---
title: "Gua Lou"
url: "https://books.drcassone.com/21/traditional-medicines-of-east-asia/490/gua-lou"
---

 ![gua lou, trichosanthis fructus.jpg](/u/gua-lou-trichosanthis-fructus-QlW8T1.jpg) 

# 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

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