The source is from the mature fruit of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. or several species of the same genus, family Cucurbitaceae. The medicinal material is produced in all parts of China, collected in autumn when the fruits are ripe, dried in shade or the peel and seed are dried separately. The peel or the seed can be used in raw or in stir-baked form. When the peel and seed are used together or the whole fruit is used, the medicinal herb is called the whole Fructus Trichosanthis (Quangualou).

Medicinal Properties Sweet and slightly bitter in flavor and cold in nature and attributive to the lung, stomach and large intestine meridians.

Actions Clear away lung-heat and resolve phlegm, ease the chest and disperse lumps, lubricate the intestine and relax the bowels.

Application

1. For lung-heat syndrome manifested as cough with thick sputum, it is usually combined with Zhimu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae ), Beimu ( Bulbus Fritillariae ), etc. ; for accumulation of phlegm-heat in the interior manifested as yellow and thick sputumn, chest distress but difficulty in defecation, Gualouren (Semen Trichosanthis) is combined with Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae), Dannanxing (Arisaema cum Bile ) and Zhishi (Fructus Aurantii Immaturus ), such as Qingqi Huatan Wan (Pill).

2. It is used for chest pain and accumulation of phlegm-heat in the chest manifested as feeling of oppression or pains in the chest and hypochondrium. If a case has a chest pain but can't lie, he should be treated with the herb in combination with Xiebai (Bulbus Allii Macrostemi), Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae) ; for accumulation of phlegm-heat in the chest and pain by pressure, combined with Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae) and Huanglian ( Rhizoma Coptidis ) .

3. For constipation due to dry intestine, it is usually combined with Huomaren (Fructus Cannabis), Yuliren (Semen Pruni ) and Zhike ( Fructus Aurantii ) , etc..

Besides, Quangualou can also be used for mammary abscess with swelling and pain, it is usually combined with Pugongying ( Herba Taraxaci ), Ruxiang ( Olibanum ), and Moyao (Myrrha), etc..

Usage and Dosage Usually, 5 - 15 g of the whole herb, 6 - 9 g of Gualoupi (Pericarpium Trichosanthis), 10- 15 g of Gualouren (Semen Trichosanthis) are used in decoction for oral use. Gualoupi (Pericarpium Trichosanthis) is a bit on side of resolving phlegm while Gualouren (Semen Trichosanthis ) is a bit on side of moistening intestine and relaxing bowels.

Notes Contraindicated for loose stool due to spleen deficiency and phlegm of dampness and cold types. It is incompatible with Wutou (Rhizoma Aconiti).

Beimu Bulbus Fritillariae

Beimu (Bulbus Fritillariae) is divided into two kinds: Chuanbeimu (Bulbus Fritillarae Cirrhosae) and Zhebeimu (Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii ) .

1. Chuanbeimu (Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae) is the bulb of Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don, F. unibracteata Hsiao et K. C. Hsia and F. Przewalskii Maxim., family Liliaceae. It is mainly produced in the areas of Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, Tibet of China, etc., dug and collected in summer and dried in the sun.

2. Zhebeimu (Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii) is the bulb of the same genus, Fritillaria Thunbergii, mainly produced in Xiangshan and Jinxian counties of Zhejiang Province, and cultivated artificially. The bulb is dug after the plant is withered and dried in the sun after it is cleaned. The crude one is used.

Medicinal Properties Chuanbeimu (Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae) is bitter and sweet in flavor, slightly cold in nature; Zhebeimu (Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii) is bitter in flavor and cold in nature. They are attributive to the lung and heart meridians.

Actions Resolve phlegm and arrest cough, clear away heat and disperse stagnation.

Application

1. It is used for chronic cough due to lung deficiency with less sputum and dry throat, and cough due to exogenous wind and heat or cough due to stagnation of phlegm-heat with yellowish and thick sputum. Chuanbeimu (Bulbus Fritillarae Cirrhosae) and Zhebeimu ( Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii ) can all clear away lung-heat, resolve phlegm to treat cough due to phlegm-heat. They are usually combined with Zhimu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae), such as Ermu San (Powder). Whereas, Chuanbeimu (Bulbus Fritillarae Cirrhosae ) is companied with the action of moistening the lung, so it is usually used for chronic cough due to lung deficiency with less sputum and dry throat and can be combined with Shashen (Radix Glehniae ) , Maimendong ( Radix Ophiopogonis ) , Tianmendong (Radix Asparagi) and others that can nourish yin and moisten the lung; the action of Zhebeimu (Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii) to clear away fire and disperse stagnation is stronger, so it is usually used for exogenous wind and heat or cough due to stagnation of phlegm-heat and combined with Sangye ( Folium Mori ), Niubangzi ( Fructus Arctii ), Qianhu (Radix Peucedani ), Xingren ( Semen Pruni Armeniacae) and others that can disperse the lung to eliminate phlegm.

2. It is used for scrofula, carbuncle, mammary abscess and pulmonary abscess. Chuanbeimu (Bulbus Fritillarae Cirrhosae ) and Zhebeimu ( Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii) both have the actions of clearing away heat and disperse stagnation but Zhebeimu (Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii) is more effective in treating scrofula, it is usually combined with Xuanshen (Radix Scrophulariae) and Muli (Concha Ostreae), that is Xiaoluo Wan (Pill); For carbuncle and mammary abscess, it is usually combined with Pugongying (Herba Taraxaci), Tianhuafen ( Radix Trichosanthis ), and Lianqiao ( Fructus Forsythiae), etc. ; for pulmonary abscess, combined with Yuxingcao (Herba Houttuyniae), Xianlugen (Rhizoma Phragmitis, fresh), and Yiyiren (Semen Coicis), etc..

Usage and Dosage 3 - 10 g is used in decoction for oral use and 1 - 2 g is used in the powder,

Notes It is incompatible with Wutou (Rhizoma Aconiti ) .

Xingren Semen Armeniacae Amarum

The source is from the mature seed of Prunus armeniaca L., or P. armeniaca L. var. ansu Maxim, family Rosaceae. The medicinal material is produced in the areas of Northeast, North and Northwest China, Xinjiang, and the reaches of the Yangtze River of China, collected in summer when the fruit is ripe and dried in the sun after it is shelled. The crude one is used.

Medicinal Properties Bitter in flavor, slightly warm in nature, mildly toxic and attributive to the lung and large intestine meridians.

Actions Relieve cough and dyspnea, moisten the intestine and relax the bowels.

Application

2. For constipation due to dryness of intestine, it is usually combined with Huomaren ( Semen Cannabis ), Danggui ( Radix Angelicae Sinensis ), Zhike ( Fructus Aurantii) and others, such as Runchang Wan (Pill).

Usage and Dosage 3 - 10 g is used in decoction for oral use, which is usually broken.

Notes Since it is mildly toxic, overdosage should be avoided and it is used in infants with caution.