Herb

Bitter Gourd (Ku hu)

苦瓠ku hu
1 sourceSafety notes recordedLagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.

Modern safety information is being compiled for this entry.

Recorded for severe water-swelling of the face and limbs, draining water and inducing vomiting. A drastic, toxic substance, used with caution.

Source

Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷二十八·蓏菜·苦瓠·主治

References
  • functions_en self-translated from 本草纲目 traditional_functions (public domain; the Chinese tf carries verbatim excerpt_hash citations). No modern work consulted.
  • WHO IST-TCM terminology-aligned for the English rendering.
  • public pharmacopoeia & botanical facts (public-domain reference facts; no proprietary modern source).
Traditional functions

Classical source text (Chinese) — English summary above.

传统中医记载：主大水、面目四肢浮肿，下水、令人吐；利水消肿（峻药，慎用）。

Nature, flavor & meridians

Nature & flavor: 苦，寒，有毒。

Citations
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷二十八·蓏菜·苦瓠·气味Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its classification.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷二十八·蓏菜·苦瓠·气味Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷二十八·蓏菜·苦瓠·主治Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷二十八·蓏菜·苦瓠·气味Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.