Trichosanthes Root – 1 lb (454 g)

Trichosanthes Root, known in Chinese as 天花粉 (Tiānhuāfěn) and scientifically as Radix 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 Root carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Trichosanthes Root 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 Root provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Trichosanthes Root 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 Root, 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 Gen, Gualou Fen, and Tianhuafen. It is the root of plants from the Cucurbitaceae family: Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. or Trichosanthes rosthornii Harms. It is produced throughout China, with higher quality roots coming from the Huaiyang area in Henan province. The roots are harvested in spring and autumn, washed clean of soil, peeled, cut into sections or split longitudinally into segments, and sun-dried.

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

[Actions] Clears heat and generates fluids, moistens the lungs and transforms phlegm, reduces swelling and expels pus.

[Applications]
1. Used for febrile diseases with vexing thirst; can be combined with Lugen (Rhizoma Phragmitis), Maidong (Radix Ophiopogonis), Sheng Dihuang (Raw Rehmanniae Radix), and Wuweizi (Fructus Schisandrae). For warm diseases where the pathogen is in the Wei level and exterior symptoms have not resolved but thirst is present, it can be added to formulas such as Sangju Yin and Yinqiao San; for intense heat injuring fluids causing thirst, it is combined with fresh Sheng Dihuang, fresh Shihu (Dendrobium), Maidong, etc.; if the pathogen heat injures yin with alternating chills and fever and chest and hypochondriac fullness with thirst, it can be used with Xiaochaihu Tang minus Banxia plus this herb.
2. Used for internal heat causing diabetes-like symptoms. If the pattern is Lung and Stomach heat excess, combine with Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis), Sheng Dihuang, lotus root juice, or Maidong and Sheng Dihuang; if the pattern is Lung and Kidney yin deficiency, combine with Maidong, Shudihuang (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix), Shanyurou (Fructus Corni); if the pattern is qi and yin dual deficiency, combine with Huangqi (Radix Astragali), Wuweizi, Zhimu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae), Gegen (Radix Puerariae).
3. Used for dry cough with thick phlegm and coughing blood due to Lung heat injuring yin; can be combined with Tianmendong (Radix Asparagi), Maidong, Sheng Dihuang, etc.
4. Used topically for carbuncles, sores, swelling and toxicity, and traumatic bruises and swelling; can be applied externally as a single herb mashed into a paste or combined with heat-clearing, detoxifying, and blood-activating herbs. For early-stage sores, often combined with Jinyinhua (Flos Lonicerae), Baizhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae), Chuanshanjia (Manis Squama), as in the formula Xianfang Huoming Yin; for sores that have ulcerated but pus is not fully discharged, combine with Sheng Huangqi and Sheng Gancao. Tianhuafen is also commonly used to induce abortion and has certain efficacy in treating malignant hydatidiform mole and choriocarcinoma.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 10–15 g; or incorporated into pills or powders. External use: appropriate amount, mashed and applied topically or powdered and applied as a dressing.

[Cautions] Use with caution in cases of spleen and stomach deficiency cold and loose stools. Contraindicated with Aconitum (Wutou).

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents include Tianhuafen protein, various amino acids, Trichosanthis root polysaccharides, glucose, galactose, fructose, mannose, as well as 7-stigmasten-3β-ol, trichosanic acid, cucurbitacin, and others.
2. Pharmacology: Tianhuafen protein has abortifacient and pregnancy-terminating effects; it has dual immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory actions; it exhibits potent direct cytotoxicity against colon cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, various gastric cancer cells, and ras oncogene-positive cells; it also has anti-HIV activity by inhibiting HIV replication in infected immune cells and reducing the number of active virus-infected immune cells. Experimental studies show Tianhuafen polysaccharides have hypoglycemic effects; decoctions inhibit hemolytic streptococcus and pneumococcus.
3. Clinical reports: (1) Ectopic pregnancy: Skin test solution of Tianhuafen (0.05 mg/ml) 0.1 ml diluted to 1 ml, then 0.1 ml diluted again to 1 ml; 0.05 ml of this dilution used for intradermal injection, observed for 20 minutes; skin test negative patients received intramuscular injection of remaining solution (0.045 mg/0.9 ml) in the buttock, monitored for blood pressure and heart rate for 2 hours; if no abnormalities, 2.4 mg Tianhuafen drug injected in the buttock. A total of 134 cases treated; except for 3 cases with significant increase in blood β-hCG 2 days after injection, others showed urine β-hCG turning negative and blood β-hCG decreasing within 7–27 days (average 15 days). [Sichuan Medicine, 2003, 24(10):1065]
(2) Anti-early pregnancy: Tianhuafen injection used via intrauterine (950 cases) and intramuscular (50 cases) methods for early and mid-term pregnancy termination; complete abortion rates were 96.2% for intrauterine injection and 94% for intramuscular injection. [Shandong Medicine, 1990,(6):56]
(3) Intestinal glandular metaplasia: Tianhuafen compound (Tianhuafen 12 g, Daiha San 3 g), one dose daily; 14 cases treated, 12 cases showed complete disappearance of intestinal glandular metaplasia, 2 cases remained (severe atrophic gastritis). [Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 1985, 5(11):695]