Fruits and seedsPhlegm-resolvingSemen Benincasae

Dong Gua Zi (Winter Melon Seed)

Q: What is Dong Gua Zi? Are Dong Gua Pi, Yi Yi Ren and Gua Lou Ren the same?

Dong Gua Zi (冬瓜子) is the dried ripe seed of Benincasa hispida , known as Benincasae Semen . Dong Gua Pi is the outer rind: sweet-cool, promotes urination, disperses swelling and clears summerheat—it does not drain pus. Yi Yi Ren is sweet-bland-cool: promotes urination, leaches damp, fortifies the Spleen, eliminates impediment, clears heat and drains pus. Gua Lou Ren is sweet-cold: moistens the Lung, transforms phlegm and moistens the intestines. Write Dong Gua Zi and crush before use. Use caution in Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold.

Q: Does Dong Gua Zi need special processing? Can Dong Gua Pi replace it?

Wash and dry; crush before decoction; powder may also be swallowed. Winter-melon rind promotes urination, disperses swelling and clears summerheat; it cannot replace clearing the Lung and draining pus by equal weight. Kitchen-dried seeds must be ripe, plump and free of mold or rancid oil; they are not a self-dosed welling-abscess specific.

Q: What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a pus-draining slimming tea?

The usual decoction dose is 9–30 g (some sources 10–15 g), or as powder. It is not a four-season “Dong Gua Zi pus tea” or “slimming seed tea.” Without phlegm-heat, cold only injures the Spleen. Lung and intestinal welling-abscess need a practitioner to name a short course; it does not replace infection and surgical assessment.

Q: What are the contraindications? Can it be used in pregnancy?

Use caution in Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold. Pregnancy needs a practitioner’s assessment. Stop if loose stool and poor appetite appear. High fever with chest pain and pus, or severe right-lower-quadrant pain, is an emergency; draining-pus herbs alone are not enough.

Q: How do you choose and store Dong Gua Zi?

Choose flat long-ovate seeds with a yellowish-white coat, milky oily kernels and a slightly sweet taste . Moldy, moth-eaten, rancid or shriveled lots are discarded. Store ventilated and dry against moths. Buy Dong Gua Zi; do not replace clearing heat, transforming phlegm, draining pus and leaching damp with Dong Gua Pi or snack seeds by equal weight.

A practical guide to Dong Gua Zi: what it is, how Traditional Chinese Medicine uses it, the classical formulas it appears in, and who should be careful with it.

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Last reviewed Oct 13, 2026

Quick Facts

Latin Name	Semen Benincasae
Chinese Name & Pinyin	冬瓜子 · Dong Gua Zi
Medicinal Part	Fruits and seeds
The herb	Dong Gua Zi is the dried ripe seed of wax gourd. The rind and the flesh are not this drug. Yi Yi Ren is a different official drug.
Nature and channels	Sweet, cool. Enters the Lung and Large Intestine. Sweet coolness clears the Lung, transforms phlegm, resolves abscess, discharges pus, and drains dampness.
Pharmacopoeia line	Clears the Lung and transforms phlegm. Resolves abscess and discharges pus. Drains dampness. Used for phlegm-heat cough, Lung abscess, intestinal abscess, leukorrhea, and cloudy discharge.
Pattern cues	Phlegm-heat cough. Lung or intestinal abscess. Leukorrhea and cloudy discharge. Yellow greasy coating.
In this article	Seed versus rind and flesh. Dong Gua Zi versus Yi Yi Ren. Food use versus pus-discharging use. Why abscesses need a clinic. Why a weak spleen should skip it. Who should skip it.

What Is Dong Gua Zi?

