullness, pain, or early stages of abscess.

Moistens intestines and relieves constipation – Helps with dry stools due to heat or dryness.

Reduces swellings and abscesses – Applied for lung abscess or breast abscess with phlegm-heat.

How to Use Trichosanthes Fruit

Decoction – Boiled with other herbs for cough, phlegm, or chest congestion.

Powder – Sometimes ground and taken for phlegm conditions.

Formulas – Commonly combined with herbs like Ban Xia or Huang Qin to clear phlegm-heat.

Where to Buy Trichosanthes Fruit

TCM shops – Available dried in slices or whole fruit.

Herbal suppliers – Sold online as dried herb, powder, or extract.

Look for: firm, yellow-brown fruit with a light, sweet aroma and intact seeds when dried.

Are There Any Side Effects?

Gua Lou is generally safe, but should not be used with herbs containing Aconite (Fu Zi). Overuse may cause loose stools or digestive upset. Use caution in cases of cold or weak Spleen/Stomach.

Conclusion

Trichosanthes fruit (Gua Lou) is a sweet, cold herb that clears heat, transforms phlegm, and expands the chest. Moistening and dispersing, it plays an important role in both respiratory and digestive therapies in TCM.

FAQ

Can it help with cough? – Yes, especially when due to phlegm-heat with thick sputum.

Does it relieve chest tightness? – Yes, it unbinds the chest and reduces fullness.

Is it safe for constipation? – Yes, it moistens intestines and helps with dry stools.