Witnessed by: TCM
Chinese cucumber (Trichosanthes kirilowii), of the Cucurbitaceae family. Perennial climbing vine with tendrils and orange gourd-like fruit; native range: northern and central China. Globally recognized as tian hua fen (天花粉) · gua lou (瓜蒌) in Chinese, and snakegourd, Mongolian snakegourd, heaven-flower root in English. The part used is root (tian hua fen) and ripe fruit (gua lou). Root heavy, white and starchy, sweet then bitter; fruit orange and sticky-sweet within a hard rind.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
CHINESE CUCUMBER
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Chinese cucumber
- Scientific name
- Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim.
- Family
- Cucurbitaceae
Form
- Part used
- root (tian hua fen) and ripe fruit (gua lou)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- sweet · bitter
Temperature
- TCM
- cold
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Lung · Stomach · Large Intestine
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- clears heat, generates fluids, moistens the Lung, transforms phlegm-heat, and dissipates nodules and abscesses
Cautions
- Contraindications
- tian hua fen is contraindicated in pregnancy; caution in Spleen cold with loose stools; classically incompatible with aconite (wu tou)
- Toxicity
- the root protein trichosanthin can provoke allergic reactions when used by injection
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