Dong Gua Zi (冬瓜子; Dōng Guā Zǐ; Latin: Benincasae Semen; English: wax gourd seed / winter melon seed) is the dried ripe seed of Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. In Chinese medicine it clears heat, transforms phlegm, and drains dampness. It is sweet and cool, enters the Lung and Large Intestine channels, and its core actions are to clear the Lung and transform phlegm, resolve abscess and discharge pus, and drain dampness. It is not winter melon flesh. The flesh is food and only mildly promotes urine and clears heat. It is not Dong Gua Pi, the rind, which leans toward promoting urine and reducing swelling. The seed is used more for phlegm-heat, Lung abscess, and intestinal abscess. Yi Yi Ren can also discharge pus and strengthen the spleen. Dong Gua Zi more specifically clears the Lung, drains dampness, and discharges pus. Strengthening the spleen is not its main work. Lung abscess and intestinal abscess need a clinic. Do not rely on the seed alone. A cold weak spleen is a caution.

It is used most often for three patterns:

Phlegm-heat cough
Lung abscess and intestinal abscess — coughing of pus, or abdominal pain; seek care first
Leukorrhea and cloudy discharge — damp-heat pouring down

The usual decoction dose is 10–15 g. Sweet and cool, it is not a daily “damp melon seed” snack. Clearing when there is no heat and no dampness injures middle yang.

When phlegm-heat fills the Lung, or damp-heat gathers, yellow sputum, leukorrhea, and cloudy discharge are common. Dong Gua Zi is sweet-cool. It clears, discharges, and drains dampness, which is why it appears in Wei Jing Tang–type Lung-clearing, pus-discharging formulas. It clears and drains more than it warms. Thin white sputum, a cold abdomen, and loose stools loosen further if more cooling is added.

Dong Gua Zi is not a catch-all phlegm or abscess seed. In cold phlegm or middle-cold diarrhea, using it alone can cool and injure the middle. Whether it belongs in a Wei Jing Tang–type formula should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Dong Gua Zi: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Semen Benincasae

Botanical Origin

The dried ripe seed of Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. (Cucurbitaceae).

Production Regions

Produced throughout China; major supplies from Hebei, Henan and Anhui.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is full, yellowish-white, and free of empty shells.

Macroscopic Features

Flattened ovate seeds, 1~1.5cm long; externally yellowish-white; margin ridged; kernel oily.

3 Authentic Producing Areas and Quality Identification

While it is grown across many regions in China (like Guangxi, Henan, Hebei, and Jiangsu), the quality depends heavily on the harvest time and processing.

Visual Quality: High-quality raw seeds are flat, oval-shaped, and yellow-white or grayish-white. They should have smooth edges, a solid texture, a white interior, and a naturally rich oil content with a mildly sweet scent.
Processed Version: You might also see Chao Dong Gua Zi (Stir-baked Wax Gourd Seed). This is made by gently roasting the raw seeds until slightly yellow. Roasting makes them crispier and helps release their active ingredients during brewing.
Lookalikes: Be careful not to confuse them with cucumber or pumpkin seeds, which have distinctly different textures, shapes, and surface patterns.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Sweet; Slightly coldLungLarge Intestine

1. 2 Historical Herbal Records

Ancient medical texts have praised this seed for centuries:

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing classified it as a "top-grade" herb, noting it can "boost Qi, brighten the complexion, and promote graceful aging with long-term use."
Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica) specifically highlighted its ability to treat intestinal and lung abscesses, clear phlegm-heat, and remove dampness.
De Pei Ben Cao noted its famous pairings: combining it with Hua Shi (Talcum) helps with excessive thirst, while pairing it with Huang Lian (Coptis Root) is used for intestinal abscesses.

2. 3 Evolution of Pharmacological Understanding

Over time, TCM practitioners shifted how they used this herb. Early texts focused on its mild nourishing and anti-aging properties. However, later doctors emphasized its stronger clinical abilities to clear heat and discharge pus for "excess" conditions like lung or intestinal infections. This shows that Dong Gua Zi (Wax Gourd Seed) is highly versatile—its actual effect depends entirely on how it is paired with other herbs and the specific condition of the patient.

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Clears the lung, transforms phlegm, drains dampness, and discharges pus. Apply to phlegm-heat cough, lung abscess, intestinal abscess, and vaginal discharge.

