瓜蒌皮

Gua Lou Pi

Name

Gua Lou Pi (Pericarpium Trichosanthis)

Property

Sweet, cold; lung and stomach meridians entered.

Actions

Moisten lung and resolve phlegm, move qi and soothe chest.

Indications

Chest pain, sore throat, cough due to phlegm-heat, hematemesis, epistaxis, diabetes, sores and boils, constipation.

Dosage and administration

Decoct 9~12 g, or made into powder. Proper dosage is for external application, stir-baked it into charcoal and pounded into powder for applying.

Cations

It is contraindicated in case of damp phlegm due to spleen deficiency. It is contraindicated for combining with Wu Tou.