Quick Facts
| Latin Name | Chaenomelis Fructus |
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| Chinese Name & Pinyin | 木瓜 · Mu Gua |
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| Medicinal Part | Fruits and seeds |
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| Efficacy Category | Wind-damp dispelling |
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| Botanical Origin | The dried mature fruit of Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai(Rosaceae). Also called ‘zhou pi mu gua(wrinkled skin mu gua)’ or ‘xuan mu gua’. |
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| Nature & Flavour | Sour; Warm |
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| Channels Entered | Liver, Spleen |
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What Is Mu Gua?
Mu Gua (Common Floweringquine Fruit) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Sichuan, Hubei, Zhejiang.
Nature & Flavour: Sour; Warm
Channels Entered: Liver, Spleen
Mu Gua: Materia Medica Profile
Identification & Quality Standard
Chaenomelis Fructus
Botanical Origin
The dried mature fruit of Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai(Rosaceae). Also called ‘zhou pi mu gua(wrinkled skin mu gua)’ or ‘xuan mu gua’.
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Sichuan, Hubei, Zhejiang.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material has wrinkled outer skin, thick flesh, firm texture, purplish-red throughout, sour taste.
Macroscopic Features
Long round shape, often longitudinally cut into 2 halves. Externally purplish-red or reddish-brown, with irregular deep wrinkles. Edges are curled inward on the cut surface, flesh reddish-brown, center portion indented, brownish-yellow. Seeds are flat with a longitudinal triangular shape. Pieces are strips.
Traditional TCM Properties
Sour; WarmLiverSpleen
Traditional Functions
Relaxes sinews, unblocks the channels, and transforms dampness to harmonize the stomach. Apply to wind-damp bi with sinew spasm, vomiting and diarrhea with cramp, and beriberi.
How Mu Gua Is Used in TCM
In the Chinese materia medica, Mu Gua is classified among the Wind-damp dispelling herbs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mu Gua? Are clematis and papaya the same?
Official Mu Gua (木瓜) is the dried nearly ripe fruit of Chaenomeles speciosa. The pharmacopoeial name is Chaenomelis Fructus. Clematis is acrid-salty and warm: dispels wind-damp and frees the channels. Papaya is a fruit, not pharmacopoeial Mu Gua. The three cannot be interchanged by equal weight. Write Mu Gua. Use caution in essence and Blood vacuity and true yin insufficiency.
What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Mu Gua?
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Mu Gua is sour and warm, enters the Liver and Spleen channels, and acts to relax the sinews and free the channels, harmonize the Stomach and transform dampness. It is used for damp bi with contracture, soreness and heavy pain of the low back and knee joints, summer-damp vomiting and diarrhea, cramping and contracture pain, and beriberi with edema. Sour and warm, it suits damp bi with contracture—not essence and Blood vacuity, or true yin insufficiency.
How do you choose raw versus prepared fruit? Can clematis replace it?
Raw fruit is stronger for relaxing the sinews. Clematis leans to freeing the channels; it cannot replace harmonizing the Stomach and transforming dampness by equal weight. Commercial chaenomeles tea is not equal-weight pieces.
Learn More About Mu Gua
Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Mu Gua.
Read the Mu Gua 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.