1. 1 First Primary Action: Clearing Heat and Resolving Dampness

The primary traditional function of Dong Gua Zi (Wax Gourd Seed) is to clear heat and resolve dampness.

Common Symptoms: It is used for conditions caused by damp-heat accumulation, such as a feeling of heaviness in the body, chest fullness, bloating, dry mouth with a bitter taste, short/dark urine, sticky stools, or skin issues like eczema and acne.
Common Pairings: It is frequently paired with herbs like Yi Yi Ren (Coix Seed), Hua Shi (Talcum), and Tong Cao (Rice Paper Plant Pith) to boost its dampness-draining effects.
Caution: Individuals with Yin deficiency (symptoms include hot palms/soles, dry mouth and throat, and a red tongue with little coating) should use it with caution, as its cooling nature may worsen these symptoms.

2. 2 Second Primary Action: Transforming Phlegm and Discharging Pus

Another major function is transforming phlegm and helping the body discharge accumulated pus.

Common Symptoms: It is traditionally used for lung and intestinal abscesses. Lung issues may present as coughing, chest pain, and foul-smelling pus-like phlegm. Intestinal issues may present as lower right abdominal pain, tenderness, and constipation.
Common Pairings: For discharging pus, it is often combined with Yu Xing Cao (Heartleaf Houttuynia), Jie Geng (Platycodon Root), and Mu Dan Pi (Tree Peony Bark).
Caution: People with Spleen and Stomach deficiency-cold (cold stomach pain, poor appetite, loose stools) should not self-prescribe this herb, as it can damage the digestive system's "Yang" energy.

3. 3 Common Single Herb Pairing: The Herb Pair

A classic and highly effective pairing is Dong Gua Zi (Wax Gourd Seed) and Yi Yi Ren (Coix Seed).

Dong Gua Zi focuses on clearing damp-heat from the large intestine and bladder (lower jiao) and helps discharge pus.
Yi Yi Ren focuses on strengthening the Spleen to drain dampness, while also clearing heat.
Synergy: Together, they strongly enhance the body's ability to clear damp-heat and eliminate pus. This pair is excellent for intestinal abscesses, thick yellow discharge, or damp-heat related fluid retention. This combination requires professional TCM diagnosis.

Modern Research

Modern research offers useful context, but Traditional Chinese Medicine prescribes on whole-pattern diagnosis rather than isolated compounds.

1. 1 Primary Chemical Components

Modern laboratories have found that Dong Gua Zi (Wax Gourd Seed) contains fatty oils, proteins (amino acids), saponins, and polysaccharides, along with trace vitamins and minerals.

Current Status: The fatty oils are the most abundant component. However, research into these specific compounds is still in the basic, early stages and has not yet formed definitive clinical guidelines.

2. 2 Modern Pharmacological Research Directions

Most modern scientific research is currently focused on test-tube and animal studies:

Lab Observations: In test tubes, certain extracts show mild antibacterial properties. In animal studies, the polysaccharide components appear to help regulate immune function in mice.
Main Focus: Researchers are primarily exploring its potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. However, human clinical trials are still needed to confirm if these effects actually work in the human body.

3. 3 Limitations of Modern Research

When looking at modern studies of TCM herbs, it is important to keep a few things in mind:

Lab vs. Reality: What stops bacteria in a petri dish does not automatically cure an infection in a human.
Extracts vs. Whole Herbs: Lab tests often use highly concentrated, single chemical extracts. This is vastly different from drinking a traditional tea or decoction made from the whole seed, where the dosage and delivery method completely change.
Holistic Synergy: You cannot judge this herb by just one chemical compound. In TCM, the healing power of Dong Gua Zi (Wax Gourd Seed) comes from how all of its natural components work together as a whole.

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. 2 Similarities with Comparable Herbs

Both Dong Gua Zi (Wax Gourd Seed) and Gua Lou Zi (Snakegourd Seed) can clear heat, transform phlegm, and improve discomfort caused by damp-heat or phlegm accumulation in the lungs or intestines.

