Trichosanthes Fruit – 1 lb (454 g)

Trichosanthes Fruit, known in Chinese as 瓜蒌 (Guālóu) and scientifically as Fructus Trichosanthis, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Trichosanthes Fruit carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Trichosanthes Fruit helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Trichosanthes Fruit provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Trichosanthes Fruit has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Trichosanthes Fruit, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Gualou, Gualou Shi, Yaogua, and Diaogua. It is the mature fruit of plants in the Cucurbitaceae family: Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. (Pingchuan Gualou) or Trichosanthes rosthornii Harms (Shuangbian Gualou). It is produced in most regions of China; the former mainly in Shandong, Hunan, Hebei, and others; the latter mainly in Sichuan. The fruit is harvested in autumn when mature by cutting the fruit-bearing branches and then dried in a ventilated, shaded place.

[Properties] Taste: sweet, slightly bitter; nature: cold. Enters the Lung, Stomach, and Large Intestine meridians.

[Actions] Clears heat and transforms phlegm; relaxes the chest and dissipates nodules; moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels.

[Applications]
1. Used for hot phlegm and dry phlegm. Treats cough and chest oppression caused by phlegm-heat obstructing the lungs, or cough with thick yellow sputum difficult to expectorate, and fullness and distention in the chest and diaphragm. Especially suitable in these cases. Commonly combined with Huangqin (Scutellaria baicalensis), Zhishi (Citrus aurantium immature fruit), Dan Nanxing (Arisaema cum Bile), etc., as in Qingqi Huatan Wan (Clear Qi and Transform Phlegm Pill). When combined with Beishashen (Glehnia root), Maidong (Ophiopogon root), Chuan Beimu (Fritillaria cirrhosa), Tianhuafen (Trichosanthes root tuber), it treats lung dryness with yin injury and scanty dry cough. If coughing blood persists, it can be combined with Wumei (Mume fruit), Xingren (Apricot kernel), etc.
2. Used for chest impediment and nodules. When phlegm and qi are mutually congealed causing chest yang obstruction with pain in chest and back and inability to lie comfortably, it is often combined with Xiebai (Allium macrostemon) and Banxia (Pinellia rhizome), as in Gualou Xiebai Banxia Tang and Gualou Xiebai Baijiu Tang. When phlegm-heat is mutually congealed causing fullness and pain on pressure in the chest and diaphragm, it is often combined with Huanglian (Coptis) and Banxia, as in Xiao Xianxiong Tang (Minor Decoction to Drain the Chest). Currently, it is commonly used with Honghua (Safflower) and Taoren (Peach kernel) to treat coronary heart disease angina pectoris.
3. Used for breast abscess, intestinal abscess, lung abscess, and carbuncles or sores with toxic swelling. For breast abscess, it can be combined with Danggui (Angelica sinensis), Ruxiang (Frankincense), and Moyao (Myrrh). For intestinal abscess, combined with Baijiangcao (Patrinia) and Hongteng (Sargentodoxa). For lung abscess, combined with Lugen (Phragmites root) and Yuxingcao (Houttuynia). For early-stage carbuncles and toxic swellings before pus formation, it can be combined with Jinyinhua (Honeysuckle), Gancao (Licorice), Niubangzi (Arctium seed), as in Gualou San.
4. Used for intestinal dryness and constipation, combined with Sheng Dihuang (Rehmannia root), Maren (Cannabis seed), Yuliren (Prunus seed). If there is fluid deficiency with qi stagnation and constipation, often combined with Zhike (Citrus peel). For food retention constipation, combined with Liuqu (fermented malt) and Shan Zha (Hawthorn).
Additionally, this herb is used for diabetes (Xiaoke). It can be decocted alone and drunk as tea or made into a syrup for regular use, or combined with Shihuanglian (Ten Coptis) and Maimendong (Ophiopogon root) to make pills or decoctions.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 9–15 g, crushed before decocting; or used in pills and powders. External use: appropriate amount, pounded and applied topically.

[Cautions] This herb is sweet, cold, and slippery. Use with caution in cases of spleen deficiency with loose stools, damp-phlegm, or cold-phlegm. Phlegm cessation may paradoxically worsen symptoms.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: The fruit contains triterpenoid saponins, organic acids, resins, carbohydrates, and pigments. Serine proteases A and B with molecular weight 50,000 were isolated from the pulp. The peeled portion contains 17 free amino acids and 11 inorganic elements.
2. Pharmacological effects: Gualou injection shows significant protective effects against acute myocardial ischemia; the saponins and total amino acids in the peel have expectorant effects; ethanol extracts inhibit gastric mucosal injury caused by pyloric ligation, serotonin, and ethanol hydrochloride; show significant relaxation of ileal contractions induced by acetylcholine; decoctions or infusions inhibit Gram-negative enteric pathogens such as Escherichia coli; exhibit certain anticancer effects.
3. Clinical reports:
1) Breast fibroadenoma: Gualou 25 pieces, Quanxie (whole scorpion) 160 g, powdered; 3 g per dose, three times daily. Treated 11 cases with 10 cured. Also treated 243 cases of mammary lobular hyperplasia, all cured. [Jiangsu Zhongyi, 1982,(2):31]
2) Costochondritis: Gualou 4 parts, Zhebeimu (Fritillaria thunbergii) 2 parts, Guizhi (Cinnamon twig) 1 part, powdered; 10 g per dose, twice daily. Treated 27 cases, all cured. [Liaoning Zhongyi Zazhi, 1992,(9):39]
3) Chronic gastritis: Gualou 30 g, Shegan (Belamcanda) 10 g, decocted as “Shegan Gualou Yin,” one dose daily. Treated 68 cases with total effective rate of 95.6%. [Beijing Zhongyi, 1991,(5):20]
4) Postpartum urinary retention: Whole Gualou 30–60 g, boiled with 5000 ml water to 4000 ml; warm sitz bath for half an hour. Treated 35 cases of postpartum urinary retention; after 1–2 baths all urinated spontaneously, 30 cured after 1 bath, 5 after 2 baths. [Guoyi Luntan, 1992,(4):30]
5) Herpes zoster: Gualou 100 g, Honghua (Safflower) 10 g, decocted twice, yielding 300–500 ml juice, taken 2–3 times daily, one dose per day. Treated 54 cases, all cured after 4–15 doses. [Shandong Zhongyi Zazhi, 1993,12(6):4]