Gua Lou
Trichosanthis Fructus
sweet, cold
PRIMARY FUNCTION:
Transforms Hot Phlegm
CLASSICAL MANIFESTATIONS:
- Upper jiao dysfunction
- Cough
- Chest pressure
- Chest pain
- Abscess
- Lung abscess
- Breast abscess
- Intestinal abscess
- Constipation
Gua Luo is cold to treat patterns involving heat. Its primary function is to transform hot phlegm. It enters the lung, stomach, and large intestine systems with a sweet characteristic to eliminate hot phlegm and phlegm related nodulation. Its relationship with the lungs makes it especially useful for cough and can be used alone. It is also kid friendly. Its relationship with the gastrointestinal tract allows it to move the stool as a gentle laxative and to treat intestinal abscesses.
Channels: lung, stomach, large intestine
COMMON APPLICATIONS AND CLINICAL POSSIBILITIES:
- Antitumor
- Appendicitis
- Angina pain
- CAD
- Pleural rub
- Amenorrhea
- Antimicrobial
Formulas:
- Bei Mu Gua Lou San
- Gua Lou Xie Bai Jiu Tang
- Gua Lou Xie Bai Ban Xia Tang
- Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan
- Qing Zao Run Chang Tang
- Xiao Xian Xiong Tang
- Zhi Shi Gua Lou Gui Zhi Tang
- Zhi Shi Xie Bai Gui Zhi Tang
Contraindications: do not prescribe Gua Lou with Wu Tou, Gan Jiang, or Niu Xi, do not prescribe Gua Lou to patients that have weak digestive function and associated diarrhea
Zoo Image: a hot Saint Bernard stuck in a toilet with phlegm ball toilet paper wrapped around its chest is being helped by a friend with a phlegm plunger