2. 3 Core Differences

Nature and Flavor: Dong Gua Zi is cool and peaceful. Gua Lou Zi is cold, slightly bitter, and has a stronger cooling effect that also targets stomach heat.
Action Focus: Dong Gua Zi specializes in clearing damp-heat from the lower body (intestines/bladder) and discharging pus. Gua Lou Zi specializes in clearing lung phlegm and unblocking the chest.
Action Tendency: Dong Gua Zi acts downward to promote urination and bowel clearance. Gua Lou Zi works on the upper body (chest) while also having a strong laxative effect on the bowels.
Contraindications: While both require caution for cold digestive systems, Gua Lou Zi must be strictly avoided by those with loose stools, as its lubricating nature will easily worsen diarrhea.

3. 4 One-Sentence Summary

Dong Gua Zi (Wax Gourd Seed) specializes in clearing damp-heat and pus from the lower body, while Gua Lou Zi (Snakegourd Seed) specializes in clearing lung phlegm and relieving chest congestion.

Classical Formulas Containing Dong Gua Zi

Da Huang Mu Dan Tang

大黃牡丹湯

Formula CategoryPurgative FormulasPrimary PatternDamp-HeatPrimary FunctionDrain heat, break stasis, disperse swellingRelated ConditionsAbdominal Pain·Constipation·Fever

View Formula Profile Read Complete Guide

3 Dosage and Usage Cycle

Dosage: Clinical prescriptions use 10-15g. Dietary home use should be smaller and gentler, typically 5-10g.
Usage Cycle: Do not use continuously for long periods. Dietary use should not exceed 2 weeks. Pregnant women, children, and the elderly must consult a doctor before use.

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. 1 Not Suitable For

Weak Digestion: People with Spleen/Stomach deficiency-cold (cold stomach pain, frequent diarrhea).
Allergies: Anyone allergic to gourd family plants (like cucumbers or pumpkins).
Special Populations: Pregnant and nursing women, children, the elderly, and those with liver or kidney impairment should seek medical advice first.

2. 2 Drug Interactions and Dietary Notes

Interactions: Dong Gua Zi may interact with blood pressure, blood sugar, sedative, and anticoagulant medications. Its diuretic effect can specifically alter how blood pressure drugs work in your body.
Precaution: Always consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking Western medications to avoid unwanted interactions.

3. 3 Adverse Reactions and Risks

Side Effects: It is generally safe at normal doses, but overuse can cause gastrointestinal upset, bloating, or diarrhea (by damaging the stomach's warm energy).
Emergency Action: If you experience severe allergic reactions (rash, difficulty breathing), persistent vomiting, or a rapid worsening of symptoms, stop using it immediately and seek medical attention.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dong Gua Zi

What is Dong Gua Zi? Are Dong Gua Pi, Yi Yi Ren and Gua Lou Ren the same?

Dong Gua Zi (冬瓜子) is the dried ripe seed of Benincasa hispida, known as Benincasae Semen. Dong Gua Pi is the outer rind: sweet-cool, promotes urination, disperses swelling and clears summerheat—it does not drain pus. Yi Yi Ren is sweet-bland-cool: promotes urination, leaches damp, fortifies the Spleen, eliminates impediment, clears heat and drains pus. Gua Lou Ren is sweet-cold: moistens the Lung, transforms phlegm and moistens the intestines. Write Dong Gua Zi and crush before use. Use caution in Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold.

What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Dong Gua Zi?

Provincial standards and materia medica generally record Dong Gua Zi as sweet and slightly cold, entering the Lung and Large Intestine channels (some also name Spleen and Small Intestine), acting to clear heat and transform phlegm, drain pus and leach damp. It is used for phlegm-heat cough, Lung welling-abscess, intestinal welling-abscess, vaginal discharge, strangury and edema. Sweet-cold and moistening, it suits phlegm-heat forming pus and damp-heat—not Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold or patterns without heat or pus.

