Snakegourd Fruit guā lóu · 瓜蒌

Trichosanthes kirilowii (and Trichosanthes rosthornii)

Nature and flavour. Sweet, slightly bitter, cold; Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine systems.

Classed as clearing heat and dissolving phlegm, as opening the chest and dispersing accumulations, and as moistening dryness. Traditional use covers thick phlegm with cough and a sense of tightness in the chest, and dryness-type constipation. The peel, the seed and the whole fruit are used and are described somewhat differently in traditional writing.