Fruits and seedsPhlegm-resolvingTrichosanthis Fructus

Gua Lou (Trichosanthes Fruit)

瓜蔞 · Gua Lou

Phlegm-resolving herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traditional functions: Moistens the lung, transforms phlegm, disperses binds, moistens the intestines.

In-Depth Guide

Want to learn more about Gua Lou?

Read our in-depth guide →

Quick Facts

Latin NameTrichosanthis Fructus
Chinese Name & Pinyin瓜蔞 · Gua Lou
Medicinal PartFruits and seeds
Efficacy CategoryPhlegm-resolving
Botanical OriginThe dried mature fruit of Trichosanthes kirilowii Harms (Cuaurbitaceae)
Nature & FlavourSweet, Bitter; Cold
Channels EnteredLung, Stomach, Large Intestine

What Is Gua Lou?

Gua Lou (Trichosanthes Fruit) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Henan, Hebei, Shandong, Anhui.

Nature & Flavour: Sweet, Bitter; Cold
Channels Entered: Lung, Stomach, Large Intestine

Gua Lou: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Trichosanthis Fructus

Botanical Origin

The dried mature fruit of Trichosanthes kirilowii Harms (Cuaurbitaceae)

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Henan, Hebei, Shandong, Anhui.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is full, pale yellowish-white, whole and unbroken, without oil diffused, without shell.

Macroscopic Features

Fruit is oval, flat elliptical, 11~16mm long, 6~12mm wide, 2~3.5mm thick. Externally pale brown to brown, smooth, with one groove on the edge; apex is pointy, with hilum; base is blunt round or relatively narrow. Seed coat is firm; membranous inner coat can be seen after being cut, grayish-white to grayish-green, with 2 yellowish-white cotyledons, oily. Gua lou zi has a white inner seed coat and a brown outer seed coat and 2 cotyledons.

Traditional TCM Properties

Sweet, Bitter; ColdLungStomachLarge Intestine

Traditional Functions

Moistens the lung, transforms phlegm, disperses binds, moistens the intestines. Apply to cough due the heat phlegm, chest impediment, thoracic obstruction, consumptive lung with hemoptysis, diabetes, jaundice, constipation, early welling-abscess swelling.

How Gua Lou Is Used in TCM

In the Chinese materia medica, Gua Lou is classified among the Phlegm-resolving herbs. It appears in 3 classical formulas in our library.

Formulas containing Gua Lou are traditionally used for:

Chest TightnessAbdominal PainBloatingStomach Discomfort

Classical Formulas Containing Gua Lou

Herbs Commonly Combined with Gua Lou

Huang LianBan XiaZhi ShiXie BaiGui ZhiHou Po

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gua Lou? Are Gua Lou Pi, Gua Lou Ren and Tian Hua Fen the same?
Official Gua Lou (瓜蒌) is the dried ripe fruit of Trichosanthes kirilowii or Trichosanthes rosthornii. The pharmacopoeial name is Trichosanthis Fructus, also called whole snakegourd. Gua Lou Pi leans to clearing heat, transforming phlegm and easing the chest. Gua Lou Ren leans to moistening the intestines and freeing the stool. Tian Hua Fen is the root: sweet, slightly bitter and slightly cold, clears heat, drains fire, generates fluid, stops thirst, reduces swelling and expels pus. Write whole Gua Lou or Gua Lou. It antagonizes aconite.
What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Gua Lou?
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Gua Lou is sweet, slightly bitter and cold, enters the Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine channels, and acts to clear heat, wash phlegm, ease the chest, disperse nodules, moisten dryness and slip the intestines. It is used for Lung-heat cough with thick yellow phlegm, chest bi with heart pain, chest bind and fullness, breast abscess, Lung abscess, intestinal abscess, and bound stool. Sweet, slightly bitter and cold, it suits phlegm-heat chest bi and intestinal dryness—not Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold or loose stool.
How do you choose whole fruit, peel and seed? Can Tian Hua Fen replace it?
Whole fruit uses both peel and seed. Clearing the Lung, transforming phlegm and easing the chest favors the peel; moistening the intestines favors the seed, crushed for decoction. The root generates fluid in wasting-thirst; it cannot replace easing the chest and moistening the intestines by equal weight. Commercial snakegourd tea is not equal-weight pieces.
Read the complete guide →

Related Products

Nong's Gua Lou Concentrated GranulesNong's Gua Lou (Trichosanthes Fruit) Single Herb 5:1 Concentrated Granules $69.20 Nong's Xiao Xian Xiong Tang Concentrated GranulesNong's Xiao Xian Xiong Tang (Minor Chest-Focal-Distention Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $56.60 Nong's Zhi Shi Xie Bai Gui Zhi Tang Extract GranulesNong's Zhi Shi Xie Bai Gui Zhi Tang (Immature Bitter Orange, Chinese Chive and Cinnamon Twig Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $49.11

Related Articles

Learn More About Gua Lou

Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Gua Lou.

Read the Gua Lou Guide →

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.

© 2026 HJMEDICAL, Powered by Shopify

  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Bancontact
  • Google Pay
  • Mastercard
  • MB WAY
  • PayPal
  • Shop Pay
  • Union Pay
  • Visa

Login

Forgot your password?

Don't have an account yet?
Create account