Does Dong Gua Zi need special processing? Can Dong Gua Pi replace it?

Wash and dry; crush before decoction; powder may also be swallowed. Winter-melon rind promotes urination, disperses swelling and clears summerheat; it cannot replace clearing the Lung and draining pus by equal weight. Kitchen-dried seeds must be ripe, plump and free of mold or rancid oil; they are not a self-dosed welling-abscess specific.

What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a pus-draining slimming tea?

The usual decoction dose is 9–30 g (some sources 10–15 g), or as powder. It is not a four-season “Dong Gua Zi pus tea” or “slimming seed tea.” Without phlegm-heat, cold only injures the Spleen. Lung and intestinal welling-abscess need a practitioner to name a short course; it does not replace infection and surgical assessment.

What are the contraindications? Can it be used in pregnancy?

Use caution in Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold. Pregnancy needs a practitioner’s assessment. Stop if loose stool and poor appetite appear. High fever with chest pain and pus, or severe right-lower-quadrant pain, is an emergency; draining-pus herbs alone are not enough.

Can Dong Gua Zi clear heat, transform phlegm, drain pus and leach damp?

It can help phlegm-heat cough and welling-abscess pus. Lung welling-abscess joins Phragmites stem, Coix and Peach kernel in Qian Jin Wei Jing Tang. Intestinal welling-abscess may join Coix and Patrinia after pattern differentiation. Discharge and strangury may enter a compound formula. It clears heat, transforms phlegm, drains pus and leaches damp—not a specific for every cough, every appendicitis or every leukorrhea.

Can Dong Gua Zi be drunk daily as a phlegm, abscess or damp tea?

Phlegm-heat cough and early Lung or intestinal welling-abscess may enter a short formula; vacuity cold only grows looser as it moistens. “Dong Gua Zi must drain abscesses” does not replace imaging and blood work. Clearing heat, transforming phlegm, draining pus and leaching damp should name 9–30 g crushed.

How do you choose among Dong Gua Zi, Dong Gua Pi, Yi Yi Ren, Wei Jing and Gua Lou Ren?

Winter-melon seed is sweet and slightly cold: clears heat, transforms phlegm, drains pus and leaches damp—Lung and intestinal welling-abscess and phlegm-heat. Winter-melon rind is sweet-cool: promotes urination, disperses swelling and clears summerheat—edema and summerheat. Coix is sweet-bland-cool: promotes urination, leaches damp, fortifies the Spleen, eliminates impediment, clears heat and drains pus—Spleen damp and draining pus. Phragmites stem is sweet-cold: clears the Lung, transforms phlegm and drains pus. Trichosanthes seed is sweet-cold: moistens the Lung, transforms phlegm and moistens the intestines. Lung welling-abscess often pairs Dong Gua Zi with Wei Jing and Yi Yi Ren (Wei Jing Tang); simple edema favors Dong Gua Pi; Spleen vacuity with damp favors Yi Yi Ren; dry phlegm with constipation favors Gua Lou Ren. They may be paired; vacuity cold cautions Dong Gua Zi, Dong Gua Pi and Gua Lou Ren.

Which herbs is Dong Gua Zi combined with? What are the representative formulas?

Lung welling-abscess with phlegm-heat joins Phragmites stem, Coix and Peach kernel in Qian Jin Wei Jing Tang. Write Dong Gua Zi 9–30 g, crushed.

How do you choose and store Dong Gua Zi?

Choose flat long-ovate seeds with a yellowish-white coat, milky oily kernels and a slightly sweet taste. Moldy, moth-eaten, rancid or shriveled lots are discarded. Store ventilated and dry against moths. Buy Dong Gua Zi; do not replace clearing heat, transforming phlegm, draining pus and leaching damp with Dong Gua Pi or snack seeds by equal weight.

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Medical Disclaimer — This article is provided for educational purposes only and describes traditional Chinese medicine concepts. It is not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a diagnosed condition.